Page 2 of Lionheart

"Littlebeyond the fact that he is a respected and powerful Welsh baron and a supporterof Llewellyn. I had heard he was ill, but have received no report of hisdeath."

"Thewily bastard is probably holed up in his stronghold, laughing at us and thinkinghe and Llewellyn are safe. I will leave you half my foot soldiers and knightsto bolster your own forces, Lionheart. I must leave immediately, but I will notaccept this defeat easily. Send word to me at Simon's demesne at Shrewsburywhen the fortress falls. Should you succeed, I will be most grateful."

With thedeparture of young Edward Plantagenet, Lionheart returned his attention to theramparts rising above Cragdon's walls. Sir Brandon, another of Edward'sprincipal knights, broke away from a group of warriors and strode up toLionheart.

"DidEdward leave orders?"

"Aye.We are to lay siege to Cragdon and capture Llewellyn. Pass the word. Instructthe men to make camp on the hillsides above the castle and post guards alongthe perimeter. We will begin our assault tomorrow."

"Aye,Lionheart," Brandon said, hurrying off to follow the orders. Suddenly hestopped and whipped around.

"Lionheart!Look! The castle's defenders are spilling through the portcullis."

"Musterour forces. If Lord Rhys wants to fight, we shall accommodate him."

Surpriseetched Lionheart's features when he noted the large number of mounted knightsand foot solders pouring forth from Cragdon. Obviously, Lord Rhys was a man ofmeans, for his substantial forces appeared to be well armed. They were alsowell rested compared to his battle-fatigued forces.

His gazenarrowed on the knight riding at the forefront of Cragdon's men-at-arms, and anuneasy feeling clenched his gut. Wearing a white tabard trimmed in gold overhis chain mail and a helm with the visor lowered, the slim knight sat tall andproud atop a pure white steed.

Giles deClare sidled up beside Lionheart. "Lord Rhys's forces are formidable, butour own numbers are superior."

"Ourmen are tired and Rhys knows it," Lionheart observed. "He waiteduntil Llewellyn’s forces had done their worst before showing his strength, butwe shall prevail."

"Thinkyou the white-clad knight is Lord Rhys?" Giles asked.

Lionheartconsidered the knight in question. "Nay. Lord Rhys is a man with manyyears upon his shoulders. I have heard he is squat and sturdy, like mostWelshmen. Yon white knight is young and slim and probably one of his sons. Itmatters not. He will be defeated. Give the signal, Giles. We will ride out tomeet Cragdon's forces. If fortune favors us, we will find Llewellyn amongthem."

RaisingLionheart's standard of a rampant red lion on a field of blue, Alan followed asLionheart charged into yet another battle in England's defense. The battle wasmet on the broad plain below the castle. Though his men were battle weary theyacquitted themselves admirably. At first, Lord Rhys's forces appeared to bewinning the day, but as the battle progressed, Lionheart's men began drivingthe defenders back toward the castle.

Wieldingboth sword and battle-ax, Lionheart kept his eye on the White Knight, notingthat while his sword appeared lighter than Lionheart's broadsword, he lackednaught in skill. With a knowledge that stunned him, Lionheart realized hewanted the White Knight beneath his sword and at his mercy more than he wanted Llewellyn.

There wassomething about the way the White Knight carried himself that provoked him. Hiscalm arrogance, his skillful handling of his weapons, his ability to lead hisforces, all combined to make him a formidable foe. Determined to bring theWhite Knight down, Lionheart galloped toward the knight, who was handilydispatching one of his foot soldiers.

Suddenlythe sun slipped below the hills, transforming the battlefield into a shadowymorass of men, horses and bodies. Lionheart could no longer tell the enemy fromhis own men. For a moment he lost sight of the White Knight. Then he saw himretreating behind the protective walls of Cragdon. Rage surged throughLionheart when the White Knight stopped, looked directly at him, and raised hissword in mock salute.

"Weare not finished yet!" Lionheart roared across the distance. "Beware,for we will meet again!"

Wheelinghis destrier, the White Knight galloped through the portcullis and disappearedbehind the high walls of Cragdon.

"Bringme a count of our dead and wounded," Lionheart barked as Giles rode up tojoin him. "We begin the siege tomorrow."

* * *

Aggravated beyond endurance and brimming with impatience,Lionheart stalked through camp, barely taking note of the activity going onaround him. Trees had been felled for a battering ram, and stones were beingpiled up to feed the catapult that had been constructed during the first daysof the siege. Newly built ladders were being made ready to scale the walls.

Twentydays had passed since Lord Rhys's warriors had ridden forth to engageLionheart's forces in fierce battle and then retreated as suddenly as they hadappeared. As aggravating as it was to Lionheart to wait out the enemy, he knewtime was on his side. With all the people enclosed inside the castle walls,food must be in short supply.

Shadinghis eyes against the glare of the sun, Lionheart gazed up at the battlements,more than a little annoyed when he saw the White Knight among the warriors rainingarrows down upon him and his men.

"Theladders are ready, Lionheart," Sir Brandon reported.

"Weshall launch an attack on two fronts," Lionheart declared. "You andGiles take charge of the ladders while I direct the battering ram, I grow wearyof this game Rhys is playing. Our siege machines have done considerable damageto the outer wall, but 'tis not enough."

"Theirfood supply cannot hold out much longer," Giles said.

"Thatdepends on how much they had stored in advance. They should be feeling thepinch by now. Lack of food is a powerful deterrent to war."

* * *