The Falls of Erith (47 page)

Riding
at the head of the enormous army, it was the de Nerra men – Thomas, Robert,
Davis, Steven, Braxton and the Thomas’ three grandsons Dair, Laurence and
Roderick, united for one cause, one purpose.  Dallas rode among them, one of
the family now and accepted as such, as Geoff and Niclas flanked the army,
keeping the men in line.   The trek south was filled with a tremendous sense of
purpose and hardly a word was spoken as they covered the road to Elswick in
less than a day,  arriving at the castle with the sun sitting low on the
horizon.

Elswick
was a Gloucester stronghold that covered quite a bit of ground.  It was a big
castle with an enormous bailey, huge ditches surrounding it, and fifteen foot
walls.  It had a big gatehouse and an enormous keep in the center of the
complex along with all of the usual outbuildings like stables and smithy
shacks.   It sat on a rather flat plain, a beacon of Gloucester strength that
could be seen for miles in all directions.

Braxton
and Robert didn’t waste any time moving the army into position.  They
surrounded the entire castle, keeping out of range of the archers as they moved
the great mangonels into position.  Braxton’s plan was to fire flaming
projectiles into the bailey to cripple it before moving in on the gatehouse. 
Assuming his wife and daughter were being held in the keep, it was his
intention to leave it untouched, at least until Gray and Brooke were safe. Then
he would burn it to the ground and everyone in it.

It
was close to midnight by the time the army was completely situated.  The army
had stripped wood from the nearby forests, building a fourth mangonel as well
as creating massive bonfires on which to heat the thick, gooey tar.  Only when
everything was set did Braxton turn his attention to the castle, which had been
on extreme alert since their arrival.  He could see men walking the walls,
fully alert, waiting for the onslaught.

Braxton
stood by the light of one of the gigantic bonfires, watching the castle in the
distance.  He was in full armor, heavy chain main and weapons slung about his
body.  There were dark splotches on his mail, bloodstains from the destruction
of Creekmere, and his face was drawn and stubbled. He literally had not slept
since receiving the news that Gray had been abducted by Gloucester and it
showed in every expression, every movement.  The man looked like the walking
dead. 

He
stood, staring at the distance castle as if he could see his wife through the
great stone walls and tightening up his gloves.  Robert walked up beside him,
his gaze moving between his brother and the distant castle.  He knew how badly
the man felt; they all felt badly. But Braxton’s brutality to those who had
betrayed him had been nothing short of astonishing to watch. He knew his
brother was sharp, cunning and ruthless, but his actions over the past three
days had surpassed with even Robert thought he was capable of.

The
rest of the knights were spread out with the soldiers; Thomas was supervising
the building of the mangonel, Steven and Davis were positioning the archers,
and the rest of them were mingled with the infantry.  Geoff and Niclas’
commands echoed over the darkened landscape as the senior knights in command.
Everyone was prepared, waiting. Robert faced his brother expectantly.

“Your
orders, Braxton?” he asked quietly, watching the man as he fussed with his
gloves. “The men are prepared when you give the word.”

Braxton
didn’t look at his brother; he was still looking at Elswick.

“In
a moment,” he said. “I will give them the opportunity to deliver my wife and
daughter unharmed first.”

Robert
nodded. “Shall I accompany you?”

Braxton
shook his head. “Nay,” he replied. “You will stay here and keep Dallas at bay. 
I am afraid of what he will do if Elswick denies my request. He may charge in
there and get himself killed.”

Robert
nodded again, his gaze moving to the enormous castle, illuminated in the dark
night by hundreds of torches against the sky.  It was an eerie sight.

“You
realize that they will probably not turn her over,” he said softly. “She is the
only guarantee that you will not completely raze the place.”

Braxton
shrugged and finished with his gloves. “I am going to completely raze it as it
is,” he said. “I will kill any remaining de Clare relatives and post their
bodies on poles for all to see.”

Robert
knew that.  He wasn’t going to try and talk him out of anything so he looked
around, spying Dallas several feet away, using a pumice stone to sharpen the
smooth blade side of his sword.  With a lingering look at Braxton, he made his
way over to Dallas to await the signal to battle.  Everything was dependent
upon Braxton’s interaction with the inhabitants of Elswick.

Braxton
didn’t waste any time.  He mounted his big black charger and spurred the beast
forward, thundering towards the gatehouse of Elswick.  As he cantered towards
the lifted drawbridge, he could hear shouting upon the walls of Elswick as the
men inside realized that something was happening.  Someone in de Nerra’s army
was about to make contact.  Everyone who was able ran for the gatehouse,
waiting for the first barrage of words that would determine their future.

Braxton
kept calm, focused.  He thought about what  he was going to say.  He wanted to
stress upon the commanders of Elswick that they had little choice in
surrendering Gray and Brooke but he didn’t want to provoke them to the point
where they might actually harm the women.  That was his greatest fear, in fact,
that Elswick would not surrender his wife and daughter and, instead, punish
them because de Nerra was intent on destroying their castle.  Time would tell. 
He braced himself for what was to come.

He
pulled his charger to a halt when he came within range of the mighty gatehouse
of Elswick. Dozens of torches lit up the structure and he could see many
soldiers upon the gatehouse battlements. Everyone was scattering back and
forth, orders being relayed as men showed their fear of what was to come. 
Braxton could feel their terror and it both pleased and concerned him. Used
property, terror was a good motivator, but men that were overwhelmed with panic
could do stupid things. He didn’t want his wife or daughter to fall victim to
stupidity.

“My
name is Braxton de Nerra,” he bellowed for all to hear. “I have come to secure
the release of my wife and daughter. Failure to give me what I have come for
will have deadly consequences for the inhabitants of Elswick. Do I make myself
clear?”

More
scuttling and shouting upon the battlements. Torches flickered as men ran
about.  Braxton’s charger danced around excitedly, sensing a battle, and he sat
patiently astride the beast, trying to calm it.  After several tense and uneasy
moments, a knight suddenly appeared on the wall where it joined with the
enormous gatehouse.  He held up his gloved hand to Braxton.

“I
am Blakeney de Milne, husband to Lord Roger and Lady Anne’s eldest daughter,”
he called down to him. “Your wife and daughter are in my custody. Such is the
punishment for the deaths of Lord Roger and his son William.”

“Lord
Roger and his son William’s deaths were unintentional, I assure you,” Braxton
shouted steadily. “They attacked me first and were killed whilst we defended
ourselves.  If anyone was wronged, it was me.  Had you not murdered my men and
sent them back to me in pieces, perhaps you would have heard the entire story.
Instead, you made an uneducated and deadly decision, made worse with the
capture of my family.  Turn them back over to me now and I will be merciful. 
Resist my demand and every man, woman and child at Elswick will die. This I
vow.”

De
Milne remained cool; he was a seasoned knight, skilled and calm, but he knew
who Braxton de Nerra was and had little doubt he meant what he said.

“Make
a move against us and I will send your daughter and wife out to you in pieces,”
he threatened. “If you return your army to Erith this night, I will not harm
them.”

Braxton
sighed slowly; he was losing patience. “You do not make demands,” he countered.
“I want my family returned to me. As an honorable knight, you will do as I ask.
Resist and die.”

De
Milne wasn’t stupid; he knew the only reason Braxton hadn’t let loose on them
was because they held his wife and daughter.  But he also knew that sooner or
later, de Nerra would begin a siege to regain them that would end up destroying
everyone at Elswick.  He had a wife and children in this castle himself; he
didn’t want to see them come to harm.  He knew that, at some point, he would be
forced to negotiate.  He thought carefully on his offer before speaking.

“I
will make you a proposal, de Nerra,” he said. “I will return one of your women
to you. You will take her and return to Erith and, when I see that peace has
settled between Erith and Elswick, I will return the other woman to you as a
reward for your good behavior.  Attack me now and the first bodies I throw over
the wall at you will be your wife and daughter; this I swear. Agree to my terms
and they will live.”

Braxton’s
patience was evaporating and he could feel his temper rise.  The threats
against Gray and Brooke infuriated him.

“Are
you truly so bold and foolish?” he wanted to know. “Roger de Clare and his son
were killed when they attacked me. It happened so quickly that I had no idea
who they were until after it was over.  I did not make the first move against
them, I assure you.  Although I understand your grief at the loss of your lord
and his heir, to attack Erith and then steal my wife and daughter in punishment
is beneath honorable men. I would not say this if it were not so; I do not
lie.  On my oath, I tell you that Roger and William’s death were an accident. 
Now return my wife and daughter to me and I shall forget my vengeance against
you.  If you kill them, know that there will be nothing stopping me from
capturing you and forcing you to watch as I murder your wife and children right
before your very eyes.  Their deaths will be as painful and horrific as you can
imagine. The choice is yours.”

De
Milne fell silent, watching de Nerra down below, just out of the range of the
archers. He turned to the man next to him, whispered something, and the man
took off running. Braxton waited for a reply; a minute passed, and then another
and another. Soon several minutes had passed and Braxton was beginning to get
anxious.  Just as he opened his mouth to shout up to them again, the drawbridge
suddenly lurched.

Unsure
what was happening, Braxton backed up. He lifted his hand to his waiting army
and the archers got into position, followed by the infantry.  For all they
knew, screaming hordes of Gloucester men were about to come leaping out at them
and they would not take any chances.  Every man in Braxton’s army was poised at
the ready. Dallas, having shaken his shadow Robert, came thundering up to
Braxton, taking his place beside him.  If there was going to be a fight, he was
going to fight alongside Braxton. 

The
wait was beginning to become excessive but it was clear that something was in
the works. Braxton could hear men shouting on the other side of the wall and he
prepared to unsheathe his broadsword.  He could feel a fight coming. 

The
enormous drawbridge suddenly began to move. It jerked on its chains, lowered
unsteadily by a host of nervous soldiers deep in the walls of the gatehouse. As
the thing slowly lurched downward, Braxton and Dallas could see that the
portcullis was slowly lifting as well.  They could see a cluster of soldiers on
the other side, shadows shifting about in the darkness of the gatehouse
passage. Braxton’s grip tightened on his reins, waiting for the charge.  But
suddenly, something unexpected caught his attention.

It
was a spot of color in a sea of shadows. He could see it, a pale blue flash now
and again. But suddenly, the pale blue flash had become solid and steady,
approaching the portcullis, which by now had stopped only half-raised.  As
Braxton watched, curious and apprehensive, it took him a moment to realize that
Brooke was being released.

She
skittered beneath the half-raised portcullis and began to run. Dallas,
startled, suddenly spurred his charger forward as Braxton screamed at him to
stop; the man was heading into the optimal range of the archers and Braxton was
terrified that Dallas was about to get himself mowed down.  But Dallas must
have realized it, too, because he suddenly yanked his charger to a halt and
raced back to where Braxton was still positioned. 

Braxton
glanced over at the young knight, seeing utter and complete relief and terror
on the man’s face. Then he returned his attention to Brooke, racing across the
damp, dark earth at top speed. He could hear her sobbing as she approached. 
Dallas bailed from his charger and held out his arms, softly encouraging her to
come to him. Brooke picked up the pace and threw herself into her husband’s
open arms, so hard that Dallas nearly toppled over with the force of her hit. 

Hysterical
sobs filled the air as Braxton dismounted his charger and went to Dallas and
Brooke, a mass of hugging warmth in the dark of the night. Braxton could feel
the emotion radiating from the pair; in fact, he had quite enough of his own as
he reached out and tried to separate them.

“Brooke,
sweetheart,” he got his big hands around her head, forcing her to look at him
ever though she was in her husband’s arms. “Where is your mother?”