The Robber Knight's Love (The Robber Knight Saga #2)(112)

Reuben turned his head to look at her. Because of the red metal visor, Ayla couldn't really see his face. But she was pretty sure his expression wasn't a very pleased one. Then Reuben looked at Burchard, who shrugged.

“Don't look at me. I gave up arguing with her years ago.”

“All right,” Reuben growled. “Take a look, if you absolutely must! But be careful!”

Slowly, so slowly, in fact, that she hardly felt as if she were moving, Ayla slid her head up between two of the imposing crenels of the castle wall. Just as her eyes peeked over the stone, another lightning bolt shot across the sky, followed immediately by a clap of thunder louder than any before. The storm was here.

Oh yes, it was.

Ayla's eyes widened at the sight of at least four-hundred mercenaries, standing arrayed in neat lines in the outer courtyard of the castle. A few cavalrymen were guarding their sides, and more men were still streaming into the gate from outside.

“Dear Lord,” she gasped. “How many are there?”

“Exactly as many as before,” was Reuben’s grim reply. “They only appear more now, because they are past your gates and inside your home.”

“Shouldn't we do something?” Ayla could hear her own voice quavering. Her heart was beating frantically against her ribs, trying to escape. “Isn't it time now? Before it is too late?”

“No! They must all be inside. We cannot leave a force outside the walls that would still be strong enough to prevent us from breaking the siege!”

“Yes, yes, of course.” She bit her lip, trying to get her fear under control. But the grim faces of the butchers down there, looking like devilish undead in the harsh white glare of the lightning, were frightening the wits out of her.

Taking a deep breath to steel herself, she again peeked over the wall into the courtyard. Almost all the soldiers had passed under the portcullis into the courtyard now.

“It's almost time.” She could hear Reuben's voice from her left, but she didn't turn to look. Her gaze wouldn't move from the men in the courtyard. About fifty had still to pass under the arch into the castle.

Then only forty were still outside.

Then only thirty.

Then twenty. Eighteen. Fifteen. Thirteen. Eleven.

Slowly, the three of them began to rise from the behind the stone crenels. Ayla nodded to Reuben. Of all her enemies, only ten remained outside her walls. And they were hurrying inside as they watched.

“Very well, Reuben,” she said. “Now we shall see if your plan is any good.”

“May God have Mercy on us,” Burchard muttered.

Reuben scowled. “Thank you for the vote of confidence.” Turning to Ayla, he whispered, “I have not forgotten the promise I made you the last time we parted.” Through the visor slit in his helmet, she could see his fiery gray eyes burning into her. “I'll be back for my compensation.”

She reached up, aching to hold him but not daring to in front of Burchard. So she just swiftly caressed his gauntleted hand, one single time. The last time she might ever touch him.

“God be with you, Reuben,” she whispered.

It didn’t matter that she couldn’t see his face. She could feel his devilish grin even through a thick plate of metal. “Thanks, but I think, in battle, I prefer Satan’s company.”

Before she could say anything, he had risen to his full height and marched over to a section of the wall that was clearly visible from the courtyard below. Or at least it would be, were there any lights. But just now, no lightning was illuminating the castle. There was a break in the thunder, and thus, nothing could steal Reuben's thunder. He bent down to where a burning torch lay, concealed behind the crenels, and straightened again, holding it up, up into the air, visible for everyone.

“Men of Luntberg!” he roared. “To your arms! To victory!”





Down in the Dungeon

The dungeon door slowly opened. Ayla saw Hans look up from where he sat, chained to the wall. His face turned grim as she, Burchard, and Reuben entered the gloomy stone cell. Yet this expression was replaced by one of utter astonishment when his wife, Madalena, followed them into the room.

“God's teeth!” he exclaimed. “Madalena, what are you doing here?”

The woman had been staring at the floor, hiding her tear-streaked face. At the sound of his voice, she looked up, and Ayla had to look away from the multitude of emotions that collided on her face as she saw her husband in chains.

She rushed to him and threw her arms around him.

“What am I doing here? I should be asking you that!” She whimpered into his neck. “What in God's name were you thinking? Hans, what were you thinking?”

“I was trying to protect you. I was trying to protect you and the girls.”

Reuben snorted. “Really great protecting you did there, you pock-marked maggot-pie.”

Ayla closed her eyes. “Would you please try and control your foul tongue,” she hissed into his ear. “It is important that everything goes smoothly!”

“I know. It is my plan, remember?”

“Yes, I remember. I also remember that we need his cooperation to make it work.”

“It doesn't have to be willing cooperation, though. And, by the way, my tongue isn't foul. You can check what it tastes like whenever you want. I wouldn't mind.”