Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court (23 page)

“Anya, I—” he began, but she tugged even harder.

In spite of himself, he grew annoyed with her, knowing that time
was short. He looked down at her, but she was staring off to the side, away from the approaching Lucrums. He followed her gaze and beheld the form of a mighty warrior just a few paces away The man's muscles bulged beneath his tunic, and his dark brown hair was trimmed short. His sword was not drawn, but his countenance was firm, his eyes penetrating.

Bentley reached for his sword, thinking him to be one of Avarick's warriors, but the man stayed still.

“They will decimate the region,” he said in a quiet voice that seemed to echo. He nodded toward the invaders on the horizon. “The Lucrums and the warriors with Avarick.”

“Who are you?” Bentley asked.

The man ignored him and looked toward the Lucrums. “We knew this was coming, but it is happening much sooner than we expected. The people are in great danger. I have warriors following Demus and the Knights of the Prince, but they may arrive too late. I will ride to warn them, but you must warn the people and the castle.”

Bentley wondered if he dared trust this stranger, then realized he had no choice.

“Why would Avarick do this?” Bentley asked.

The warrior's horse seemed impatient, and Bentley saw its muscles twitch in anticipation of the ride and the impending battle.

“Because his lord is the lord of destruction and chaos. He needs no other reason.”

The mighty man of war turned his horse to the west and then looked back at Bentley.

“Not all of the castle knights and guards are loyal to Avarick. Be vigilant. I will bring help as soon as possible.” He reared his horse, then thundered down the knoll and on toward the bridge that led to Thecia. Only when he had disappeared did Bentley realize who the man might be. He shook his head in wonder.

Bentley made his way speedily to the village and castle, still holding
Anya tightly in front of him, for he dared not leave her behind. All the way he wondered how his personal journey to learn the ways of the Prince had escalated into a war of forces much greater than the common folk of Arrethtrae would have ever imagined. Shadow Warriors, Silent Warriors, castle knights, guards, and the ghoulish Lucrums were all converging on Holbrook Court. Had he really been the catalyst of all this mayhem? Was it his desire to follow in the steps of the Prince that had caused the darkness to scream against the invasion of light?

Although the castle was still silent, Bentley shouted out an alarm to all he saw, asking them to spread the news. By the time he entered the village, the people were beginning to understand the reality of the Lucrum attack. When he reached the castle, he was shocked to see that the gates were still closed. Many people were pounding on the gates, but no guards were posted at any of the watchtowers.

The people cried out in panic and pleaded with Bentley to do something, for on the horizon the chilling forms of the Lucrums were descending on Holbrook. The cries of ambushed people began to roll across the lands and fill the hearts of all with fear and dread. Bentley held Anya tightly and rode east along the walls of the castle until he reached the back gate, where many of the farmers from the east lands had gathered. They were pounding on the heavy doors.

Bentley was sick at the slaughter that was about to take place, and he could do nothing to stop it. His mind raced wildly, imagining the devastation Avarick was accomplishing within the castle, and his heart clenched when he thought of Eirwyn. By now he could hear the thunder of hundreds of horses galloping toward the castle.

Just when all seemed hopeless, the back gates opened. People poured in, nearly crushing one another in their panic. Bentley made his way on Silverwood through the gate and looked for some sign of what had happened.

It looked like there was as much chaos inside the castle as out. Many guards lay dead in the courtyard and near the gate. The captain of the
guards was giving orders to a small contingent of fifteen men—the only defenders in sight. Bentley made his way over to them.

“Captain, what happened?”

The captain looked at Bentley and quickly perceived him to be an ally.

“My lookouts and gate guards were killed early this morning. I don't know who to trust. Some of the knights and guards have turned against us.”

“What of Avarick?”

“I don't know. He must be with Lord Kingsley Sir Braith has not yet returned from Burkshire Castle, but Lady—”

“They're almost here!” the people shouted as the Lucrums swarmed toward the castle, yelling an eerie war cry that caused Bentley to shudder.

“Close the gate!” the captain shouted, and Bentley cringed as a man running across a field to the gate was cut down from behind by a mounted Lucrum.

Four guards closed the gate and set the locking bar.

“Captain, we've got to get that front gate open for the people. Even if we never get the gate closed again, we can defend them more easily from inside the walls.

The captain nodded, and Bentley rode through the courtyards, searching for Eirwyn as he went. He had to get Anya to safety before entering battle, but all the kingdom seemed unsafe at the moment. He rode into one of the gardens, where he spotted a large oak tree.

“Anya, you must be brave and wait for me here, all right?”

She looked at him with fear in her eyes but nodded. He lifted her high onto a branch.

“Keep out of sight until I come for you. Promise?”

“I will, Bentley. Will Eirwyn be all right?” Her eyes begged him for hope.

“I'm going to make certain of it.”

His reassurance seemed to help her, and she clung tightly to the
trunk of the tree, hidden in the thick leaves. Bentley left her there, hoping desperately that she would remain undiscovered should the Lucrums gain entrance to the castle.

At the front of the castle, the guards had worked quickly to open the gate, and the people began pouring into the courtyard. Pandemonium soon filled the castle as the assault against Holbrook began.

The sounds of massacre were hard for Bentley to hear. He looked up at the castle walls and saw a number of Avarick's warriors staring down. Their swords were drawn, but they were doing nothing to help against the invasion of the Lucrums.

Bentley rode to Kingsley's majestic manor and dismounted. The fate of Eirwyn was foremost on his mind. He ran through the carved doors and hurried to the broad marble stairway that led down to the foyer of the beautiful great hall. Four guards denied him access.

“I am Sir Bentley. Tell Lord Kingsley I have urgent news for him!” he said, but they refused.

He then saw the beautiful form of Eirwyn enter the foyer from another chamber near the bottom of stairs.

“Eirwyn!”

She turned and looked up at him. She was arrayed in a beautiful white gown that matched the white of her face. Subtle ivy-colored highlights were painted on her cheeks. Her face showed grave concern.

“Eirwyn, tell your father I have urgent news!”

She hesitated, then quickly crossed to enter the great hall.

A minute later a guard appeared. “Let him enter,” he commanded.

Bentley descended the steps and entered the magnificent hall to see Lord Kingsley and Eirwyn conferring with Avarick and two of his warriors. Three of Kingsley's knights were with them as well.

“Has my son returned?” Bentley heard Kingsley ask Avarick, whose back was turned to him.

“Not yet, my lord.”

Bentley's hand flew to the hilt of his sword, and he covered the
remaining distance in an instant. Seeing Eirwyn so close to this warrior of evil both frightened and infuriated him.

Kingsley's mouth dropped open at Bentley's aggressive approach. “What is the meaning of this?”

At that, Avarick wheeled about and immediately drew his sword. His two warriors and Kingsley's three knights did the same. Eirwyn and Kingsley were separated from Bentley by a wall of experienced warriors-three controlled by Lucius and three who looked confused, unsure of where the threat might be.

“Step away, Eirwyn,” Bentley told her urgently, but she did not move. She seemed frozen in place. “Lord Kingsley,” he said, “Avarick is not who you think he is.”

“Impossible!” Avarick looked at Bentley as if he were seeing some apparition. “Kill him!” Avarick commanded.

Avarick's two warriors stepped forward to fight Bentley, and Avarick retreated to stand closer to Kingsley and Eirwyn.

“Hold!” Kingsley held up his hand.

The two warriors hesitated and looked at Avarick. Avarick's eyes darted quickly to Kingsley and Eirwyn and then to the three knights.

“What is going on?” Kingsley demanded.

Bentley pointed his sword toward Avarick. “He is a Shadow Warrior, as are his men. They follow the Dark Knight, Lucius.”

Kingsley looked at Avarick and then back to Bentley.

“That means nothing to me. We are under attack by the Lucrums and have no time for this foolishness.” Kingsley waved his hands, as if to brush the conflict aside.

“Avarick is in league with the Ashen Knight,” Bentley said, “and I believe he has called the Lucrums to this attack!”

At that, the three knights turned about and looked at Avarick. Kingsley eyed Bentley fiercely and then glared at Avarick.

“What proof do you have?”

Shouts filtered into the great hall as the battle outside intensified.
Bentley assumed that the Lucrums must have already gained entrance to the castle. Eirwyn's eyes flicked nervously in her painted face. She clutched her father's arm. “Father, they're coming!”

Something was wrong. Bentley wanted desperately to reach her, but she seemed uncharacteristically stunned by fear. What had happened to the girl who'd stood toe to toe with the Ashen Knight?

“Move away, Eirwyn!” he shouted once more. Still she didn't move.

The two Shadow Warriors gripped their swords tightly, and Bentley prepared himself, for he could see they wanted to be set loose on him.

“Our tower guards were murdered this morning, my lord,” one of Kingsley's knights said. “And there was no alarm.” His face showed that he and his men were slowly coming to the realization that Bentley's words might be true.

Avarick moved nearer to Kingsley and Eirwyn. “Don't listen to him, my lord. He is a fool, and we are wasting precious time!”

“He tried to kill me this very morning.” Bentley lifted his neck to show Kingsley the mark the noose had left. “He has nothing but evil in mind!”

Kingsley stood straight and firm before his first knight. “Withdraw your men, Avarick!”

The last pretense of servitude slowly drained from Avarick's face, and his eyes filled with dark hate and loathing. His lips curled into an annoyed grimace.

“You are not lord here, fool. I am!” Avarick took a step forward, and Kingsley's visage fell immediately from authority to one of fear.

“For years I have nurtured your greed and put up with your pompous ego so that I could one day utterly destroy you and these miserable people.” Avarick waved his hand outward toward the castle grounds.

The three knights raised their swords as Avarick's wicked heart was revealed.

“Today is that day, for even now my Vincero Knight and his league of Lucrums are destroying your land and the people!”

“No!” Bentley screamed as he saw Avarick initiate a move.

Avarick swung his blade in an arc so quickly that neither Kingsley nor his knights could stop him. Eirwyn screamed as the sword pierced clear through Kingsley's chest.

For an instant, all stood in utter disbelief at what had just happened. Avarick laughed in gruesome pleasure, as if he had waited forever for the deed. He snarled at Kingsley's expression of shock and pain.

“Do you see it now, my friend? I am not just evil. I am one of Lucius's best, for I am the root of
all
evil!” Avarick looked at his warriors. “I said kill him!” he screamed as he withdrew his sword. The hall filled instantly with the sounds of clashing swords. Kingsley fell to the marble floor, and Eirwyn fell with him in terrorized fear and anguish.

Bentley became fully occupied with the blades of Avarick's two Shadow Warriors. Kingsley's knights immediately brought their swords to bear on Avarick, but he made one powerful slice across their path and grabbed Eirwyn by the hair. He lifted her from the floor and brought his sword to her neck.

The knights hesitated and dared not advance. Bentley's heart screamed against seeing Eirwyn in Avarick's brutish hands. He fought to disengage from the warriors and go to her rescue, but his foes pressed him all the harder. Avarick dragged Eirwyn to the far end of the hall and up the staircase.

“Take them and I will save her!” Bentley ordered Kingsley's three knights, and they exchanged positions.

Bentley ran to Eirwyn, but by the time he reached the bottom of the staircase, Avarick was at the top. He turned and looked down from above, still laughing. Eirwyn fought against him, but his strength was far too great.

“Here, knave,” Avarick shouted. “There's no need to come up here. I'll send her to you!”

Bentley's heart seemed to stop as Avarick's fully blackened soul became manifest by his actions. He cast Eirwyn over the banister, and
Bentley screamed against the inevitable with all his might. The moments slowed as her slender body twisted through the air.

Bentley was too far away to change anything, and he turned his eyes away but the sound of her body hitting the marbled floor splintered his heart into a thousand shards. He ran and knelt beside her, casting his sword to the side, hoping against all odds that his Eirwyn was still alive. His eyes filled with tears as he beheld the limp and lifeless form of his beautiful Maiden of Mercy.