Page 16 of Lionheart

Lionheartdozed off and on until the sound of the church bells tolling prime awakenedhim. Stretching, he rose to begin his day. He had just finished washing himselfwhen Giles burst into the chamber, his excitement palpable.

"Heis here! The audacity of the bastard boggles the mind. You must come and seefor yourself."

"Takea breath, Giles, and tell me what you are talking about. Who is here?"

"Him!The White Knight! He rodeup to the gate at first light as bold as you please. The guards on the parapetsaw him first and alerted the garrison."

Lionheartpoked his head out the door and yelled for Alan. The lad appeared momentslater, out of breath and flushed with excitement.

"Isaw him!" Alan crowed. "Him and that great white steed of his."

"Helpme with my armor, lad," Lionheart bit out.

Alanhastened to obey. "Is he alone, Giles?" Lionheart asked in a muffledvoice as Alan pulled his mail shirt over his head.

"Aye,"Giles replied, "but Llewellyn’s army could be hiding in title hills,waiting for the White Knight to lure us out."

Lionheartgrabbed his sword and strode from the chamber. "I want to see the bastardfor myself before I decide what action to take."

Lionheartsprinted up the winding stone staircase to the parapet and peered over theedge. What he saw sent shards of rage racing through him. Clad in hisdistinctive white and gold tabard, his mail and helm gleaming beneath therising sun, the knight, mounted on his snowy white steed, was gazing upward.When he saw Lionheart, he raised his sword in a gesture of defiant challenge.

"Thebastard!" Lionheart spat.

"Whatdo you suppose he wants?" Giles asked.

"'Tis obvious. He is challenging me."

"Methinkshe will lead us into a trap if we give chase."

"Mayhaphe will lead us straight to Llewellyn," Lionheart mused. " 'Tis whatwe want, is it not? We have been looking for the Black Wolf of Snowdon since wearrived in Wales. A confrontation with him is what we have been training forthese long weeks. We shall let the renegade knight lead us to him."

"Aye,"Giles agreed. "The men are eager for a good fight."

"Alertthe garrison," Lionheart ordered. "Leave two men behind in thegatehouse. Under no circumstance is the portcullis to be raised during ourabsence. And assign two sentries to guard the prisoners in the tower. The restare to muster in the courtyard in full battle gear.

"Prepareto die!" Lionheart yelled down to the White Knight. "When we meet inbattle, only one of us will walk away!"

A shorttime later, the portcullis was raised and Lionheart rode through at the head ofhis impressive army. When the White Knight was absolutely certain of beingfollowed, he raised his sword to his helm in a mocking salute and galloped offtoward the distant hills.

Lionheartbit back a curse. The white steed was fast, and the knight seemed to knowexactly where he was going. Lionheart kept him in his sights as he gallopedsteadily upward into the hills. Keeping track of the knight was difficult oncethey reached the dense woods, but Lionheart's determination did not waver.

"Keepyour eyes peeled for an ambush," he warned his lieutenants.

The ambushnever materialized. Instead, the knight led the patrol higher and higher,plunging ever deeper into the thick forest. Lionheart had just crested the hillwhen the knight suddenly disappeared. Assuming that the knave had plunged downthe opposite side of the hill, Lionheart led his warriors down the steepincline. When they reached the bottom, Lionheart knew he had been tricked. Butto what end?

For whatreason had the knight lured them from the keep?

* * *

Lionheart'spatrol had already ridden off when Mair and Father Caddoc made their way to thetower. Each carried a pail of fresh water.

"Whathave you there?" asked Sir Osgood, one of the two guards left behind.

"Waterfor the prisoners," Father Caddoc replied.

"Whatwas all that commotion in the bailey?" inquired the second guard, amercenary named Fenwood.

"Didyou not know?" Mair said in feigned excitement. "The mystery knightLionheart has been seeking appeared outside the walls shortly after prime.Lionheart mustered his forces and gave chase."