Page 97 of Lionheart

Thefollowing morning Lionheart met with his chief knights to formulate a plan ofaction. Seeking help from neighboring landholders was out of the question.Englishmen were interlopers in Wales, and no help would be forthcoming.Suggestions were offered, but Lionheart knew that naught could change the factthat the lack of men would probably spell their doom. Everyone agreed, however,that an attempt must be made to save Sir Giles and his lady wife.

"SirRen, you know Draymere best. Is there a way to gain entrance to the castlewithout storming the portcullis or scaling the walls?"

His lips pursedin thought, Sir Ren shook his head. "Nay, my lord. Draymere is an old keepand in sad repair. I am aware of no secret entrances or postern gates. 'Tis awell-known fact that all castles have tunnels and secrets exits. Only thuscould supplies be brought in during siege and couriers escape unseen, but I amnot privy to Draymere's secrets."

"Canyou give me a rough estimate of the number of men Daffid has at hiscommand?"

"Overone hundred, Lord Lionheart. Every one may not have bows or swords, but stavesand cudgels can be deadly weapons when wielded by men who hateEnglishmen."

"Whynot attempt a night attack?" Sir Brandon suggested. "We could scalethe walls, silence the guards and make our way into the keep."

"Iwas thinking along those same lines," Lionheart mused. "We have lessthan a sennight to plan our siege. A cloudy, moonless night would be best. SirBrandon, prepare the men. I want them ready to move at a moment's notice. Prayfor at least one cloudy night during the sennight Daffid has allowed us."

Thatevening, in the privacy of the solar, Lionheart shared his plans with Vanora.

"Allyour men-at-arms will be needed to storm Daffid's keep, and that will leave Cragdonundefended," Vanora warned.

Lionheartshrugged. "It cannot be helped. I am counting on our surprise attack toconfuse Daffid's forces. If all goes as planned, the Welshmen guarding theportcullis will be replaced with my own men, thus preventing anyone fromleaving Draymere to attack Cragdon."

Vanorafeared that Lionheart's plan would fail and that he would die alongside Giles,Deirdre and the rest of Cragdon's defenders. With Lionheart dead she would beat Daffid's mercy. Nay, she could not let that happen . . . would not let ithappen. She knew what she had to do to prevent needless deaths and was willingto take the risk.

"Whenwill you attack?"

"Soon.The moon is on the wane, and even as we speak clouds are gathering over themountains. Tomorrow night, or at the very latest, the night after that."

"Letme go with you."

"Nay,'tis impossible. Stay here and await my return."

"Andif you do not return? What then?"

"Thenyou are free to wed Daffid as your father

wanted."

There wasan untamed wildness in Vanora that night. She could not get enough ofLionheart. Her mouth and hands tasted him, explored his body until he was madfor her. But she would not be appeased until he had completely exhaustedhimself and fallen asleep. It was well after Matins when Vanora kissedLionheart lightly upon the lips, arose without waking him and dressed. Aftermaking sure he still slept, she opened his clothes chest, removed hisdistinctive red tabard with a rampant lion emblazoned in gold on the front, andhid it beneath her mantle.

Silent asa wraith, Vanora left the solar and descended the stairs to the hall. Herfootsteps whispered through the rushes as she made her way to the front door. Asentry stepped out from the shadows.

"Wherego you, my lady?"

Vanorastarted violently, then relaxed when she recognized one of her own knights."You startled me, Sir Eldin. I could not sleep so I decided to go to thechapel and pray."

" Tislate, my lady."

"Aye,but 'tis never too late to pray."

Sir Eldinmust have agreed, for he let her pass.

Huggingthe shadows, Vanora slipped inside the chapel and went directly to the chest inthe anteroom that contained her armor, helm and sword. She quickly shed hergown and with great difficulty donned her chain mail. Then she pulled onLionheart's red tabard and stuffed her own white and gold tabard inside hermail shirt. She shoved her helm over her head, sheathed her sword and loweredher visor.

Assuming amasculine gait, Vanora strode to the mews wearing Lionheart's colors, saddled asteed from among the horses and mounted with the help of a mounting block.

So far, sogood, she thought, but the hardest was yet to come. While posing as aman-at-arms, she had to convince the sentry to raise the portcullis. Inhalingsharply, Vanora squared her shoulders and boldly reined her horse toward thegate, thanking God that she was tall enough to pass for a man.

"Whogoes there?" the sentry challenged as she approached.

Loweringher voice an octave, Vanora said, "Raise the portcullis."