Sir Halric cursed furiously, waved his mailed hand toward Aleric, motioned to his own archers to fire again, but they had run away. Without the archers, the mounted soldiers were in a weak position and they knew it. They wheeled their mounts about and were out of range within moments, another ten arrows raining down to land on the shields covering their heads, the dirt swirling at the pounding of the horses’ hooves.
Merry looked at the fleeing soldiers, Sir Halric at their head, his hand pressed against his neck to stanch the flow of blood. Why hadn’t Jason of Brennan come, since he was the Black Demon? Who had told them where the silver coins were hidden?
Garron’s soldiers rose to stand beside Aleric, screaming insults after the fleeing enemy.
Aleric slapped men on the backs, told them they’d beaten the cowards, and there was more cheering from those standing armed in the inner bailey.
She threw her arms around him. “That was an amazing plan, lining your men along the rampart walkway, never letting them be seen until it was too late. We won!” Aleric stood frozen, pleased, appalled, and a huge grin bloomed on his face. He patted her awkwardly on the back.
Miggins shouted, “Aleric, ’tis a good braw lad ye be. What say ye, would ye like to lick me?”
Everyone laughed, Merry included. Two archers were laughing so hard they nearly fell off the ramparts.
As for Merry, she knew there was now no hope for it. Sir Halric would remember who she was, she knew it. She said to Aleric, “Did you see the standard the squire was carrying?”
“Aye, I did. I have never seen it before.”
Spit it out, spit it out. “I have.”
Aleric said slowly, “Their leader said you looked familiar. I wondered how that could be. Whose standard is it, Merry? Who is that man’s master?”
“Jason of Brennan. It is his standard—two black eagles, their wings folded down, bones piled between them.”
“Jason of Brennan. I know of him, as does Garron. How do you know it is his standard? You are saying he is the Black Demon?”
“Yes, he must be. Their leader’s name is Sir Halric. He is Jason of Brennan’s man.”
“Tell me, Merry, everything you know of these men.”
“I know Jason of Brennan is a bad man, greedy, ambitious. As for Sir Halric, he is a hard man, and single-minded, I think.”
Aleric knew stalling when he saw it. He repeated, “How do you know these men, Merry?”
She was frantically pleating the skirt of her gown. “Please, Aleric, please, I must tell Garron first, it is only right.”
“Surely it is not so very bad, is it?”
“Aye, it is.”
Aleric eyed her. Her face was white as the beautiful clouds overhead. He watched her pull the hood off her head. He eyed her bright red hair. “The man recognized your hair, didn’t he? How is this?” When she remained silent, he sighed deeply. “Will you tell Garron the truth when he returns? You swear you will tell him how you know these men?”
“Aye, I will, I must. It is past time, really. I do not want any of you hurt.”
“Now that I know who they are, they cannot hurt us. I knew you could be no priest’s byblow. Who are you?”
“Not yet, Aleric, please, not yet. There is more.”
25
WAREHAM CASTLE
SIX DAYS LATER
Bless Aleric, he did not mention Sir Halric or Jason of Brennan again, nor did he again ask her who she was.
Now Garron was home. Merry watched him, Gilpin, and Pali ride across the drawbridge, their horses’ hooves pounding loud on the thick wooden beams. Since Robert Burnell wasn’t with him, he must have taken all the king’s soldiers and returned to London after visiting Furly and Radstock. This meant all was well, but it was still a relief.
She saw Sir Lyle of Clive and his three men riding behind Garron. She knew to her bones he’d been the one to pay those men to try to kill her and Garron, then he’d killed the two men, probably killed the new smith and claimed he’d escaped Wareham. But how to get proof of his guilt?