They went down together, Ser Hoot went to the entrance and Gwayne stopped at the beginning of the castle to listen to as much of the conversation as he could.
— Sir... — began Hoot.
Lord Sarsfield looked at him with disdain, he thought at first that the "sir" was for him.
— What is it, Ser? said Lymond impatiently.
Lord Sarsfield's knights were restless, and were discussing something while their lord waited to speak with Ser Lymond.
"Let's stop at the lake" said one of them on the steps. "Isn't there a decent whore in this place to go with us?" the others laughed in response.
"Lucky bastards" said one of them.
Ser Hoot approached and whispered something into Ser Lymond's ear.
"after we do the escort we will go too, right Derek?" They laughed again.
The knight who seemed more experienced looked at them with disgust.
Gwayne then retreated to the castle's armory.
Not a soul was to be found in the large stone room, just armor and all types of weapons of war, rows of steel on the cold shelves. Gwayne picked up a huge ten-foot steel-tipped tournament spear. Gwayne ordered one of the castle servants to inform the stable boy to put the armor on his horse and bring him to the side door.
A young red-haired boy full of freckles arrived carrying a huge armed war horse, he bowed to him and handed him the horse's bridle.
Gwayne mounted and rode to the front of the castle, within sight of his grandfather.
Lord Sarsfield's carriage had already left.
Ser Lymond gave him a perplexed, astonished look as Gwayne sported his war armor in the sun.
Gwayne placed his half-open helmet with the lion's teeth gleaming in the sun, then looked at Ser Lymond and closed the lion's mouth, making the teeth clash in a terrible sun.
Gwayne wanted to be seen, if the plan went wrong his grandfather had to be ready to face the Sarsfield men.
His grandfather shouted to him, but he heard nothing.
Gwayne spurred his horse and bolted out the side door of the village, causing the horse to turn sharply and enter the forest at full speed.
"Ser Patrick," said Lymond. — I want five hundred armed men in one hour and gather all the knights.
— Your orders, my lord. — said Patrick, quickly retreating.
— Ser Hoot, go to the Sept and inform Septa Lorren... Lord Sarsfield's daughter must not leave this castle for any reason.
He sighed and entered the castle towards the armory with a young squire.
Daeron was at his post in the forest with Jacks and Mark, they were waiting for the carriage.
The boys wore their preferred armor and weapons, Daeron had a bow in his hands and a spear hidden at his feet.
Daeron's heart was pounding and he was in a cold sweat, the boys also seemed to be anxious.
Mark has already asked Daeron several times about Gwayne's plan, and he has answered the same thing several times.
"Just stay at your post, and protect me"
They heard the sound of a carriage in the distance.
Daeron's heart began to race and his breathing became ragged.
"Shit," Jacks exclaimed under his breath.
They hid further in the bush and Daeron prepared his bow.
— Stay silent. — he said, softly.
The carriage now passed exactly past them, and behind four horsemen followed in ranks one rider in front of them.
The knights were talking to each other, it was a hot day and they were without helmets.
Then, Daeron heard the sound of a horse running and so did the knights.
They thought at first that it was one of the camp's knights, coming to announce them or join the lord's escort, so they didn't pay much attention, the knights behind were younger and continued to laugh carelessly, the two in front looked back and into the forest, but found nothing, the sound increased and a shout from the men driving the carriage attracted the attention of the rider ahead, causing him to guide his horse to the side of the carriage to look ahead.
The look of astonishment the knight made was as if he had seen death.
The sound of the shock caused by the impact was as if thunder had passed, the spear pierced the knight's chest, lifting him into the air and his horse fell to the ground, raising dust all over the road.
"He's here," Mark exclaimed.
The man's cry of anguish broke the silence that followed, the knights stirred and shouted, some drawing their swords and others putting on their helmets.
With the euphoria of the moment, Jacks drew his sword and went towards the front of the carriage, shouting.
"By Vikary"
Daeron shouted for him to return, but it was no use.
Mark drew his sword and joined Jacks.
Daeron aimed his bow, but the dust reduced his vision.
Gwayne dropped the spear to the ground after a few seconds, before he lost the power of the thrust, his arm would have broken if he had tried to keep the man in the air.
He drew his sword and fell upon them, using the cover of dust as an advantage, attacking the first one he encountered with a ferocious blow to the jugular, causing his head to fall to the side.
— Derek! — shouted one of them, getting off his horse to help him.
Gwayne spurred his horse and charged at another, facing him.
The sound of clashing swords made Daeron's heart flutter again.
He tried to calm down, the dust had almost completely settled.
He saw that the second mounted knight was approaching from behind Gwayne. When he raised his arm to attack from behind, Daeron shot with his bow, hitting between the arm gauntlet and the breastplate, piercing the mail.
The knight screamed in pain.
Meanwhile, Gwayne and the helmeted knight wheeled around each other, making steel scream with each encounter.
Gwayne saw the javelin-struck rider spur his horse and bolt toward the trees.
Daeron dodged a blow from above, jumping to the side and picking up his spear from the ground, he ran towards the road, losing sight of the knight in the bush.
As soon as he arrived on the road, a man at arms came out of the carriage, opening the door violently and coming out with his sword in hand. Daeron's head was racing enough for him to hear the galloping footsteps of a horse behind, the knight returned, Daeron didn't know what to do, if he looked forward he would be hit from behind, and forward...
It was then that Jacks appeared shouting and pushing the man who got out of the carriage to the ground with his shield.
Daeron turned quickly, he had to throw himself on the ground to avoid another blow, he got up and spun around attacking with his spear, but it was useless.
All his thrusts were defended by the man's shield, Daeron felt the fear of death for a second, he cursed Jacks and Mark for leaving their posts and thought about running, but he would be caught and killed from behind like a coward.
He thought quickly and made a cut with the tip of the spear on the horse's left leg, causing it to rear up and knock the rider down.
Jacks finished off the other soldier, and ran to the front of the carriage as soon as he heard Mark shout.
- Curse! — exclaimed Daeron, trying to catch his breath.
The knight quickly got up and charged at him.
Daeron attacked with his spear but the knight was extremely experienced and broke his spear with a single blow.
Daeron had to run under the carriage while dodging the sword strikes.
Gwayne appeared, throwing the man to the ground with the horse, while Daeron looked on from under the carriage.
Gwayne came down to face him fairly.
— Drop your sword, Ser! — he shouted, while pointing his sword.
The knight who dismounted at the start of the battle now appeared, mounted again and pointing his sword at Gwayne.
— Damn! — he said. — you killed Derek!
— Save your emotions for later, Dalt.
— said the other knight.
Gwayne pulled the shield from his back.
—Dalt! — exclaimed the knight. — run and call the knights at the lake, go quickly!
- No! he shouted. — he killed Derek!
— bring the knights and you will have his head, go! It's an order!
Upon hearing this he charged like a horse towards the front.
After that, Jacks appeared holding Mark by the shoulder and Daeron ran to help him, who was also bleeding.
— Gwayne! — exclaimed Daeron. — he's bleeding a lot...
The knight removed his helmet, revealing his white hair.
— Take the horses and take him to the village... — Gwayne said, removing his helmet.
The knight laughed.
— It looks like your plans went wrong.
Gwayne had no choice now.
— And you Gwayne! — shouted Daeron. — I won't leave you here alone!
— I'm going to kill this one, and then use the fat one as a shield.
— Gwayne, come with us! — said Daeron, desperately.
Gwayne looked at Jacks.
—Take him now, that's an order.
Jacks advanced to take one of the horses by the bridle.
— Daeron, go with my horse, it's faster. — said Gwayne, looking at him. — Tell my grandfather... Talk about the situation...
— I will... — he said.
After that, Daeron ran away and Jacks followed him, taking Mark on horseback.
The knight laughed again.
Gwayne sighed.
— Who said my plan failed? — he laughed.
Then, he advanced against him.
Gwayne launched an attack from the side,
the knight defended making their swords clash, Gwayne used his strength to prevail over the old man, making him retreat and become trapped against the carriage.
The man was about to be cut by his own sword, so he took out a small dagger with his other hand and stuck it into Gwayne.
— Damn! — he said.
Gwayne retreated and attacked his hand, causing his sword to fall, he counterattacked with his dagger, but it was ineffective.
Gwayne attacked again, making his sword penetrate through the jugular and exit through the top of the head.
— Finally! — said Gwayne, while laughing maniacally.
Gwayne entered the carriage and dragged Lord Wyli out, throwing him to the ground.
— Look at your men! Gwayne laughed. — dead! and it is a shame that you will not live to see the destruction I will cause in your house.