The Duke of Tremont

Chapter 28

Author’s note: Much thanks to Sterling Dragonfly for her wonderful editing!

*********************************************************

The Balybonne army arrived at Hillcrest Meadow in the dead of night. For the most part, they could not be seen but most definitely could be heard as they set up camp.

Justin sat on the rise of a low hill staring into the darkness to where he knew his lover was. The connection with Brian had faded in and out all day and he assumed it had more to do with Brian's state of consciousness than any pretense of protecting Justin from the harsh torture being inflicted upon him.

He knew Brian had almost broken last night. Justin's love and support had helped hold his resolve firm, but Brian was in trouble and Justin was determined to save him. He sat all night listening to the eerie sounds of the enemy.

*********************************************************

In the early pre-dawn, Craig awoke to find himself being dragged out of the tent in which he and Brian had spent most of the night, tied to a post. Two other men grabbed the limp form of Brian, as well.

Brian had drifted in and out of consciousness ever since Sapperstein's men had thrown him back into Craig's chamber early that morning. His face had been a bloody, swollen mess, but his back was worse. Craig did not even want to think of the trail of blood that was running steadily down Brian's leg. The older man had spent most of the morning cleaning and dressing Brian's wounds with the meager supplies he could find in his rooms. He had just finished putting a pair of breeches and a soft shirt on him when the guards had come to take them with the army as they marched away from Lakeview Manor.

Craig had been allowed to ride, but Brian, being too weak, had been tossed carelessly into the back of one of the supply wagons. Craig had tried many times to keep watch over the man during the long journey, but his guards never let him get too close.

Sapperstein had ridden proudly at the head of his army with the standard of Balybonne flying proudly. Next to him rode Christopher, Father Ronald and surprisingly Lady Claire. Craig had been shocked to see her at her husband's side. It would be an interesting battle indeed; if he lived to see it.

Craig's heart sank as he was pulled to the top of a hill by his captors. For there stood two large, wooden posts with wrist manacles hanging from the top. As if that were not disheartening enough, around the posts wood was laid out to make bonfires at each spot. It was then that Craig knew his fate. He was to be burned to death; most likely in front of his own son, for the hill was in the middle of Balybonne's army, but he was sure was within view of the army of Pennington. There was no way they would be rescued in time even if the others could fight their way through. He glanced at Brian again as they roughly pushed the man against his post and brought his hands up to snap them into place in their metal bindings. He moaned as his back came into contact with the rough post, but gave no other indication of being aware of his surroundings. For that Craig was grateful.

As Craig was placed into position in what was to be his own personal inferno, he saw Duchess Claire out of the corner of his eye. She was gazing at her brother with a smile of pure malice and hatred spread across her pale lips. Craig suddenly knew why she had come. She wanted to watch her brother die.

Craig shuddered, closed his eyes and let the post hold most of his weight. While he played the part of resigned prisoner, he reached one finger into the opposite sleeve of his billowing linen shirt and began to slowly dislodge one of Janniver's hairpins that he had hidden there earlier.

*********************************************************

King Jonathan rode to the meadow at the head of his army, his troops spread out on either side of him. At his side rode Justin, Ben, Michael, Bishop Vic and Princes Timothy and Hunter.

Across the vast expanse of open field, he could see the army of Balybonne already lined up in their battle formation. The king and his men rode to the crest of a low hill and all of them halted at once as if a single hand had reached out and stayed their horses. For there, perched on top of another hill, directly in their line of sight were two wooden poles. Chained to these poles were two men. Though they were fairly far off, and well within the confines of the enemy, the two figures could be mistaken for no one else but Duke Brian and Earl Craig. Underneath them lay piles of wood that left no mistake as to their fate.

"Brian," Jonathan practically moaned as he gauged the situation. He could not see how they could fight through the army to save his brother and the earl in time.

Michael clasped his husband's arm. "What will we do?" he asked desperately.

"Have faith," replied Ben.

Bishop Vic crossed himself and both Hunter and Timothy unconsciously sidled their horses closer to their father.

Jonathan finally moved his gaze off the horrific scene in front of him over to Justin, worried that this might be the thing that could undo him completely. The others followed suit and to all of their surprise what they saw was a young man whose face was set in a mask of anger and determination.

"We must get through." Justin set his gaze upon the king, his blue eyes blazing, defying anyone to argue with him. "Your Majesty, we must get through," he repeated.

They were the first words Justin had spoken aloud to anyone in three days, except for two nights ago, when he had come into the King's tent seeking comfort. Jonathan knew that Justin felt everything that had happened to his brother, but the young man had not offered to tell him, and Jonathan had not pressed. Knowing of what Sap was capable, he thought perhaps he did not want to know.

Now he appraised the young man and could see, that for Justin, there was no other option than to save the two most important men in his life. "Yes, we must," was all the King said in reply as he wheeled his horse to find his generals.

*********************************************************

As the two armies stood waiting for action, Claire had made her way to her brother's side. Craig kept his eyes closed and stilled his hands from their covert task of picking the locks of his chains.

"Brian, wake up!" Claire moved close to her brother and spoke in his ear. "Wake up, dear brother. I don't want you to miss anything." She opened a vial and placed it under Brian's nose.

The foul smell woke him instantly and he blinked slowly, trying to assess his situation. "Wha…where am I?" His eyes lit on his sister. "Claire?"

"Ah, good, you are awake. We have such big plans for you. I don't want you to sleep through any of it."

Brian darted his eyes around, desperately trying to see what she was talking about. Finally, the sight of Craig at his stake came into focus. "Holy God!" Brian exclaimed and then he looked down at his own feet, taking in the generous pile of wood placed there.

Claire grabbed Brian's chin. "Do not dare utter the name of our Heavenly Father from your vile lips. It is because you renounce him with your perverted ways that you must burn."

Brian scoffed at the woman, "Then your dear husband should be right here beside me."

Claire's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What vicious lies will you try to spread now, my brother, so close to the time of your death?"

"Who do you think did this to me, Claire?" Brian asked, not bothering to hide his exhaustion.

"Of course my husband beat you. You must be punished for your sins."

Brian rolled his eyes at his sister's stupidity and blindness. "He raped me, Claire. Sap is a perverted degenerate just like me."

"You filthy liar!" The slap rang out so loudly that Craig winced.

Claire's blow had sent shooting pain throughout Brian's already injured face and he found himself once again floating on the brink of consciousness. Suddenly, the foul odor was attacking his senses again and he had no choice but to wake up.

His sister had moved beside him and was holding his head up. "Look out across that field, dear brother." Claire spoke softly into his ear. "Do you see them? It is our brother and his pathetic army. I believe I can even see Jonathan, and perhaps even your Justin. They can see you up here on this hill. They will be able to watch you burn. Do you think they will try to save you? How much do you think they will risk for you?"

"You bitch," Brian grated out between clenched teeth.

"Perhaps," answered Claire evenly, "but at least I will be a living bitch, which is more than I can say for you and all of your friends."

Suddenly down below a lone rider carrying the white flag of parley broke away from Balybonne's line and rode toward the Pennington side.

"Ah, so it starts. I'm afraid I must leave you now, brother. Things are going to heat up quite a bit for you." She laughed mercilessly as she moved away. "Good bye and good riddance, Brian."

"She really is a bitch," commented Craig dryly when she had gone out of earshot.

Brian's eyes snapped up to the other man's as he barked out his own mirthless laugh. "Good God, don't make me laugh," he groaned. "It hurts too much." He studied Craig for a moment. "We cannot allow them to risk their lives foolishly for us. There is no way they will ever reach us in time."

"Do you think we can really stop them?" Craig asked with a small smile. "Are you sure you have met my son or your brother?"

Brian closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the rough pole. "I see your point."

"That is why we must do what we can to help them." Craig's tone of voice intrigued Brian, who raised his eyes to look at the man again. His smile was genuine as the older man revealed the small hairpin in his hands. "You keep watch."

Brian nodded as he let his gaze land on his brother's army one more time before moving to survey the movement of their two guards.

*********************************************************

The rider from Balybonne approached the enemy line with his white flag held high. He made a great show of wheeling his horse and stopping in front of King Jonathan. "Your Majesty; His Majesty, King Sapperstein of Balybonne bids you welcome. It seems you are just in time for a much anticipated event."

"Oh," answered Jonathan with a bored tone of voice to cover his growing fear, "and what event might that be?"

"The king invites you to witness the execution of two dangerous criminals."

"May I ask what the crimes of these dangerous men are?" Jonathan's body was wracked with tension as he tried to stall the inevitable.

"Treason, of course," replied the man haughtily, "and perversions against God. For these offenses, Brian, Duke of Tremont and Craig, former Earl of Westlake shall die by burning at the stake. May the fires light their way into hell!" With that proclamation, the man wheeled his horse again and stood in his stirrups, waving his flag wildly in signal to his own men.

Two torches waved back from where the prisoners were held and they both lit the outer ring of kindling in tandem. The rider began his breakneck ride back to his army only to be felled by an arrow in his back.

All eyes fell upon Justin, who sat with his bow hanging limply in his hands, wearing a satisfied smile. His eyes met Jonathan's and the king raised his arm to signal his army. "Away!" he shouted loudly. "My men to me! We must get through to the prisoners!"

Arrows flew from both sides as the two armies met in the middle of the meadow with a clash of steel and the stench of blood.

*********************************************************

Brian assessed his and Craig's situation, which was looking less hopeful by the minute. He could see that the fires had been laid out to reach them slowly so they would have to wait and suffer their fate slowly, but he did not think it would be slow enough. He glanced down upon the battlefield and could see his brother and his men trying to fight their way through, but he was not holding much hope. "I don't suppose you are making any progress," he asked Craig and then coughed from the smoke invading his lungs.

"Actually," Craig paused and jammed the hairpin into the lock one more time and turned it quickly. The manacle fell open and Craig used his free hand to open the one on the other wrist in the same manner. "I am," he replied with a grin. He quickly looked for their guards, who seemed to be engrossed in the battle below.

Brian smiled slyly at the man and then shook his hands impatiently.

Craig moved quickly from his post over to Brian. The fire had not come between them yet. "It took me awhile to get just the right movement, but I think I've got it now." He looked Brian over as he reached up for his wrist. "How are you doing?"

Brian coughed and eyed the flames that were beginning to get too close for comfort. "Ask me when we get the hell out of here," he replied urgently.

Suddenly one arm was free and Brian bit back a moan as his back slammed into the post. "Sorry," murmured Craig. Soon Brian's other hand was free.

Craig bent to pick up a stick that was only burning on one end and Brian painfully reached down and did the same. On Craig's silent signal, they both ran through the ring of burning kindling and simultaneously hit their two guards across the back of the head. Both men fell in shock and surprise and the two prisoners used this to their advantage, grabbing their swords and running both of them through with their own weapons.

"The prisoners have escaped!" came a shrill cry and Brian turned to see Claire yelling to her men. "To me! The prisoners have escaped."

Unfortunately for Claire, the unorganized and rag tag army of Balybonne was proving to be no match for the highly trained men of King Jonathan and Duke Brian. A few men answered her call for aid, but they were quickly cut down by Craig and Brian.

Jonathan's men, led by Ben, had finally managed to cut a path to the two wayward prisoners. The rest of their army was quickly subduing the enemy, many of whom were surrendering in defeat. Brian caught sight of Justin, who was finishing off one of the enemy, and began to walk toward him as if in a daze.

When he felt his lover's gaze upon him, Justin vaulted off his horse and ran to the other man, shedding his inhibiting upper body armor along the way. "Brian!" he called.

"Justin!" Brian almost sagged into the blond's strong arms.

Justin pushed him back a bit so he could look at him. "Oh God. Brian, are you all right? I was so worried."

Brian's head swam and he coughed. He was having a hard time focusing around his exhaustion and pain. He slowly raised his head to look into the relieved face of his lover. Suddenly an incredible feeling of déjà vu struck him and pieces of a long ago nightmare invaded his brain. "No! Justin, no!" he tried to yell, but it was too late. Justin's face blanched with pain and surprise and he slowly sank to the ground, an ornate dagger sticking out of his back.

"No!" cried Brian desperately.

Claire stood in the place where his lover had just been. "Now, your punishment will be to watch him die," she spat.

Brian sank to his knees beside his lover, trying to think of what to do, as all hell broke loose around them. Craig, who had been closest to the two men, screamed in agony, "Justin!" Before anyone else could move, he had advanced upon the hapless Duchess and run her through with his blade.

Sapperstein had been on his way to his wife when he witnessed her murder at the hands of Earl Craig. Still too far away to do much, he grabbed a bow and arrow from one of the archers riding beside him and took aim at Justin's father.

"Craig!" Brian called out as the other man fell almost on top of his son's body, an arrow protruding from his back.

"Justin," Craig gasped out. "Don't mind me. You must help Justin!"

Brian nodded and continued to try and stop the blood pouring from his lover, not daring to pull out the dagger."

It was not long before Jonathan and his men reached Sapperstein and what was left of his loyal followers. "Your lady wife is dead and your men are beaten," Jonathan spoke harshly, "lay down your arms, all of you, and let us end this farce."

Sapperstein turned angry eyes on his men, including Father Ronald and Christopher, who all threw down their weapons and slowly dismounted their horses. "Cowards!" he screamed. "What is wrong with all of you? Fight! You must fight for your king!"

"They are surrendering to their true king, Sap," spoke Jonathan again, "I am asking you to do the same."

Sapperstein stared at Jonathan defiantly. "Never!" he screamed as he brandished his sword and charged the King. Ben's sword hit him first, followed closely by Timothy's. He never even got close to his target.

Jonathan dismounted his horse and kicked Sapperstein's body over so he was facing the sky. "Good riddance, dear brother," he spat bitterly. He then turned to Hunter, who was still mounted. "Quick, send for Bishop Vic and Mel!"

Hunter nodded and spurred his horse back to their camp.

Jonathan made his way over to where Brian huddled over Justin's still form. Michael was already there, trying to care for Craig. "How is he, brother?" Jonathan placed gentle hands on Brian's shoulders as he knelt next to him, trying to offer support.

Brian winced at the touch then raised his eyes to meet Jonathan's. His tears only served to make his battered face look even worse and Jonathan's heart tightened in his chest to see him in such a state. "He is dying," came the quiet reply.

Return to The Duke of Tremont