Nicholas noted there were not many of Henry's men coming up behind them on horseback. This was a decoy to allow the men on the boats to come ashore and take the castle from the Thames. They were a distraction meant to fool Gavin into thinking he had them outnumbered. It was a ploy they had used before with great success.
The plan seemed to be working. Oliver was at his side, where Willis would normally be. He tried to put his sick seneschal out of his mind. Though still ill, Willis had stirred before Nicholas had left for Renoir, but he was not yet well. Nicholas now trusted Oliver with his life and knew he would be just as valuable in battle as Willis would have been.
The gate opened and more arrows rained down. Now was the time. He lifted his arm and motioned for forward progress. The shields held against the few arrows that reached them, and they all moved forward together. Henry's men behind them drew near, and Bigod's men came flooding out of the gates.
There were more men than Nicholas could count, but he held steady. He saw a few of his men fall, but he moved forward. Man after man came for him, but he put them aside quickly with his sword. He was not interested in soldiers. He wanted Gavin de Vere.
He did not see Gavin anywhere and did not have much time to look around. From the noise within the castle walls, he guessed Henry's men had gotten through the gate along the Thames unchallenged and were coming through the bailey.
Bigod's men were now sorely outnumbered. Some of them threw down their swords in surrender, and some still fought. There was still no sign of Gavin. Nicholas's men swarmed around him, protecting him from the few still brave enough to put up a fight. It was not much of a battle through, as they were now outnumbered two to one.
Nicholas could wait no more. He charged toward the gate and entered. No one stopped him. He took the steps two at a time to get to Gemma, only to find the cell empty. The door was locked, but she was not there.
"She's gone. You are too late," a voice behind him said. "You did not save my witch of a sister. My men had a fine time with her though. She screamed for you as they had their way with her."
Gavin was standing behind him. He was armed, his sword drawn and pointed at Nicholas. His eyes were wild.
"Where is she?" Nicholas said in an even voice. He refused to believe he was too late. He refused to believe he failed her. He loved her madly, totally, and completely. If he failed the woman he loved, he was nothing. Gavin was lying.
"I told you she is gone," Gavin said. "I waited here for you, knowing you would be stupid enough to come for her. Now I can kill you too."
Nicholas moved to take a dagger out, but Gavin darted aside too quickly. He drew back and swung. He missed, but he tried again. This time he hit Nicholas in the leg, running his sword through his thigh. Nicholas winced, and the pain shot through him. His leg started to falter, but he shifted his weight to the other.
"Nay!" he shouted, taking a swing at Gavin with his sword. It bounced off the stone wall with a clang. He pulled out a dagger and lunged while dropping his sword. There simply was not enough room for his sword in this passageway. Gavin moved out of the way, and the dagger hit the wall behind him.
"Henry's best man," Gavin said with a drawn out laugh, "has seen his last sunrise."
Gavin lunged again, but Nicholas was ready for him. He spun away, stepped forward, and his dagger hit the mark, sticking into Gavin's gut. The man fell to his knees as Nicholas withdrew the blade.
Footsteps alerted Nicholas, and he peered toward the stairs. He was expecting more trouble, but instead saw Oliver de Toeni.
"All is secure," he reported as he spotted the blood on the floor. "Are you hurt, milord?"
"Aye," Nicholas said, "but 'tis not a mortal wound. I cannot say the same for Gavin."
Both men studied the man at their feet, who was crumpled on the floor and curled in the fetal position. Crimson blood flowed from between his fingers and out onto the floor into a ghoulish puddle.
"Take him, unless he dies. Then leave him to rot. He is to be turned over to Henry, if he lives that long," Nicholas spit out, staring at the man who had eluded him for so long.
Oliver nodded as footsteps indicated they had more company. Nicholas recognized his own men.
"Hugh?" he asked Oliver.
"Dead."
"What of Gavin's wife?"
Oliver shrugged as he knelt to tie up Gavin so he could be removed. "We have not found her yet."
Nicholas nodded. He limped down the steps and out into the bailey. One of his men ran to him and noticed his wound. "Let me wrap that for you, milord."
"Quickly!" he commanded. He still did not know what had become of Gemma.
Once the leg was wrapped, he walked to the main gate, trying to ignore the pain in his thigh. It was easy, because the pain in his heart was much worse.
****
To Gemma's surprise, she and Helena made it to the woods without trouble. She had closed her eyes and sprinted like the wind. She did not look back, and she did not let go of her sister-in-law. They had tripped twice, but got right back up and ran again.
They stopped after entering the woods. Gemma could not get enough air into her lungs as she gasped over and over again. She did not have the energy she normally had, and the run had taken everything she had left.
She glanced back but could not see the castle. A horse neighed, and she hoped it was Blackstone men nearby. Gathering Helena, she moved through the branches. When they came upon the horses, she saw Matthew. He was next to a group of younger men, most holding shields and tending horses, far from the battle.
"Lady Gemma!" Matthew said as he ran to her. "You are well!"
"Aye," she said with tears. She was so happy to be safe. "Where is my husband?"
"He fights." Matthew gestured toward the castle. "Henry sent many men, and the Bigod forces are outnumbered. It should not be long before 'tis over."
She went toward the castle when Matthew stopped her. "With all the respect you deserve, I must order you to stay put. You have been in enough danger. You must wait here for Oliver or Nicholas to arrive."
Gemma obeyed without complaint. She sat down against a tree with Helena at her side.