“There you are,” Jason said urgently. “Listen, as I have no time. The Baron has gone too, too far. Do you agree?” The nod, and the murderous look on Tayler’s face was all the response he needed. “I do not trust the Baron with Arolwyn’s life. Once he begins his walk to the duel, I need you to move the guards on the rear castle wall to the front. Call it extra support, call it what you need to, but get the wall cleared.”
Tayler looked at him for a moment deciding, nodded, turned and walked away.
Jason stared for a precious second then ran to find the Baron.
“So that criminal thinks to insult me and make me lose focus does he?” The Baron actually laughed.
Jason had been afraid he would be killed for delivering the message. The Baron must be incredibly sure of himself, he thought, with no small measure of relief at his good fortune.
“He was quite angry, Baron, and the Lady Lissette had to be restrained at the sight of her mother.”
“Good,” the Baron smiled as he replied. “Then perhaps he will be the one who rushes his shot.”
“I see,” Jason said slowly, “Baron, if I may ask, you don’t really intend to harm Arolwyn do you? I mean the king would not be pleased.”
“The King cares only for his taxes and war supplies; with this little insurrection quelled, he will see the means to the end as justified.”
“Of course, Baron, you know him far better than I, but I would think another martyr might not be such a good idea.”
“Relax yourself,” the Baron replied in his best condescending tones, “nothing will happen to her if I live and she is only to be killed if they rush the castle. At that point, my last gift to the King will be one less elf and, of course, however many of the rabble the guards take with them.
“Pick up the rifle, Jason, and follow me. We don’t want to be late for the show.” The Baron grabbed the ammo bag and headed for the door.
Jason grabbed the rifle, and for the first time in his life, wished he carried more than an eating knife.
Captain Tayler, lifetime soldier and highest ranking member of the guard for eight years, was sick to his stomach. It wasn’t fear of the impending battle. It was the realization that somehow he had ended up on the wrong side after all. The words of that damned elf, Durbin, kept ringing in his head. When he saw the Lady Arolwyn dragged by Rove and Geoff to the portcullis gate, it was like his whole life had been jerked out from under him.
There was an old saying about never killing nobility because soon it would be open season. The Lady Arolwyn was an elf, but she married the King’s cousin and her daughter was Lady Lissette. The Baron had broken too many rules. As the Captain stood on the parapet next to the gate, he saw the Baron, followed by Jason and the rifle, cross the court yard headed for the drawbridge. He could see Jason’s body language and step clearly enough, Jason felt trapped as well.
The Baron stopped in the gateway having a word with Rove and Geoff. They were standing there with knifes at the Lady’s throat and back and Tayler could look no more. Quickly as he could, without drawing attention he moved to the rear of the castle’s walls and ordered the guards to move forward in case they were needed at the gate. None hesitated at their captain’s command and soon he was standing there alone. He found some rope in the supply room, tied it to a crenellation and dropped it over the side.
Less than five minutes later a tall elf came over the wall and froze at the sight of him, then slowly began reaching for his long knife.
“Jason is busy, follow me.” Tayler turned and made for the stairs. He didn’t look back to see Draskin stare for a moment and fall into step behind the Captain. He guided the elf through the least exposed parts of the courtyard. Their goal was clear without a word being spoken. They moved like shadows until they had a clear view of the gate and Lady Arolwyn.
At first sight of her, the elf froze and the Captain feared that one of the supposedly unemotional elves was about to get them both done in. The Captain watched the struggle the elf was having with himself and slowly reached out a hand placing it lightly on Draskin’s shoulder. The elf jumped slightly, looking at the hand, and then the Captain’s face. Draskin took a deep breath, letting some of his anxiousness and need to act, out with his breath He nodded to the Captain, telling him without words that he was under control.
Tayler looked the situation over. The Baron had taken the rifle and started walking slowly across the drawbridge. From their angle he was soon out of sight, but their angle provided a clear view of Rove and Geoff. Geoff wasn’t a bad man, and the Captain could only imagine what threats and promises had kept the jailer’s lips so sealed all this time. From the sweat pouring off Geoff it was clear that the Baron had doubled up on at least the threats.
Rove, on the other hand, was an idiot. The typical bottom of the barrel thug, underqualified for letting men starve to death in a cell. He was terrified of the Baron on a day to day basis and dumb enough to believe any promise he had been given. Dumb enough to kill Arolwyn if that was what he was told to do. His blade was at the Lady’s back and Geoff’s was at her throat. The Captain suspected that Rove had been given the role of making sure Geoff played his part.
He thought about the situation and then leaned over to whisper a plan into the elf’s ear. Draskin looked at the men at the gate for a few seconds, evaluating the Captain’s words, and then looked back at him nodding agreement.
With his best reckoning, Daniel believed the Baron was on time. Alan was already in place about twenty paces out of the line of fire and shifting nervously from foot to foot. That made Daniel smile as he started to walk. Alan was doing everything he could to contribute to the cause, even though most of the time he was terrified. Daniel thought about him and the other halflings and knew he had to kill the Baron and survive. He unconsciously fingered the rounds in his pouch, reassuring himself of their presence while he carried the rifle so that the bolt could clearly be seen.
Daniel saw the Baron walking forward, and realized he understood the principles of psychological warfare as well as Daniel. Their line of fire had Lissette’s mother nearly directly behind the Baron. No pressure, he thought to himself and began angling to change the trajectory of any shots he might miss.
It took a minute for the crowd watching to realize what was going on and to scramble out from behind Daniel.
All eyes in the castle were up on the walls and riveted to the scene unfolding below them. So engrossed were they that Draskin and Tayler could have strolled up behind Geoff and Rove. The Captain took the position behind Geoff and Draskin behind Rove as planned.
“Guardsmen,” the Captain began in as clear and calm a voice as possible to avoid in startled moves. “Geoff what are your orders?”
“Geoff did jump at the Captain’s voice but not enough to break any skin on the elf’s throat with his knife. “Sir, we are ordered to use her as a shield to protect the castle.”
“I see, and what if the Baron is killed?”
“He assured us he would win,” Geoff stammered out.
“Orders!” The Captain snapped in that military tone – half bark, half demand - mastered by all good leaders. The tone that brooks no argument or hesitation.
“If the Baron is killed and they attack we are to kill her,” Geoff stammered out, unable to resist the will of his Captain.
“Rove, what are your orders?” The Captain commanded.
Rove was starting to fidget, as he often did when his soggy brain began to overload. “The Baron promised me…” but he was cut off by the Captain.
“I asked your orders, Rove and nothing else. I do not care what the Baron promised you. I can make your life miserable in ways you haven’t even dreamed of. Orders!” The Captain barked again.
“If, if anything goes wrong, I kill her, and if the Sergeant doesn’t do his part, I kill them both, sir. Them is my orders from the Baron himself.”
“Men, did the Baron happen to remind you that under the King’s law a
commoner who kills a member of the nobility is disemboweled and then drawn and quartered and then hung?” The Captain asked in any even tone.
Now, both men had started to fidget, and if Geoff had been sweating before, he was now losing water in torrents. The Captain could see that Rove was trying desperately to work the math without much success.
“Captain, sir,” Geoff managed to get out, “the Baron said he would explain it all to the King and we would be heroes.”
The Captain did the most unnerving thing he could think of, he laughed. The effect was perfect, even Rove understood how screwed he was. “What do we do, Captain? I never want to cross the King.” Rove almost was blubbering.
“Fortunately for you, I can help, but my patience is getting thin as that watered ale you drink, Rove. You both drop those knives and go back to your jobs. I will take over here and handle things.”
“But we was told not to move and not to listen to anybody even you, sir.’ Geoff added.
“Trust me or trust the King’s punishment for killing a noble,” The Captain replied.
“But she is only and elf, sir!” Rove tried desperately to understand what he was into.
“Rove, I believe you may be dumber than a stump. No wonder the Baron picked you to have to answer to the King. What is her name, Rove? Let me help that pickled brain of yours, Lady Arolwyn. What does it mean when we say ‘Lady’, Rove? She was married to the King’s cousin, man, do you think if you kill the wife of the King’s cousin, the Baron could save you? Do you really think he would even try? He’d probably be on the front row for the disemboweling. Now drop those knives and both of you walk away or I am leaving you to your own fate.”
“But, sir,” Geoff pleaded, if we walk away and the Baron wins what will happen to us?”
“Looks to me like there are seven or eight hundred men out there, a lot of them elves, that can see you from where they stand plain as day. They will scour this castle till they find you, and what they do will make the King’s punishment look like a Sunday picnic.”
Rove and Geoff looked at each other and then by mutual agreement, dropped their knives and turned away from Arolwyn. Without their support, she started to topple and Draskin was there in an instant to lift her into his arms.
“Who is that elf and what is he doing here, Captain?” Geoff asked dumbfounded.
“If you had hurt her, he is the first one that would have started carving the two of you until his friends got here, but I don’t think they would have found much left. Now get back to you holes.”
They gulped, saluted, and all but ran for the dungeons. Tayler looked back to see the elf tenderly cradling Arolwyn in his arms, and wondered just who he was and what else was going on. Suddenly, a roar from the township side of the clearing grabbed his attention.
It was a cheer. The crowds had watched the scene and while they couldn’t be sure what was going on, they could see that the two guards had left, and the Lady Arolwyn was being carried by a tall man back into the castle. The elves could see more, and when the cheer rose from the halflings with elven sight, the others figured it out and joined in.
The Baron was almost into position when he heard the cheer and felt the hackles on his neck rise up. He knew what was wrong before he turned, but looked anyway to confirm his worst fear. He saw his Guard Captain, that traitor Tayler, walking into the castle with some elf carrying the Baron’s last hope of controlling the situation and saving himself.
His first thought was to grab the rifle and try and kill the elf, but he didn’t think it through, and his anger had him trying to get off a shot before he lost sight of them through the gate. His shot was wide and hit the gate to the right. This had the guardsmen on the walls scrambling to see what he was shooting at. The Baron didn’t have time to continue that thought, as he felt a bullet pass by his right ear followed by the report of Danial’s rifle.
Both men scrambled to reload, and to bring their weapons to bear on the other. The Baron was angry but did not panic. The cold knowledge of his fate steadied his hand, and with Daniel’s chest centered in his sight, he got off his next shot with a knowing smile that faded quickly when Daniel didn’t fall. The Baron was so sure of his shot, he stood for a second, paralyzed in confusion.
Daniel saw the Baron fire and tensed for the impact which never came. With relief, Daniel took in a breath, let it half out and squeezed the trigger. The 308 kicked and thundered and Daniel had just enough time recovering from the shot, to see the Baron hit the ground.
Daniel stood there in the eerie quiet, unmoving. His heart pounding in his ears; he couldn’t believe the Baron had missed. He couldn’t believe he was alive.
When Daniel’s army reached the castle, the guards were standing at attention in the courtyard, weapons in a pile before them. Captain Tayler stood there waiting, his eyes on Calden. One leader recognizes another and Tayler had singled him out immediately.
Calden walked up to the Captain of the Guard and looked him over. “Captain Tayler?”
Tayler nodded. “Will you accept our surrender with quarter?”
Calden smiled, “Daniel wouldn’t let me do anything else, if I wanted to.” Calden turned to Argon and said, “get the weapons cleared.” Turning back to Taylor, he asked, “Captain, do you have a man who can keep any accidents from happening while we talk?”
The Captain nodded and barked an order at one of the sergeants who stood and took command of the surrounded guardsmen. The take-over was quiet, no one died, at least no one who would be missed.
Daniel had still been standing when Lissette rushed to him and nearly knocked him to the ground. She was laughing and crying at the same time and kissing him and dragging him toward the castle. The shock wearing off, he realized they were headed to find her mother.
Elven warriors reached the Baron first. It was never clear if he was alive when they found him.
Lissette found her mother still cradled in Draskin’s arms, as if he was afraid to let her go. She hugged her mother and cried in relief as her mother caressed her hair and soothed her sobs while tears rolled down her cheeks as well. Draskin stood holding Arolwyn the whole time and carried her through the corridors as Lissette directed. She had him carry her mother to Lissette’s old rooms in the castle, where she had been the Baron - late Baron’s guest.
“Find every servant you can, and get food, water, and clean clothing in here now! The Lady will be bathed before the food gets here.” Lissette’s voice had no quiver as she took control. Her former maid was terrified by the threat in Lissette’s voice and didn’t remember to curtsy before she fled in fear for her life.
“Draskin, thank you for carrying her here, now I must ask you to leave the room so I can care for her.” Lissette’s tone was kinder for him and still left no options but for him to back out of the room.
“She needs food and rest, Draskin, and while I feel your pain, you know the mother and daughter need time. Lissette can heal her mom, right?” Daniel asked as they stood in the hall.
Draskin seemed to stare through him at the door for a moment before focusing on Daniel. “Yes, your words are true Daniel, but after thinking I had lost her twice, it is almost unbearable to stand and do nothing.”
Daniel though for a moment and put a hand on Draskin’s shoulder. “Patience is what you are doing. Patience is your ally.”
Draskin’s eyes narrowed for a moment and then softened. “Perhaps, Daniel, you have taught us that second chances are possible and hope can be very powerful. Thank you for saving her.”
Daniel chuckled causing Draskin to raise an eyebrow. “The way I saw it you and Tayler saved her. I just put the Baron out of our misery.”
At that Draskin actually smiled and said, “If you don’t mind I would like to wait out here.”
“I will have some food sent to you.” With that Daniel walked to the stairs and descended to join the others.
EPILOGUE
Back at the enclave, Lissette and Daniel
retired early while Calden, Alan, Durbin, and Aldon related the tales to Eliana. A short time after the story telling began, Beylvar walked in the door out of breath.
“What is wrong?” Eliana said with some concern.
“Nothing that a few hundred less years wouldn’t cure.” He replied with a twinkle. “I had to walk a bigger circle not to be seen and I am not as swift as I used to be.”
“What are you talking about?” She asked again.
I was at the castle and saw everything,” he said to the obvious surprise of everyone there. “I could not stand to sit and wait.” He paused but it was clear he had more to say.
“I have a confession to make to you all, but Daniel must never hear this.” Now all were at full attention wondering what the senior elder could possibly confess. “Do I have your oaths?” All nodded in response.
Elves- the Book of Daniel Page 32