She descended one floor, then two, and had reached the first floor when she heard hurried steps climbing toward her from the ground floor below. She cursed, tore down an old drapery from a wall, and hurled it like a fishing net over the first swordsman who presented himself, delivering a kick that broke his jaw. Her victim fell backward, toppling his comrades who became tangled up with him and the dusty piece of cloth, which they ripped at without managing to free themselves. Those jostling with one another behind them were forced to retreat back down the stairs and Savelda's angry voice could be heard shouting.
Agnes immediately reversed course and climbed the steps two by two. Her only hope was to reach the top of the tower and the walkway along the keep's ramparts. She suddenly came face-to-face with a lone freebooter. She drew her sword to block his blade, violently drove the butt of her pistol upward into his crotch, and sent her opponent tumbling down the stairs, breaking his neck in the process.
With Savelda's men now at her heels, she arrived on the last floor of the tower when a hand on her shoulder drew her behind a wall hanging and through the little doorway which it hid. Agnes found herself in a narrow, shadowy corridor, pressed up against someone who murmured to her: "Silence."
She closed her mouth and remained still, while on the other side of the
door, the Black Claw's hired swordsmen ran over to the keep's walkway without stopping.
"My name is Laincourt. Don't be afraid."
"And of what would I be afraid?
At which point, Laincourt felt the nip of a dagger that had reached high up between his thighs.
"I am in the cardinal's service," he whispered.
"They are searching for you, monsieur."
"So we have something in common. What's your name?"
"Agnes. I thought I heard a shot just before the ceremony began. Was that you?"
"In a manner of speaking. Come, it won't take them long to figure things out."
They advanced silently down the dark corridor, passing before a triple-arched window.
"You're wounded," said Agnes noticing the Laincourt's bloody shoulder.
"I didn't fire the shot."
"Can you move it?"
"Yes. It's not broken and the pistol ball passed clean through. Nothing serious."
They pushed a little door open and then followed a passage lit in the distance by some square openings looking out into the courtyard. The ceiling was so low that they could only progress bent double.
"This passage runs beneath the walkway. It will take us to the next tower. They're probably yet not looking for us there."
"You seem to know the premises well. ..."
"My knowledge is newly gained."
At the end of the passage they came to another door.
They listened, opened it cautiously, and emerged behind a sentry. Laincourt slit his throat and held him as he sagged. They heard a great commotion on the lower floors, found only locked doors, and were forced to climb some very steep steps in order to raise a hatch that gave them access to the roof.
They were fortunate it was deserted, although they could see torches and silhouettes moving about on one of the other towers, the one where Savelda and his men were finishing their search. Beyond, in the tormented sky, the spectral dragon had been replaced by a fury of uncontrolled magical energy. The red and golden flashes had redoubled in intensity. Interspersed by thun-
derclaps, a deep roar rumbled above them that could be felt in the gut and increasingly threatened to unleash itself Upon the castle itself.
"Quick!" yelled Laincourt.
Seeking cover behind the crenellations, they took the walkway toward the third tower. They went as fast they could without running upright and started to believe that they might make good their escape when a strident cry rang out nearby: the vicomtesse's dragonnet was beating its wings level with them and giving away their position. Heads turned their way. A hue and cry was raised.
Laincourt brandished his pistol and shot the reptile down with a single ball that ripped off its head.
"A wasted shot," commented Agnes.
"Not entirely," replied the cardinal's spy, thinking of the hurdy-gurdy player who had been captured thanks to the dragonnet.
They were halfway between the second and the third towers, toward which Savelda's swordsmen were already hurrying. They ran under sporadic and badly aimed fire, reached the tower before their enemies, and tried to open the hatch.
Locked.
"Merde!" Laincourt swore.
Agnes took stock of the situation. Savelda and his freebooters were coming toward them from the first tower by the walkway. Others were already emerging from the second tower and blocked any possibility of retreat. The ground was fifty metres below. They did not have time to force the hatch.
They were trapped.
Agnes and Laincourt placed themselves en garde, back to back . . . and waited.
Cautious now, the hired swordsmen slowed down and surrounded them, while Savelda, calm and smiling, walked up to them.