Chapter Thirty

Meregate Castle

A n overwhelming rush of anger raced through every inch of Annora’s weary body. How she wished she could break down with her own two fists the barrier keeping her from her son. She tilted her head back staring up at the huge wooden door behind the spiked portcullis that was buried deep in the ground. ’Twould take more than her strength alone to break down such an obstacle. Aye… every knight they had brought with them would need to be involved including the weight of a heavy battering ram. She was unsure how much more her heart could take knowing her son resided just on the other side of these barriers.

A reassuring hand was placed around her shoulders and Richard bent down to whisper in her ear. “We will save him, Annora. Have no fear.”

“I have been scared for my son’s safety from the moment I was parted from his side. Until he is in my arms again, I will worry over his well-being,” she confessed with a catch in her terrified voice.

Richard pulled her closer. “Given all you have told me of Leif, he will be fine. We just need to convince whoever holds Meregate to release it back into your control.”

She wished to believe ’twould be as simple as he had said, but the heaviness of her heart betrayed her. She could not help but feel that she had failed her people and son. “I know you and I have good intentions of this fiasco being over soon, Richard, but let us face the truth of the matter. I cannot imagine the steward giving up the castle so readily—especially if it is still Tashe in that role.”

The earl stepped forward as he, too, assessed the castle. “I will admit the defenses of your castle are indeed superior and will hinder our ability to easily breach them.”

Richard nodded. “My hope had been that the steward would have been lacking in making repairs from when Stephen overtook the place.”

“Tashe had taken little pains to make any repairs that I could see when I was last here. But much to my dismay, this is no longer the case. The repairs leave me to believe that another is now controlling Meregate,” Annora declared sourly. They looked upwards again to see if the steward would finally grace them with his company on the battlement walls above. For a certainty, his guards had informed them of their presence by now. It only remained to be seen how he would respond. ’Twas highly doubtful he would open the portcullis to have a conversation with them without the security of the barred entrance.

The small group standing before the castle entrance moved backward when the sound of the chainmail from the knights above proved they were making a stand on the battlement high overhead. A dozen knights that Annora did not recognized formed a line giving further proof that her own men were most likely rotting away once more in the bowels of Meregate’s dungeon.

Annora shielded her eyes from the sun as she searched for sight of at least one familiar face. She grimaced when her worst fears were confirmed. Merek had been unable to take back the castle in her name. A scuffle above their heads broke out and her hand went to her throat when Clifton Tashe stepped forward with her son’s tunic clenched in one meaty fist. The boy cried out her name.

“Is that Tashe?” Richard asking, taking a hold of her hand and giving it a squeeze. He then exchanged a silent look with Earl Robert.

“Aye,” she murmured. Anger like she had never felt before consumed her knowing Stephen had not kept his word to replace the man who thought more of himself than those he would govern. Richard was right… Stephen would have sooner seen her die on some battlefield than to ever let her govern Meregate again.

“Leif,” Annora whispered but before she could call the cur out for his rough treatment of a mere boy, the earl stepped forward and took over the situation.

“Clifton Tashe, you are hereby ordered to surrender Meregate Castle in the name of Empress Matilda,” Robert bellowed whilst keeping his hand upon the hilt of his sword.

Laughter erupted from Tashe as he gave Leif a shake. “I do not answer to some lackey for a woman whose attempt to gain England’s throne has failed her. My allegiance is to King Stephen, so begone with you.”

“Lackey?” Richard snarled softly at the insult to the earl. “I wish this scum was before me so I could gut him like a pig.”

The earl chuckled. “You may yet have your chance, Richard.” Robert seemingly let the insult slide before he took one look upon Annora. “Lady de Maris, mayhap ’twould be best if you removed yourself from this confrontation.”

Annora shook her head, lifting her chin. “Nay. I will remain, my lord.” A snort left the earl as if he waited for her to collapse. But Annora was made of sterner stuff, and despite her fear for her son, she would not give Tashe the satisfaction of witnessing her fainting.

“Very well,” the earl replied before once again giving his attention to the commotion taking place on the battlements. “At the very least, release Leif de Maris and so that we may return him to his mother.”

“The boy goes nowhere. He is the reason the lady has fought for the King. I can see for myself that once you leave my gates, I will need to inform His Majesty that her allegiance has changed.”

“They are not your gates, you bloody cur,” Annora shouted, foolishly letting Tashe’s words get under her skin.

“Tsk, tsk, Annora… is that any way to have speech with the man who watches over your son?” he questioned her before shoving Leif to one of his knights. “Take him back to his room and be sure there is a guard at his door.”

“Leif, we will save you,” Annora yelled at the frightened boy before he was taken from her view.

Tashe leaned an arm on the stone wall to look down upon them. “Begone with you,” Clifton repeated, but the sly grin on his face was a warning to those standing below that he had a sinister trick in mind.

They jumped back quickly—and just in time before a large vat of scalding oil was emptied. Richard took her arm as they ran a short distance away. Tashe’s men laughed at their plight. They had at least made an attempt to get the man to see reason, but Annora had already known Tashe was a stubborn lout. He would never willingly give in to their demands.

The earl began to storm away with Richard and Annora following him. “Set up camp, Grancourt. We will be here for a while,” the earl said as he went to see to his own lodgings.

Once they were alone, Richard pulled Annora into his arms and she rested her head upon his chest. “I want my son,” she cried before her sobs were muffled as she buried her face in his tabard.

“You will have him soon, my dearest,” Richard replied as he smoothed down her hair. He took her chin so he could stare into her eyes. “We must needs make camp. Will you stay with me or should I have another tent set up for you?”

“You have to ask?” she queried with a confused frown.

“I do not wish to take anything from you that you would not willing give, Annora. Never again will I take you hostage or hold you against your will. The first two times nearly did me in since it went against all I hold dear.”

She reached up to caress his cheek. “I do not wish to be parted from you, Richard. Aye… I will stay with you for always.”

“Your words give me hope for our future,” Richard stated leaning down to place a quick kiss upon her lips. “Let us away and see to getting ourselves settled. The sooner we can claim Meregate, the soon our lives together as a family can begin.”

She took his arm as he escorted her back toward her horse and the rest of the men. She only looked over her shoulder once to gaze upon her home. She vowed she would free her son and people soon even if ’twas the last thing she ever did. Let the siege of Meregate begin!