Part 52 (1/2)

Meanwhile the men-at-arms led by Raynor Royk had poured across the bridge and were crowding close in the rear.

”Bear aside, my lords!” the veteran shouted high above the din of the clas.h.i.+ng steel. ”We will sweep the way clean by a rush.”

But neither Knight gave heed. Gradually De Lacy was driving his foe before him. Step by step he forced him back, until presently they were free of the wall and into the outer bailey. Then he first noticed that, though his opponent bore no device upon s.h.i.+eld or hauberk nor crest upon helm, his armor was scarcely of the sort wont to be worn by retainers or simple men-at-arms; it was far too handsome in its lines and fas.h.i.+on and much too beautifully forged. And as he parried the sword strokes, waiting for an opening when he could end the conflict by a cras.h.i.+ng blow, he tried to distinguish the face behind the bars of the visor. At first he had thought it was some retainer masquerading in one of Lord Darby's suits of mail, but the sword play was manifestly that of no common soldier; it was too graceful and too skillful to have been learned amid the turmoil of the camp and battle. And suddenly the great hope came that it was Darby himself--who had eluded the King and, following after, had pa.s.sed him at Pontefract. Instantly the cool method of his fighting vanished; his fingers took a fresh and tighter grip; his battle-cry ”Clare! Clare!” rang out vengefully; and with all the fury of his wrongs and pent-up hate he sprang in close. And as he swept his axe aloft its heavy head caught the other's sword and tore it clean away, sending it far across the bailey where it fell with a clang.

To many, here would have been the conflict's end; yet even as the hilt quit his fingers, the unknown plucked forth his heavy dagger and sprang straight at De Lacy.

Aymer met the attack by facing on his right heel swiftly to the left, and as the other, unable to recover himself, struck wildly at the air, the axe caught him full upon the shoulder, biting through gorget and gambeson and deep into the neck beneath.

Bending over his fallen foe, De Lacy cut the lacings of the helmet and drew it off--then started back in wonder.

Instead of the dark curls and face of Roxford's lord there were disclosed the tonsured head and pale features of the Abbot of Kirkstall.

”Pardieu!” he exclaimed, gazing down into the face already set in death. . . ”You were my enemy, yet had I known whom this suit encased, methinks my arm had dealt an easier blow. Nathless, you were a better knight than churchman and, mayhap, it was a proper death for you to die.”

Just then, De Bury's antagonist went by, running as easy as though his mail were silk and shouting:

”To the keep! To the keep!” to those upon the walls. And behind him came Sir John, and the squires, and Raynor Royk with all the troop.

Whirling about, De Lacy sprang after. But here had he and all the others met their match; for strain as they might, they gained not an inch; and when the foe reached the steps they were yet fifty feet away.

The door was open for him and rus.h.i.+ng in he flung it shut, but with such force that it missed the catch and rebounded--and at that instant, De Lacy thrust in his axe and he and Dauvrey threw themselves against the door and slowly forced it back. Then of a sudden, it yielded and they were near to falling headlong.

Shouting his battle-cry, Aymer strode into the great hall and made for the wide stairway at the opposite end, where the remnants of the garrison were gathered for the final stand. There were but nine and of them only the three in front were garbed in steel; and in the centre was he who had held the gate against Sir John de Bury.

Out-matched and out-armed there could be for them but one end to the melee; for though they held the vantage post yet it counted little against those who were arrayed below them, eager to begin.

Nevertheless, they stood calm and ready, leaning on their weapons, and showed no glint of fear. And De Lacy, in admiration and loath to put them to the sword, raised his axe for silence.

”You bear yourselves as men deserving of a better cause,” he cried, ”and I fain would not have your blood spilled needlessly. Yield yourselves prisoners, and scathless shall you leave this castle within the hour--all save one, if he be among you, the flat-nosed retainer of Lord Darby. Him must I carry to the King.”

A gruff laugh came from the figure in the centre and he swung his visor up.

”Aye, sirs, be not surprised. Behold him you have dubbed Flat-Nose--by true name, Simon Gorges--the leader of your a.s.sailants, Sir John de Bury, when yon Knight saved you--the abductor of the Countess of Clare--the man who eluded you, Sir Aymer de Lacy, at the house in Sheffield.” And he laughed again. ”And now do I thank your wors.h.i.+p for the proffered clemency to my fellows, and for the honor you have in store for me. Yet am I scarce fit to stand before His Majesty; nor do the followers of the Master of Roxford accept favor or life from the enemy of their lord. Here await we the onslaught, fair sirs, and let it come quickly that it may be quickly done.”

”Stay!” cried De Lacy fiercely. ”You have many more sins upon your soul, doubtless, than those just vaunted, yet will you not do one redeeming act ere you are sped? For of a verity you shall die ere the shadows yonder lengthen by a span. Where, I ask you, shall I find the Countess of Clare?”

Flat-Nose smiled.

”You will find her when you have topped these stairs,” he answered, and snapped his visor shut.

”I claim the villain!” De Bury exclaimed.

”Take him,” said De Lacy--and whispered, to Giles Dauvrey: ”Keep behind Sir John, and if he weaken take his place until I come.”

Then with the old Knight in the middle and Aymer and Raynor Royk on either hand, they advanced to the fight.

But whereas at the gate they were on equal footing, here the a.s.sailed had vastly the advantage; for standing on the edge of the landing, where the stairs divided, they were high above their foes. So the conflict began warily; and on the third step below the three halted and made play with the three above, seeking for a chance to rush up and get on even terms. But the others were not to be confused by tricks or taken unaware, and were content to act only on the defensive and wait their opportunity. And so they struggled for a while, with no result on either side save that the strain grew heavy and the breath came harder than at first.