Page 25 of Lionheart

* * *

Lionheart'sarmy traveled swiftly and surely toward Llewellyn’s advancing forces. Lionhearthad the kind of mind that coldly calculated winning strategies in battle. Hehad the ability to ferret out his opponents' weakness, which made him adangerous foe. Thus, Lionheart called a halt when his forces approached a long,narrow ravine between two thickly wooded hills.

SirBrandon rode up to join him. "Is something amiss, Lionheart? Why are westopping?"

"Doyou know of a better place for an ambush?" Lionheart queried.

A smilecurved Brandon's lips. "Nay. "Tis perfect. The forest will hide ourmen until Llewellyn’s army enters the pass."

"Aye,"Lionheart said. "Deploy the men at both ends of the ravine. I want theexits closed off after the enemy enters. Their only escape will be through theforest, and there is naught we can do about that but give chase."

Brandonsaluted smartly, wheeled his horse and rode down the line, issuinginstructions. Immediately the warriors began melting into the forest on eitherside of the ravine. Brandon and Giles rode back to join Lionheart.

"Brandon,you direct the attack from the left flank. Giles, you take the right. Waituntil all of Llewellyn’s warriors have entered our trap before closing off theexits," Lionheart said.

The threemen rode off in different directions. Lionheart moved up the hill to highground, where he could watch for Llewellyn’s approach, then join the battlewhere he was most needed.

Threehours later, Lionheart saw the enemy's forces approach the ravine. Mountedwarriors were the first to arrive, followed closely by a mélange of footsoldiers dressed in a variety of clothing ranging from chain mail to fur. Theylooked like a savage horde of Welshmen from legends of old. Lionheartrecognized Llewellyn in the forefront and one of the two warriors that rodebeside him.

Cursingviolently, Lionheart stared at the White Knight, vowing to end his miserablelife this day. This time the bastard would not escape him. But before he ranthe Welshman through with his broadsword, he wanted to see fear on his face.

His planwas working, Lionheart thought gleefully as he watched Llewellyn lead hisforces into the trap he had set for them. When the last of the foot soldiersmarched into the narrow ravine, Lionheart's warriors poured down from the hillsto close off their means of escape.

* * *

Vanorarode proudly beside Llewellyn despite Daffid's objection. Daffid had actedstrangely toward her during her stay at Draymere. He had questioned her closelyconcerning her treatment at Lionheart's hands and was convinced that Lionhearthad taken her maidenhead, no matter what she said to convince him otherwise. Hewas harsher than she remembered, and unappreciative of her attempts to help Llewellyn.Daffid cared for naught but his own glory. She knew he did not approve of herfighting like a man, but 'twas time he realized she was not weak, that shewould never depend upon a man for protection. Englishmen had seized her home,and it was her right to defend it. Her father had trained her for just such anoccasion, and naught would stop her from fighting alongside Llewellyn’swarriors for her birthright.

Vanora wasbolstered by the fact that Sir Ren and the men who had escaped from the towerhad found their way to Llewellyn and now rode behind her. The only thing that concerned her wasthe killing that was bound to occur during the heat of battle. Should theyengage in hand-to-hand combat, Vanora did not know if she could kill Lionheart,though doubtless he would have no qualms about ending her life.

Sometimeduring her stay at Draymere Vanora had come to the realization that she did notthirst for Lionheart's death. She could not conceive of a world without hisvibrant presence. Though she wanted him driven from her home, she wanted him tolive.

Thoseconfusing sentiments were still whirling in her head when she heard Llewellynyell, " 'Tis a trap!"

Whirlingin her saddle, Vanora watched in horror as the surrounding hills came alivewith English warriors. They burst forth from the forest mounted and afoot,wielding swords and battle-axes.

"Theyhave sealed the ravine!" Daffid cried, drawing his sword to meet thevanguard of the English forces.

Vanoradrew her own sword and braced herself to repel the advancing horde. She clashedwith a knight and managed to remain upright as he wielded both sword andbattle-ax. She felt the vibrations clear up to her shoulder as her shield tookthe brunt of the blows. While determination to keep her seat made her obliviousto pain, she wondered how long she could endure. Men stronger than she werebeing struck down by Lionheart's battle acumen. How had he known Llewellyn’sarmy was advancing toward Cragdon?

Then shesaw him, slashing his way toward her, the gleaming silver of his eyes glintingwith malice as he rode inexorably in her direction. She awaited him with stoicresignation, not really wanting to die but aware that death was what Lionheartintended for her.

SuddenlySir Ren appeared before her, his destrier pawing the air as he brought it up short."Flee, mistress," he cried. "Leave Lionheart to me."

"Iwill not flee like a coward," Vanora bit out. "See to your ownsafety."

"Nay!"

The wordshad no sooner left his mouth than five former Cragdon knights formed aprotective circle around her. Five others aligned themselves beside Ren, swordsdrawn to repel Lionheart's advance. Several of Lionheart's warriors saw whatwas happening and came to his defense.

WhenVanora realized her own knights were preventing her from joining in the battle,she tried to break through their perimeter. Despite her best efforts, she wasslowly but surely being forced away from the line of battle, toward highground.

Over theroar of battle she heard Lionheart's anguished cry. "Coward! Come back andfight!"

Glancingover her shoulder, she saw men falling beneath Lionheart's sword, and fearsurged through her. It was she Lionheart wanted. It was not fair that othersshould die protecting her. But when she tried to return to the battlefield, herwarriors refused to give way.

Anotherquick look over her shoulder made the blood freeze in her veins. Lionheart hadslashed past Sir Ren's defenses and was pounding after her. From the corner ofher eye she saw Llewellyn and Daffid fighting side by side, but to her dismay,it appeared that the battle was lost, that once again Lionheart's forces haddefeated Llewellyn’s army.

Even asthe thought entered her mind, she saw Llewellyn break away and ride full tiltinto the forest. When the Welshmen realized their leader was retreating, theyformed a solid line of defense to prevent the Englishmen from giving chase.