Chapter Thirty-Four

A nnora stood back with Earl Robert and the Norwood brothers as she watched the men continue to batter Meregate’s portcullis and door. ’Twas the only thing that stood in the way of reaching her son and Richard. There could be no mistaking the sound of a battle taking place within the courtyard. The sound of steel sheering off steel was a sound a person did not forget. How many years had she herself been thrust in the heat of one battle after another, forced to fight for her life? Too many and now her breath hitched at what awaited them inside. More than fear for her own safety, she worried about Richard’s fate.

When the portcullis began to rise, she had hope for the first time this morn. The earl began bellowing orders to get the heavy gate propped up in the event that the men inside manipulating the wheels failed to continue to gain ground, and the barrier once more came crashing down. The knights fitted a heavy piece of wood between two of the spikes as an anchor, and then the earl’s men began pouring into the inner bailey. Annora rushed forward with them, her sword raised to assist with the fight.

She saw her beloved Richard fighting with one of Clifton Tashe’s knights. The man himself stood at a safe distance away from the fighting. Annora was not surprised that the man was too much of a coward to dirty his hands even to defend what he claimed to think of as his. Still, he shouted insults toward Richard as if to taunt the man. Annora began fighting her way to give aid if Richard should have need of it. ’Twas not hard to catch their conversation as she drew closer.

Richard slashed his sword at this adversary who fell to the ground in a moan. He then turned toward Clifton who at last raised his own blade to defend himself.

Richard aimed the point of his sword toward Tashe. “Yield the day and call off your men. You may then live to breathe yet another day,” he ordered with a deepening scowl upon his brow.

Clifton smirked, no doubt feeling superior to the man before him. “You were one of the men at my gates when you arrived with the woman who will be my wife,” he stated snidely.

A snort of disdain left Richard. “As was the Earl of Gloucester if you recall.”

“Bah! I care not for some titled knight who is but a bastard,” Clifton retorted waving his sword in front of him. “I only care that I can kill the vermin who is trying to steal my woman and this estate from me.”

“She is hardly your woman,” Richard scoffed with a sneer. “Look around you and concede, Tashe. The earl’s men have yours surrounded and are falling one by one. You are outnumbered. If you wish to live, yield and you may be allowed to return to your own lands to live out your life.”

Annora held the knight she had been fighting at bay with the tip of her blade. He held up his hands and dropped his sword. Several of the earl’s men came and took the man away and she at last saw Merek rushing toward her. Thank heavens he was still alive!

She turned her attention to Richard and watched whilst panic flashed quickly across Tashe’s visage. The realization that he was losing Meregate was finally penetrating his thick skull.

A bellow of outrage left him. “Who are you but some mercenary out for fame and coins to fill your coffers. Surely you jest if you think that Lady Annora would be with you.”

Annora had heard enough. “You insult Lord Richard Grancourt, you scum,” she said fuming in self-righteous anger.

Richard made an attempt to hold her back. “I can handle him, my dear.”

“Aye, I know you more than capable, but this is my score to settle,” she said stepping forward.

Richard gave a short bow and waved his hand. “Then by all means, my lady.”

“You would allow a woman to fight in your stead?” Clifton tilted his head back and laughed whilst inspecting her from head to toe. “You think you can best me? A mere woman?”

“With one hand tied behind my back if necessary,” Annora jeered. “Let us be done with this so I can fulfill by oath to see you in hell for killing my husband and withholding my child from me.”

“You think you are so brave, but you will not win this day,” Tashe declared as he swung his blade toward her head.

With his first swing, Annora could see at once that Clifton was heavy footed. While he might be strong, he was nowhere near as deft as she, nor did he have her training or experience. Annora easily dodged the move and countered quickly. As the fight continued, metal gnashed against metal and Annora clearly had the upper hand. He began to rapidly tire from his efforts.

“I am thrilled you did not yield the day as Lord Grancourt offered. I will not be so merciful after all you have done to my family and those under my care. I will gain far more pleasure knowing you died by my sword and that I will never again have to worry about you being a troublesome neighbor at the edges of my land,” Annora declared as she continued swinging her blade.

“You will be my wife,” he bellowed before he lunged toward Annora who ducked beneath his arm.

As she twirled around, her sword sliced at his arm, and she watched in satisfaction as the blade dropped and blood began dripping from the wound.

But still Tashe was not about to concede defeat. He pulled a dagger from the waist of his belt and began slashing the blade in front of Annora who was unbothered by this attempt as if a fly was buzzing in front of her face to pester her. Her amusement rang out only causing fury to erupt from Clifton once more.

“You bitch! I will kill you for your insolence,” he screamed swinging wildly through the air with his dagger.

“Never again will you step foot on my grounds and torment me or my people,” she warned with a grin, filled with satisfaction at the knowledge that she would finally have her retribution. “You took my husband’s life and held my son hostage. Never again shall you harm those in my care. You shall rot in my pit after I am done with you.”

Tashe swung the knife again, but he truly was no match for her skill with her weapon. Annora easily knocked the dagger from his hand and the blade went skidding across the stones of the courtyard. She was about to claim her win when she heard a voice call out “Mama!”

Distracted, she turned toward the sound, and Clifton took advantage of the moment to charge toward her, seizing hold of her sword and wrenching it from her fist.

“I hope you enjoy hell, Annora,” Clifton sneered as he drew the sword above his head.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Leif toss a dagger in her direction. It fell just short of her hand. She hurriedly spun over the ground, reaching for the blade. Coming to her knees, she plunged the dagger forward and upward into the stomach of Tashe whose eyes mirrored his shock that she had succeeded in striking a fatal blow.

Her sword fell behind him with a clang before Tashe tumbled backwards. Blood splattered from his mouth as he pulled out the dagger. He grasped at the place the blade pierced his body, as if he still could not bring himself to believe that he’d been wounded.

“I will see you in hell for this,” he sneered before a gurgle left him. Then his eyes went blank and Tashe knew no more.

Annora scanned the courtyard, and she opened her arms whilst her son came running to her. She pulled the frail boy into her embrace and promised herself she would see to the feast herself to ensure he would no longer be hungry.

“You gave me such a fright,” she whispered to Leif whilst he continued to keep his arms around her waist.

Richard joined them and ruffled his hair. “He is much like you, Annora. Never listens and does not stay where he is told.”

Leif peeked up from the security of her arms to stare upon the knight. “I told you I could help.”

“And help you did but I am certain your mother could have handled the situation herself,” Richard proclaimed before reaching out to cup her cheeks. “Did he hurt you?”

“Nary a scratch.” She beamed with pride. “My thanks for allowing me to dispatch the scoundrel.”

“You are well rid of him. At the very least, you will not have to worry over another attack from your neighbor,” Richard declared pulling Annora into his embrace.

Annora rested her head upon his chest hearing the beating of his heart. “You survived the climb,” she murmured, even though that much was obvious, since she was standing here in his arms.

“I almost did not. If your son and Edme had not come to my aid, I am certain we would not now be having this conversation,” Richard admitted.

Her gaze traveled to the Norwood brothers who stood with Earl Robert as they clasped each other’s hands in friendship. “Do you suppose you will need to continue your service to the earl and Empress?” she asked not daring to think of being separated from Richard again.

“I will ask to be released so we might wed. That is, if you will have me,” he teased bending down to kiss the top of her head.

“Gladly,” she answered with a sincere heart. “Will we live here or at Lyndhurst?”

“Mayhap we shall divide our time between both, but we shall figure out our living arrangements once we have put Meregate back into proper order,” Richard declared. “Come, let us go see to your people and ensure they have a proper meal. I will not have our boy starving another day.”

“Our boy… I like the sound of that,” Annora said smiling as she took Richard’s hand and reached for Leif’s.

Her future appeared secure with Richard, and as the day progressed into the eve, she could only marvel on all she had gone through to finally have all she desired. Her son safe and secure in her arms. Her home back under her control in the name of Empress Matilda. And Richard… a man she would have only dreamed of and one she would love until the end of her days. Together they would carve out a bright new future. She had found her home in the arms of the Knight of Mayhem. May their days and nights be forever peaceful.