The Wildcat of Braeton

by Claire M Banschbach

  Aiden slept little that night. Just before dawn, the Durnians broke through.

  Chapter 10

  Adalwulf marched through the ruined gates and stood gazing through the rain at the silent keep as his army filed in behind him. Aiden found himself standing beside Rona again. She wore the brigandine and had found time to pull her hair back into several intertwining braids. She grasped a spear taken from the extra weapons piled at every station. Tam and Blair stood to his left, hastily eating breakfast.

  “When do you think he’ll attack?” Blair asked.

  “Well, it’s commonly known that there’s nothing like a dawn attack tae get your day off tae a wonderful start,” Aiden replied. Tam saw the slight smile on his face and grinned.

  “Have you done this often, sir?” Rona asked.

  “You mean barricade myself in with dangerous, spear-carrying women? No, this is a first,” Aiden replied. His smile was impossible to resist, and Rona smiled.

  “No, defending places like this?” she specified.

  “A few times. Don’t worry, it’s easier than you’d think,” came his cheerful, if slightly false, response. But his words had the desired effect as the defenders within earshot straightened and grasped their weapons with renewed confidence.

  “Aiden, I know you’re in there! Come out and talk!” Adalwulf shouted.

  “Ah, Adalwulf! I would love tae, but I’m just finishing breakfast,” Aiden called back.

  Tam and Blair grinned over their own meal, though they knew Aiden hadn’t touched food since the day before.

  Adalwulf caught sight of him leaning on the sill of the window.

  “I come to offer you one last chance to surrender,” he called.

  Aiden gave a show of pondering the statement before answering, “I’m still not interested. Surrender is not really my style.”

  Adalwulf smiled thinly. “Even so, how long do you think you can last? You do not have many men. Look! You are reduced to having women fight!” He pointed at Rona.

  “What’s the matter, Adalwulf? Jealous you didn’t think of it first?” Aiden retorted quickly, prompting laughter from his men and even a few smiles from the Durnians.

  “Last chance, Braeton! March out here, and I will spare your lives.”

  “I don’t think so. I like it fine in here. Did I mention that it’s dry?”

  “I will not ask again. Even if you beg for mercy I will not hear it!” Adalwulf thundered.

  “Pity. I was really beginning tae enjoy our talks.” Aiden’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “How is your father, Aiden?” Adalwulf matched his smile.

  Aiden gripped Tam’s arm as he moved, tightening his hold to warn his brother against giving an angry reply.

  “He’s fine. He doesn’t send his love if that’s what you were wondering.” Aiden’s careless smile still showed but Adalwulf’s faltered for a moment.

  Adalwulf stepped back and raised his hand. When he brought it down, the Durnians charged forward.

  “Archers, fire as quickly as you like!” Aiden called. Jamey relayed his order to the men upstairs. “Cai, watch for any that try tae come around back!”

  The front rank of Durnians raised their shields to protect themselves. The defenders angled their bows so their arrows would pass over the shield wall and into the ranks behind it. Despite the confusion, Adalwulf’s men advanced steadily.

  As the Durnians reached the windows, they were forced to drop their shields to attack which left them open to the thrusting spears and claymores. The warriors on the second floor kept a steady hail of arrows raining down on the Durnians.

  Midday, Adalwulf drew his men back, having met with little success against the solid walls and their defenders. The women not fighting made the rounds, giving food and drinks to the warriors. Aiden also went around with Skive as the burly warrior tended to the wounded.

  As the afternoon passed quietly, Aiden relieved half the defenders. He appointed Cai, with three other men and a woman, to patrol the upper floors and towers. They would have a clear view around the fortress from the unblocked windows and apertures while remaining out of range of the enemy.

  The night also passed uneventfully, and as the next day dawned it became apparent what had kept the Durnians busy. The enemy advanced again, bearing rough ladders in their midst. The ladders were placed against the second floor windows as fresh forces assaulted the lower level.

  “Dillon, take seven men and reinforce upstairs. See if you can get rid of those ladders!” Aiden shouted as the Durnians began to scale the wall. A badly wounded warrior reeled back from a window. Aiden drew one of his swords and sprang to take his place.

  Adalwulf pressed the attack all day long. Dillon and his men managed to dislodge one of the ladders. It snapped in half as it hit the ground. The Durnians withdrew as night fell, taking the two remaining ladders with them. Aiden took count of his warriors, finding that three were dead, two were mortally wounded, and many others were hurt in some way, including himself. The dead were wrapped in clean plaid cloaks and laid in an adjacent chamber with their weapons.

  Aiden saw Rona sitting on a bench by the hearth, trying to clean a cut on her cheek.

  “You look like you could use some help,” he said, going over to her.

  She blushed a little but handed him the cloth. He tilted her face toward the light and dampened the cloth. After cleaning and wiping the blood from her face, he gave her a clean cloth that she pressed against the cut.

  “Are you hurt anywhere else?” Aiden asked.

  “Nothing bad. I’m all right, unlike so many others,” Rona answered. “You?”

  “Och, I’m fine. And no, you don’t get tae ask me if that’s really true.”

  Rona smiled as she took the cloth from her cheek. “I thought you might say that.”

  Aiden only smiled and walked away.

  Later, Tam came to relieve Aiden on sentry duty. He was just in time as he caught Aiden stifling a yawn.

  “Aiden, when was the last time you slept? Or ate, for that matter?” Tam asked.

  “Sometime yesterday. You all right?” Aiden smothered another yawn.

  “I think so. This is my first battle. I’d rather be singing about it,” Tam said.

  “Believe me, brother, I wish you were too,” Aiden said before stumbling off to snatch a few hours of sleep.

  The next morning, Cai reported that a few Durnians had been seen circling the fortress, but nothing had happened. The enemy made no attacks that morning. Aiden was relieved as it gave him a chance to reposition his men.

  “Aiden, are you hearing this?” Jamey asked. They looked out of the second story window to see Torsten strutting in front of the Durnians.

  “Braeton! Where are you hiding, coward?” Torsten shouted.

  “I’m here, scum!” Aiden shouted back.

  Torsten smiled as he gazed up at Aiden. “We have yet to meet in battle, Braeton. My axe waits to greet you.”

  “Tell your master tae call off his men, and we’ll face each other alone,” Aiden replied.

  “I am not here to deliver challenges,” Torsten said. “Only to tell you that we caught the one called Ranulf as he ran. I slew him myself.”

  Aiden was caught off guard and stood in silence.

  “We will meet again, Braeton! Fate decrees it!” Torsten sneered.

  “Then you had better hope she’s on your side.” Aiden turned from the window to confront the stricken faces of the defenders.

  “Aiden, do you think it’s true?” Dillon asked.

  “I don’t know. Adalwulf might be bluffing. Get ready, they’re going tae attack again,” Aiden said as the Durnians began to advance, beating their shields with axe blades and bearing the ladders.

  Aiden sent more men upstairs as he rushed to help the lower floor. This attack lasted well into the night before Adalwulf called his men off. Four more Braetons lay dead, but Dillon and his men had destroyed the remaining two siege ladders.

  As ever
ything quieted in the fortress, Aiden heard his name called. A young woman pushed toward him, and he recognized Brighde, Ranulf’s betrothed.

  “Is it true? Is Ranulf dead?” she demanded, tears filling her eyes.

  Aiden saw that everyone had gathered to hear what he would say. “I think he’s still alive. Torsten offered no proof that he had actually killed Ranulf. Adalwulf must have figured out that Ranulf is gone because he hasn’t been seen here. They didn’t say anything about Artair or the men with him either.”

  The hall sighed in relief at his explanation. Brighde thanked him and gave him a quick hug.

  “How long until Ranulf and Artair can make it back?” Blair asked worriedly.

  “It would take at least two days tae reach Clan Mavor,” Dillon said.

  “Add two days at least for them tae raise the warriors and another two tae return,” Aiden said. “We’ve already held out for three days. They could already be on their way back. We only need tae last a few more days.”

  “Do you believe that we can?” Tam asked after the others had left.

  “We have tae. There is no other way,” Aiden replied.

  * * *

  Adalwulf sat by a blazing campfire. The sun had broken through the heavy clouds the day before, and the ground had finally begun to dry. But the remaining dampness was the least of his concerns. His bluff earlier had seemed to affect the Braetons somewhat, yet they still held firm. He had lost almost a third of his force and still gotten nowhere. He was fairly sure that Aiden had tried to send for reinforcements, but he was confident that his still large army could handle it.

  But there was his main problem. He needed to get rid of the stubborn young Braeton. Once Aiden was out of the way, the defenders would crumble. He watched Torsten prowl on the other side of the fire, and suddenly a solution came to him.

  “Torsten!” he snapped.

  “My lord!” Torsten came to attention.

  “Do you think you can defeat Gòrdan’s son in combat?”

  “I know I can, sir!” Torsten snarled.

  Adalwulf sniffed. “You will get your chance, but first, I will make certain precautions before we challenge. Here is what I intend to do.”

  * * *

  No attack came at all the next day. Aiden doubled up the warriors. One rested while the other stood watch. He himself didn’t rest. He wished Ahmed or Corin were there with him. Then he wouldn’t feel as burdened with the hopelessness of the situation. As night fell again, he sat by the doors, sharpening his swords and striving to stay awake. He sheathed his last blade, and a new wave of weariness swept over him. His eyes closed against his will and he slept.

  Sometime later, he heard someone calling his name and was shaken awake. He opened his eyes with an effort and saw Tam.

  “Aiden, we’ve got a problem.”

  Aiden rubbed his eyes as Cai came up behind Tam.

  “We saw two groups of Durnians start tae come around the keep. It looks like they’re going tae try the side doors,” Cai reported.

  “Tam, take eight men and take one door. Dillon, take another eight and get tae the other door. Do whatever you can tae stop them!” Aiden ordered.

  Dillon hastily unbarred the door and risked a glance outside. The Durnians hadn’t arrived yet. He sent his men out into the darkness to wait. The Durnians came around the corner of the fortress and came to the door. They turned at the faint ring of steel behind them and found themselves surrounded by the cold-eyed Braeton warriors.

  Tam and his men removed the barricade protecting their door. The leader of the small group of Durnians tested the latch. To his surprise, it swung open. As the last soldier stepped inside, the door was slammed shut and guarded by Skive and a snarling Illyria. The Durnians had no choice but to face Tam and his warriors.

  The main gates also came under attack. A sentry reported that enemy soldiers, well sheltered behind shields, were laying up wood and brush against the doors. Aiden called Jamey and Blair over and explained his counterplan.

  He watched through a crack as a warrior carried a torch forward to light the fuel. Aiden tipped a nod to Jamey and Blair, and they hauled the doors open and sprang out. A shout echoed from the darkness, and more Durnians rushed forward.

  Aiden sprang down the steps to engage them as Blair and Jamey dragged the wood inside. As they finished, two warriors stepped forward and fired the defender’s last arrows at the Durnians, allowing Aiden to retreat. But as he turned up the steps, a crossbow bolt whistled from the darkness. The sword fell from his right hand, and he staggered. Jamey bounded forward and dragged him inside.

  By skill or luck, the bolt had hit between two metal links high on Aiden’s right shoulder. Jamey pulled the arrow from Aiden’s shoulder and then helped him take off the armored tunic so that Rona could bandage the wound. Aiden pushed her hand away and stood as he saw the other men return and the body they bore.

  Outside, Adalwulf smiled. He had seen Aiden take the arrow. He could almost taste victory.

  Chapter 11

  Dillon lay on the floor, his chest torn open by a battle axe. Skive knelt by Dillon, but Aiden knew the young man was dying. Blair pushed forward to kneel beside his brother. Blair grasped Dillon’s hand as he choked out some words. Blair understood and took Dillon’s sword from one of the men and wrapped his brother’s hand around the hilt. A smile spread over Dillon’s face, and a few seconds later he died.

  “We took care of the Durnians. The doors are locked and barricaded again,” Tam said quietly to Aiden. Then he noticed Aiden holding his shoulder steady. “You’re hurt!”

  “It’s not bad,” Aiden replied.

  “It won’t be if you let us bandage it,” Rona put in.

  She and Jamey took Aiden over to a bench and forced him to sit down. Jamey helped Aiden pull off his shirt as Rona cleaned and bandaged the wound. Aiden winced as he pulled his shirt back on. He saw Blair, dry-eyed, beginning to sharpen his claymore. Aiden knew the look in his eyes; Blair would have his revenge.

  * * *

  Aiden waited in the shadows of the hall as Blair quietly un-boarded a window. He moved forward as the last piece of wood came free.

  Blair started. “How long were you watching me?”

  “Long enough tae know that you’re about tae do something stupid,” Aiden said.

  “Don’t stop me. I will avenge my brother.”

  “I won’t stop you. I’ll just follow tae bring your half-dead body back and finish the job myself,” Aiden replied.

  “You’re the one who said we should fight and avenge ourselves!” Blair argued.

  “I said we should stand up for what is ours. You know that. Are you doing this for Dillon or for you?”

  “I only need tae find one man.”

  “Out of three hundred still out there? You’ll be killed, Blair! We’ve lost too many men already. Don’t make us lose another.”

  “What would you have me do?” Blair demanded.

  “Wait. You will get your chance, I promise,” Aiden said.

  “You had better be right,” Blair warned.

  They blocked the window again and returned to the hall.

  Adalwulf ordered another dawn attack to test the resolve of the defenders. It was well into the afternoon when he strode forward and halted in the center of the courtyard.

  “Aiden!” he shouted.

  Aiden leaned on the window, trying not to show his weariness.

  “I thought we weren’t talking, Adalwulf. Or are you here tae surrender?”

  “Unfortunately, I do not surrender either,” Adalwulf replied. “I come to discuss another matter. So far you and your people have held against me. I wish to avoid this pointless bloodshed by offering you a challenge.”

  “I’ll listen.” Aiden knew he really didn’t have a choice.

  Adalwulf smiled. “A duel between our best fighters: Torsten and yourself. Do you accept?”

  Aiden was tired, hungry, and wounded, and he saw from Adalwulf’s smile that he knew that. B
ut here was a chance to end it.

  “Under what terms?”

  “You fought in the South. You know their arrange-ment,” Adalwulf answered.

  Aiden knew all too well. But he had more than himself to think of. He hesitated only a moment before he replied. “I accept, Adalwulf. But on the understanding that there is a truce between us until the fight.”

  “I accept. You will meet tomorrow at noon where I stand now.”

  Aiden nodded his understanding, and they withdrew.

  “What were the terms?” Tam asked.

  “Total surrender. We fight tae the death,” Aiden replied.

  “But, Aiden, you’re hurt!” Jamey said.

  “I know, but he challenged me. I had tae accept under those terms,” Aiden said.

  Realization broke over Jamey’s face. “He knew! That was his plan last night!”

  Aiden only nodded. “At least I have until tomorrow. I need tae find a new sword.”

  His comrades saw the empty scabbard hanging over his shoulder as he strode off. Jamey cursed roundly.

  “He’ll be crippled with that shoulder and having tae use a different weapon!” Tam said. “What do we do?”

  “Keep calm for now,” Blair said. “He wouldn’t have accepted if he couldn’t do it.”

  That had to be enough reassurance for the others, and they gradually dispersed.

  Ailsa came to find Aiden in the early evening.

  “Sir, Laird Gòrdan is awake and asking for you,” she said.

  Aiden fought away the feeling of dread that came over him. He didn’t think he could handle another outburst from his father, but he turned and made his way slowly to the end of the hall where Skive treated the wounded warriors.

  He found Laird Gòrdan sitting up on the rough pallet, a bloody bandage wrapped around his forehead. Aiden crouched beside him.

  “You wanted tae see me, sir?” he asked.

  “Yes, but I didn’t expect you tae come,” Laird Gòrdan replied.

  “Well, I’m here.” Aiden couldn’t keep the sharp edge from his voice.