Seeing the wetness on her face, Sir Guy pulled Jacqueline to his chest gently, hoping to console her. "If it were only the few men who gave you chase, then maybe I would have considered it. But there are a lot more than that. Too many. We are outnumbered. If they were to breach the walls, it would be over before you knew what was happening."
Jacqueline jerked her head up. Her cheeks were still wet from the tears she had shed. "What? How can there be so many? The men who first attacked us only numbered in the handful."
Sir Guy frowned. "They must have thought in capturing you, they would gain entry into Nunney more easily. Since that failed, they have resorted to a stronger tactic. There is a very large number of men outside the walls preparing to lay siege."
Wiping the tears roughly from her face, Jacqueline said gruffly, "Show me."
Taking her up the stairs to the castle walls, Sir Guy pointed to the wide open area situated in front of the causeway. The amount of men milling about made her realize how serious the situation really was. It was a small army setting up camp outside the castle walls.
Hoping to spot Terric in their midst, Jacqueline watched the activity below. She then cursed under breath. Sir Guy echoed her sentiment.
"Aye, lass. It is your father who is responsible for this. Those men wear his colors. I know I should have done away with that murderous minstrel."
"It matters naught now. The earl is here and we must figure out what to do next. I only hope he has kept Terric alive. If he has not, nothing will stop me from putting an end to my father's life."
With that said, she then turned her back on the troops preparing to lay siege to her castle, and returned to the bailey below.
Chapter Twenty Three
Trying to find a more comfortable position, Terric strained against the bonds which kept him restrained. With his hands tied behind him, there really was no comfort to be found either physically or mentally. Being taken as a prisoner was not the situation that he had hoped to be in at the end of the day.
He had fought them to the bitter end, but being so greatly outnumbered had stacked the odds against him. He had only been able to bring a few of the attackers down before he was dragged from his horse. Terric just hoped he had kept them occupied dealing with him, allowing Jacqueline to make it to safety.
He was now tied to the center post of the Earl of Salisbury's pavilion. Terric had not been too surprised upon learning whose men had attacked them. He only wished Jacqueline's father had not come to Nunney so quickly.
Terric silently cursed the man who had tied his bonds. They were tight, causing him to lose the feeling in his fingers. Clenching and unclenching his fists, he tried to force more blood into his hands, but it was futile. The strips of leather were too constricting.
At the sound of someone opening the pavilion's flap entrance, he ceased his struggles. The earl himself stepped through the opening. Coming to stand directly in front of where Terric sat bound, he looked down at his captive. He then put his hands behind his back and shook his head.
"Well, Sir Terric, tell me what I should do with you? I find myself in the midst of a quandary. On one hand, I should have you terminated. And on the other, I feel you are my best leverage to have Nunney opened for me."
Terric snarled his lip at the earl. "I will not allow you to use me to gain entrance to the castle."
The earl laughed. "My dear boy, in your present position, you really do not have much choice in the matter." Bending down, he grabbed a handful of Terric's hair, then painfully forced the younger man to look at him. "I am very sure my darling daughter would do just about anything to get you back." Releasing his hair, the earl then slammed his head hard against the post.
Terric tried to surge to his feet, forgetting he was bound. He growled in frustration. His hands itched to be around the earl's throat. "You can do whatever you wish to me, but leave Jacqueline alone."
Straightening up to stand at his full height, the earl smiled. "Such display of emotion. How touching. So you would be willing to endure anything in the name of love. And if it would mean your life? What then?"
"Gladly would I give it." It was now Terric's turn to smile. He could see from the disgusted look the earl wore he thought Terric a fool. "Since you love no one but yourself, you cannot possibly understand."
The backhanded slap the earl delivered caught Terric on the corner of his mouth. A rush of blood entered his mouth when his lip split. "Your devotion to my daughter may cause you to lose that very thing."
* * * *
A few hours after the earl's visit, Terric was moved to another pavilion, one which was used for storing the camp's supplies. There were crates and casks stacked haphazardly around the interior.
His guards roughly shoved him through the entrance. He barely managed to keep his balance. If he had fallen, he would not have been able to catch himself. With his hands still bound behind his back, it would have been an impossibility, and well they knew it.
After depositing Terric in his new prison, the guards left, securing the pavilion flap closed. Terric could hear them, though, softly speaking just outside the entrance where they stood guard.
Moving to the center of the pavilion, he sat down on the floor. Night was slowly creeping in and it was sure to be an uncomfortable one for him. Along with having no blanket to keep him warm, he had not been given any food or drink. His stomach rumbled, reminding him of the number of hours that had passed since he last ate. There was nothing for it. His stomach would have to do without.
He dozed off and only came awake once the pavilion flap opened again. It was not the earl this time, but one of his guards, carrying a cloth covered tray. Another man followed closely behind him. Terric did not bother to pay close attention to either man.
The tray was set down beside him. The guard then roughly took hold of his bound hands and cut them free. Terric hissed as the blood rushed back into his numb digits. Barely given enough time to have the circulation fully restored, his hands were bound once more. This time in front of him. At least he would be able to use his hands to eat, even though bound.
The guard left, leaving the other man behind. Still ignoring him, Terric lifted the cloth and began to eat the bread and cheese he had been given. When a pair of feet came into his field of vision, he finally looked up.
He found the man standing before him vaguely familiar. At first, he could not place where he had met the man, but then it hit him. He knew who it was that stood before him.
The man smiled. "Ah, I can see you finally remember me."
"Aye, I do."
"As I remember you. An 'acquaintance' of Jacqueline."
Terric tapped down the rage he felt toward this man-the minstrel, Nicholas, the one who had tried to end his son's life, the one who had been nothing but a thorn in Jacqueline's side. "What do you want?"
Nicholas did not miss the fury that briefly flared in Terric's eyes before he pushed it aside. He sneered down at the bound man. "What do I want? Nothing from you. The earl is giving me everything I want. I just came to tell you not to worry what Jacqueline's fate will be. She will be left unharmed and well taken care of. By me."
Terric shook his head at Nicholas and chuckled. "Did the earl promise you Jacqueline?"
"Aye."
"And you think he will keep his word?"
"Aye."
"Then you are a bigger idiot than Jacqueline described you." Terric then had the satisfaction of watching the minstrel turn from feeling cocky to feeling uneasy. Finally anger won out.
Spitefully, Nicholas kicked the tray of food sitting beside Terric. Knocking it over, he ground the bread and cheese into the ground with the heel of his boot. "The earl will not double cross me. I was the one who told him of Forwin's duplicity. He said he would reward me with Jacqueline as my wife."
"If I were you, I would watch my back. I have a feeling you have outlived your usefulness."
Giving Terric one last dark look, Nicholas stomped out of the pavilion. Terric shook hi
s head once more. The man was a stupid fool. He had put his trust in the maw of a viper.
* * * *
Jacqueline found no rest that night. Not knowing how Terric faired was eating away at her. Finally after fretting half the night through, she gave up. Giving Jordan his night feeding and settling him back down to sleep, she went and sat at her chamber window. From this vantage point, she could look down below at her father's camp. There were so many of them. She was not at all confident they could withstand an attack. Sir Guy was a very good strategist, but with such weak defenses, it would not be much of an asset in this case. Strategy could only work to a certain extent.
When dawn's early light appeared over the horizon, Jacqueline watched as the activity within the camp increased. Something was definitely happening below. Quickly pulling on a tunic and hose, she then checked to make sure Jordan still slept. Peering into her son's cradle, she found him blissfully sleeping. Jacqueline gently adjusted his blanket, then quietly left the chamber.
Reaching the hall, Jacqueline found Alice preparing to light the fireplace. Once she lit it, she then turned back to the hall. Finding herself not alone in the hall, she jumped in surprise. With her hand on her chest she said, "Oh, my lady, you gave me a scare. I did not see you come down."
"Sorry, Alice. I did not mean to give you a fright. What are you doing up so early?"
Brushing her hands on her apron, Alice shrugged her shoulders. "I could not sleep. All those men out there worry me."
"We are safe for the moment." Jacqueline hoped she sounded convincing because that was not at all how she felt. Alice did not need to know that, though. "Now that you have the fire lit, can you go and sit in my chamber with Jordan? He is still asleep."
Alice smiled. "With pleasure, my lady. I will bring him to you once he awakens."
After Alice disappeared up the stairs, Jacqueline turned to face the newly lit fire. Even though spring had arrived and the days were getting increasingly warmer, the castle still felt chilly. Extending her hands toward the flames, she let the heat soak in.
Sir Guy found her that way when he came in search of her. "I am glad to see you are awake, lass. Saves me from having to wake you."
Jacqueline let her arms fall to her sides and watched as the older man approached. "Something has happened. Has it not?"
"Aye. Your father is at the causeway, demanding to speak with you." When Jacqueline moved to leave, Sir Guy stopped her. "There is one other thing. He has Terric with him."
Her steps faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. Taking long steady strides, she quickly left the hall and climbed up to the top of the castle walls. Sir Guy followed closely behind her.
Just as Sir Guy had said, the earl stood at the end of the causeway. He was accompanied by two of his men, who acted as guards for their prisoner. Terric stood between them, bound.
Jacqueline felt anger boil up inside her. The earl stood there, looking so self-assured. Almost as if he assumed his mere presence would open Nunney up to him. But she had no intention of handing the castle over to him. She walked up to the parapet wall and stared down at her father.
"You requested to speak with me. Here I am."
The earl looked up at her. "Ah, daughter. So you have come. Do you not think it would be better if you let me in? That way we could speak more freely."
"What do you take me for, father? Without sense? If you want words with me, say them from where you stand."
Even from the great distance that separated them, Jacqueline could see the earl's face turn red with ire. All pretences were gone when he finally found his voice once more. "You stupid girl! You know why I am here. Nunney is mine and you are going to give it to me."
"Nay. I will not. Nunney is my son's birthright. It never was to be yours. It makes no difference what deal you made with Forwin. I wonder what the king would say if he found out about your underhanded ways."
"Enough!" the earl bellowed. He then snapped his fingers. His men brought Terric to the end of the causeway in response to his summons. "Either you lower the drawbridge, or you forfeit the life of your lover."
Jacqueline gripped the edge of the stone parapet wall so tightly, her fingers turned white. Her gaze shot to Terric's face. He gave her an inconspicuous shake of his head, telling her not to give in to the earl's demands.
Growing impatient, the earl yelled up at her. "Well? What have you decided?"
Sir Guy came to stand next to Jacqueline and spoke with hushed tones into her ear. "Ask for more time before you give him your answer. We need the time to think of a way to get Terric away from him."
Jacqueline nodded her head in response, then said to the earl, "I need time before I can make my decision."
Below, Terric tried to pull free from the two men who held him. "Jacqueline! I am dead anyway. Do not let him take Nunney. It will make no difference."
Annoyed, the earl motioned to his men with a flick of his wrist. "Shut him up."
Taking the butt of his sword, one of the men slammed it down onto the back of Terric's head. He crumpled into a heap on the dusty causeway. Jacqueline cried out to him.
"I will give you until dawn on the morrow. If you do not lower the drawbridge then, you can watch your lover die."
?
Chapter Twenty Four
Jacqueline felt sick as she watched her father's men drag the now unconscious Terric away. She felt so helpless, which was exactly how her father wanted her to feel.
Before returning to his encampment, the earl had one final thing to say to her. "You may be my daughter, but that will not stop me from taking Nunney down a stone at a time if I must. Or from making you pay the price for trying to take what I want."
She stood at the wall long after the earl had gone. Sir Guy stayed by her side. "Time to return to the hall, lass. Standing out here will not be any help to Terric."
Prying her stiff fingers from the wall, Jacqueline looked blankly at Sir Guy. "There is no hope for us. I cannot save him."
"There is always hope, Jacqueline. Do not give up the fight so easily. You are a fighter, girl. You cannot let him beat you. Now is the time to show that bastard he does not get whatever he wants."
She shook her head meekly in denial. "I am not strong enough. Too much is at stake here. How could I live with myself if I retain Nunney at the cost of Terric's life? I would look at these walls day in and day out and see his blood upon them. That is too much to ask of me."
"Come down to the hall. I am sure Beth and Edwin are now awake. We have a day. The four of us should be able to put our heads together and come up with some way of getting Terric from the earl's clutches." Taking Jacqueline by the arm, Sir Guy began to lead her from the wall. "Remember, you are not alone. We will prevail."
* * * *
Surfacing to awareness, Terric groaned in pain. His head felt as if it were cracked in two. To make sure it really was still in one piece, he gingerly lifted his head off the ground. It held together, much to his surprise.
Carefully rolling to his side, Terric tried to push himself into an upright position. The movement cost him greatly. Sweat poured down his face and he felt his world spin as dizziness overtook him. Closing his eyes seemed to help somewhat.
The picture of Jacqueline standing upon the castle walls rose to play behind his closed eyes. He had felt a moment of triumph, seeing that she was indeed safe. But he had also seen the fear and the helplessness she felt facing the earl. Knowing it was he who engendered such feelings in her made Terric wish he could make this all disappear for her. Jacqueline should not have to go through a situation like this one. She had already been through enough hardship.
Around mid-day, one of the earl's men brought food and water for Terric. He silently placed the tray he carried beside him, then just as quietly left.
Grasping the jug of water with his bound hands, Terric greedily drank from it. Figuring this would be all he could expect in the way of nourishment for the day, he made sure he left half the b
read and cheese for later. He did the same with the water.
Once he finished his simple meal, there was only one thing left to him-sit and wait and see what fate would deal him.
* * * *
"Can we come up with nothing?" Jacqueline asked vehemently.
Jacqueline felt the hours of frustration wearing her down. Among the four of them, they had yet to come up with a feasible plan to free Terric. Many of the problems stemmed from the castle's own defenses. The moat being their only real barrier for safety, it extended all the way to the castle walls and that made it as much of an obstacle as a defense.
At first, the only response Jacqueline received to her question was silence. Then Edwin cleared his throat and hesitantly said, "I have....have an idea."
Jacqueline immediately perked up. "What do you have in mind?"
"Well … what if I were to have someone lower me down to the moat at the back of the castle? Then I could swim to the other side and sneak into the earl's camp to free Terric. I doubt they would expect someone like me to attempt anything like that. I know how to keep myself from being seen. I learned that lesson well before Terric found me in London." Having lived alone on some of that city's meanest streets from a very early age and survived attested to his skill.
Sir Guy seemed to take what Edwin suggested into serious consideration. But eventually he shook his head in the negative. "Nay, sorry lad, but it is too risky."
Edwin, who had been sitting by the hearth, shot to his feet and walked over to the trestle table where Jacqueline, Beth, and Sir Guy sat. "It can work. I know it can. The earl does not have any of his men watching the back of the castle. I know. I looked. He thinks he has us where he wants us. He is too sure of himself."
Beth who had sat silently listening as the others spoke decided to contribute to the discussion. "Sorry to say this Sir Guy, but I have to agree with Edwin. The earl would never expect what Edwin plans to do."
The older man threw up his hands in consternation. "I really have no right to stop you, Edwin. But I cannot help but feel you do not know what kind of danger you will be putting yourself in."
A Tournament Knight Page 20