I can hear Ogern’s voice above a noise of horses and weapons from the side of the main stable. I move closer and turn Rol in against a wall where we won’t be seen. Ogern’s voice rises and falls in hypnotic cadences.
“The ones from the North are our allies. They ride here now to assist us against Arthur’s men.”
A voice calls out, “And where is our chief? I am sworn to stand beside Belert.”
Ogern answers, “Belert is mad. He can no longer lead you. His decisions are flawed.”
“Where is he?” another voice asks.
“I do not know,” Ogern says. “If he were able to lead you, would he not be here when a battle rages outside our gates?”
There is a confusion of voices. One sounds above the others. “Then let us hold from the battle. It is not clear to me that we should ally with the painted ones.”
“Aye. Until we have a council we cannot determine the wisest course.”
Ogern’s voice is shrill. “I tell you we must drive Arthur’s men from our gates. They would drag us into alliance with old enemies in the South.”
“I don’t care what you say, Ogern. I’m for pushing the painted ones back behind Red Mountain where they belong. If Arthur’s men oppose them, I fight under the dragon.”
I pull Rol back farther into a space between two houses as a group of horsemen leaves the stable area and heads for the gate. As they pass through the entrance, I can see a banner with black background and a goshawk outlined in white needlework. The familiar battle cry begins as they move out of sight into the inner ring.
Ogern’s voice still sounds from the other side of the building. “Let them go, then. The rest of you follow me! We’ll force Arthur’s men out of the North and ally with Northmen.”
The voice I heard first speaks again. “I’ll wait here, Ogern. I’ve no desire to get into a fight when I’m not sure which side I’m on. I still want to hear from Belert. He’s our chief, and we have no reason to abandon him.”
“He won’t be chief for long. Cara is dead. Remember?” Ogern’s voice is hoarse from shouting.
“I’ll wait here, too. If the fight comes inside, I’ll decide who to join.” This is a new voice. Ogern is having little success.
The group around Ogern seems to be staying there, so I ease Rol out from between the houses and head him down the center courtyard toward the Great Hall. As I approach, I can see the reason Belert is not at the head of his war band.
The five horsemen who entered the gates ahead of Spusscio are behind the Great Hall. Spusscio is there also; his black mare rears and plunges as he attempts to keep the five away from his chief. Belert, sword drawn, stands beside Cormec. Resad must have brought the others straight back to Belert’s quarters.
When I reach the group, I signal Rol. He rears and strikes at a big gray stallion. Spusscio uses the distraction to unhorse a man whose face is covered with blue tattoos. Cormec leaps forward and pulls another from his horse. I find myself face to face with Resad. My shield takes the blow from his sword, and I attempt to thrust behind his guard. He is too quick for me; my sword glances off his shield. The interchange moves us past each other, and I turn Rol to join Spusscio in maintaining a defense between the attackers and Belert. Cormec has dispatched the man he pulled to the ground and moved back beside Belert. Resad and his two companions still on horseback push against us, and Resad’s black stallion attacks Rol. Staying in the saddle takes all my attention for a time.
With our horses rearing and plunging, Resad and I try to keep shields in place and exchange sword thrusts. Our activity takes us past the living quarters and back near the rampart wall. I pull Rol’s head down and force him to move away from the other horse. I need to regain control of him and try to move in on Resad’s left side. I shift my shield to my right arm and my sword to my left before I urge Rol back to charge my opponent again.
The ruse works, and we are upon him before he realizes what I have done. Even if he can handle a sword with his left hand, he does not have time to shift before I attack. He keeps his shield in place but cannot reach across effectively with his sword. I keep thrusting and finally unhorse him with a strong blow that glances off his shield and onto his helmet.
He rolls over in the dust and tries to regain his feet. I dismount and move in to disarm him before he can stand. Out of the corner of my eye I see Rol advance against the black horse. I kick Resad’s sword arm as he is clambering to his feet. He loses his balance and sprawls on the ground. His sword flies out of his hand. I wait, holding my sword, until he rolls over.
When his eyes meet mine, there is no fear, no sign that he’s at my mercy. Instead, I see the same mocking smile I remember from our encounter at the fork.
Suddenly an arm locks around my neck, and I am jerked backward. I try to swing my sword over my head but stop when I feel the sharp edge of a dirk against my throat.
Resad scrambles to his feet and takes my sword and shield from me. He lays them in the dirt and picks up his own blade. “Looks like we have her.”
“Yes.” It is Ogern’s voice in my ear. “We’ll be sure she’s dealt with this time.”
“We dare not kill her here,” Resad says.
“Out the back exit. We’ll throw her in the pit with the other one. We can dispose of her later.”
My battle with Resad has carried us far from Belert and Spusscio. I can see Rol in the distance still fighting with Resad’s stallion, but no one is in a position to notice that I need help. When I open my mouth to call out, Ogern tightens the blade against my throat.
They drag me along beside the rampart wall toward the back entrance. I can hear battle sounds in the distance and, closer, the noise of fighting stallions; otherwise the fortress is quiet. If Belert and Spusscio still engage Resad’s allies, the sounds are too muffled to hear at this distance.
We reach a wide ladder that leads to the top of the rampart wall. The back entrance is ahead of us, and I can hear surf roaring below the wall beside us.
“Ilena! Ilena!” It is Durant’s voice. “Ilena! Where are you?” He sounds close for a moment, then farther as he moves on toward the Great Hall.
I struggle to speak, and the dirk cuts into my skin. I freeze in place and feel warm blood trickle down my neck. Resad steps to my side and grasps my arm. The shouts grow close again. Now I can hear Belert’s voice. Both men call my name. I want to answer, but I know the knife will finish its job if I try.
“Hold, Ogern!” Belert’s voice rings with authority. He appears from between two houses with his sword raised. When he sees the dirk at my throat, he lowers his weapon and stops.
Resad lets go of my arm and steps in front of Ogern and me.
“Let her go.” Durant has come up beside Belert. “Your forces are retreating outside the walls. You’ll not gain anything by harming her.”
Resad speaks to Ogern. “Get her up on the ramparts! I’ll keep them here.”
Ogern pulls me to the ladder and begins climbing. At first I move as slowly as I can, but the dirk presses harder, and I climb with him. There are shouts and sounds of a scuffle below. Ogern pauses, then moves faster. He is gulping deep, ragged breaths now, and I can feel his heart racing against my back. I hear the clash of sword on sword behind us.
We climb onto the walltop, and I catch a glimpse of the fight at the bottom of the ladder. Resad and Durant are trading sword thrusts. Belert is trying to edge past them to get onto the steps.
Ogern drags me along the rampart to a section that lies directly above the cliff. A wicker wall rises shoulder-high around most of the fortress. Here on the sea side there is no danger from slingstones or arrows, so there is no shield. The stone outer shell of the rampart rises less than knee-high above the earthen walkway. When we stop, the view is straight down onto surf-drenched rocks far below.
I am terrified as I guess Ogern’s intentions.
“Ogern!” Belert’s voice sounds behind us.
Ogern whirls us around.
Belert stands,
sword in hand, a few feet from us. “Let her go. The lass has never harmed you.”
“Never harmed me? She keeps me from my rightful place as ruler of Dun Alyn. I should have been chief when my sister died, but Cara brought you here. You encouraged her to leave the old ways. Now I will be chief, and Dun Alyn will return to the ancient truths.”
“You have been Druid since long before I came,” Belert says. “You have been a good Druid, with your people’s welfare always your first concern.”
“It is still my concern,” Ogern says. “You supported Cara in forcing me to stop the rituals in the Oak Grove. When you deserted the old religion, Dun Alyn fell farther and farther from its true path.”
“We have not deserted the old ways,” Belert says.
“Cara ordered you to stop the human sacrifices. That is the only change.”
“No. You ally us with enemies from the West and the South and even try to make a pact with Arthur. His people have never been our friends.”
I can feel Ogern’s breathing get faster and faster. Belert is inching toward us. It takes a few moments for Ogern to notice.
“Stop! Don’t come any closer.” I feel his arm tighten around my waist. The knife quivers against my throat.
Belert is motionless now. “Let her go, Ogern. You already have the deaths of Cara and Miquain on your head. Do not kill another innocent woman.”
Ogern’s voice is shrill now and he speaks rapidly. “I warned them. ‘Stay inside,’ I said. I would have made peace with the attackers. Resad speaks their language. But they raced out to do battle.” He backs closer to the low outside wall that edges the rampart and swings me around so that I am next to the drop-off.
Belert lays his sword on the walkway. His voice is quiet but his words are clear. “Let Ilena go. I will take her place. When you’ve killed me, she will go away and leave you in control.”
I can feel Ogern’s body tense as he considers this.
“If you hurt her, I will not let you live. If you release her, I will stand before you unarmed.” The chief takes the dirk from his belt and drops it beside the sword. He moves a step closer to us.
I watch his face. He is sincere. He will put himself in my place.
The Druid yells, “Do not step closer. This one must die. I will deal with you when I am chief.”
“If Ilena is harmed, before God and myself, you will not survive to leave this rampart.” Belert moves another step.
Ogern shifts closer to the edge. My leg presses against the low stone bulwark, and I can see rocks and surf below. We sway together, and Belert pales. Ogern steps backward again and stumbles. The pressure on my throat eases. The knife clatters onto the walkway. I jerk my head back hard against my captor’s shoulder and twist against the arm that binds me to him. The motion throws him farther off balance, and he loses his grip around my waist.
I try to lunge forward, away from him, but he grasps at my arm and hangs on to me. I jerk and twist to free myself. He falls, screaming, over the side and drags me with him.
I catch the top of the wall with my free arm and hang on. Ogern dangles for a terrifying moment from my other arm but loses his grip and crashes onto the rocks far below.
I seem to hang there for a long time. My right arm aches with the weight of my body.
Belert’s voice sounds above the surf and wind. “Grab my hand. It’s to your left—up. Up a little more.”
I scrape my left forearm over the rough wall until I find his hand. I grasp it and feel some of the pressure leave my right shoulder. He pulls until I can grasp the top of the wall with my left hand too. I hang like that for a few moments, with both hands clamped onto the walltop and Belert clasping my wrists.
“I’m going to let go of one arm,” he yells. “Hang on, and I’ll try to reach farther so I can pull you up.”
There is a sickening jolt in my stomach as I feel his hand release my left wrist. I force myself to keep from screaming and try to push my body closer to the wall.
He grasps my left upper arm and says, “Now I’ll let go of your right wrist.”
When he has my right arm secure, we both rest. I can hear his hoarse breathing just above my head.
“If you’re ready,” he says, “we’ll do this again so I can get a better hold.”
This time I end up higher on the wall with his hands under my armpits. I can hook my forearms over the top of the wall. He begins to tug me upward. I try to brace my feet against the wall and walk my way up, but the stone is too wet from sea mist to give any traction for my boots.
Suddenly I feel a pair of strong hands clamp around my waist, and I swing up over the wall. Durant is trembling as he stands me down safely on the rampart floor.
The three of us, Belert still kneeling with his arms resting on the walltop, and Durant and I supporting each other where we stand, look at one another in silence.
There are footsteps on the ladder, and we turn to watch Spusscio appear. His relief at finding us shows on his face.
Belert struggles to his feet and rests his hand on my shoulder.
Spusscio says, “I’ve been searching.” He turns back to the stairs and calls, “Cormec! They’re up here. Safe. Both of them. And Durant.”
When none of us speaks, he continues. “I saw Resad’s body.” He nods to Durant. “You?”
“Aye,” Durant says. “A hard fighter, that one.”
“And Ogern?” Spusscio asks.
Belert points over the rampart.
Spusscio walks to the edge and looks down. He stares at Ogern’s body sprawled below with an expression I can’t read, then turns to me. “Are you all right, lady?”
I nod. “Thanks to Belert… and Durant.”
“How goes it outside?” Belert asks.
“Well enough,” Durant answers. “A troop from Dun Alyn joined us, and the Saxons and painted ones retreated quickly. They make camp now on the edge of the woods to tend their wounded. I’d guess they’ll be gone in the morning.”
Cormec’s voice comes from the ladder. “I’ve brought a torch. Are you coming down?”
The sun has set; we stand in near-darkness on the rampart. The sea wind has freshened, and I shiver with cold. Durant pulls me close to him. His hand feels warm on my cold arm. I let myself lean against him for a moment before I recall Hoel’s words. I stiffen then and move away. He drops his hand and steps back.
I try to pretend I’ve recovered from my fright, but my wobbly legs betray me. Belert notices and offers his arm to steady me as I clamber down the ladder. Once on the ground I take deep breaths and force my body to behave. I cannot see Resad’s body in the pool of light from the torch, but I don’t look too carefully around us.
Cormec holds the torch beside the steps until Spusscio and Durant are down, then turns to Belert. “Your troops are asking about you, sir. Will you speak with them?”
“Aye,” Belert replies. “How many stayed with us?”
“About twenty-five rode out to join the fight. The rest refused to follow Ogern and waited inside to see what would happen.”
Belert nods and turns to me. “Will you join me, Ilena? All know by now that you brought the forces from Dreug and from Arthur.”
“Dun Selig and Glein are here also,” I say.
“Did Lenora and Doldalf ride with you?” He sounds pleased.
We’ve come out of a narrow passage between houses into the central courtyard. It is a noisy jumble of horses, dogs, and people now. Torches blaze around the grounds, and large bonfires are flaring in several places. I can see the white goshawk of Dun Alyn still flying from its spear point near the front gate. A group of warriors stands around it. Arthur’s dragon snaps in the wind near the stable.
Durant says, “I’ll leave you now; I need to check on my companions.” He heads toward the dragon pennant.
“And I’ll be wanted in the surgery.” Spusscio hurries off to a long building across the compound.
“We’ll talk with our people first, then go round to the others,”
Belert says. When I drop behind him, he stops and takes my arm to keep me beside him.
Cormec walks on my other side with the torch high enough to keep smoke and ashes out of our faces. When we reach the group by the gate, he speaks first. “I’ve found Belert for you. He was on the rampart tending to the traitors who brought the enemy against us.”
A stocky, bearded man in the forefront of the troop speaks. “Aye. Two of the sentries were part of Ogern’s plot. They’ve been dealt with.”
Belert says, “The lady Ilena dispatched Ogern, and Durant from Arthur’s table defeated Resad. Cormec was with me, as he has been these past two days. My thanks to all of you for defending Dun Alyn.”
“We are glad to see you well,” the man says, “and the lady.”
I’m not sure whether the last is a question or not, but Belert takes it as one.
He says, “The lady Ilena is Cara’s nearest kin. I will meet with the elders tomorrow to speak of her claim as heir to Dun Alyn. And now, if there are no more questions, we must greet those who rode to our aid.”
The group breaks up, talking among themselves. Those with horses head for the stables. I wonder about Rol; I am eager to look for him.
We meet with each group that rode to Dun Alyn with me. Belert inquires about injuries, points out the guest sleeping quarters, and assures everyone that cooks are laying out food and ale in the Great Hall.
In the surgery we find Doldalf with fresh bandages on a shoulder wound. He reaches up from the bedplace with his good arm to clasp Belert’s hand. “We ran them off proper for you.”
“Aye,” Belert says, “and you know you have my thanks.”
“Sure, and you’ll do the same for me, I know—and have, as I remember.”
“What’s that?” Belert points to the bandages.
“One of the painted ones actually aimed his spear. It’s of no matter.”
Spusscio has come up to us. “Another bit deeper and it would matter, Doldalf. And don’t forget you’re to lie here without moving until the bleeding stops.”
The Legend of Lady Ilena Page 14
