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father over his wish for a
political marriage between her and an
Obervogt
,a highly ranked member of the
Hanseatic League, then she would be there now,
guarded safely by the walls of home.
She turned her gaze back to the scene outside the
window, where the darkness of night was fading to a
murky grey on the horizon as dawn fast approached.
From the high tower window she had a bird's eye view
of the surrounding landscape, including most of the
keep's bailey below. The guardhouse stood off to the
north, as did the main gate and the stables.
Timeras pulled free the coiled length of rope that he
had slung over one shoulder. To one end he had
attached a five-pronged iron grapnel. He glanced out
the window over the girl's shoulder and ascertained
the positions of the patrolling watchmen. Timing
would be of the utmost importance.
Longshanks bent his longbow with a grunt, ignoring
the creak in his bones. Testing the taut catgut
string, the sound of a rapid clicking
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on stone came
to his ears. Whirling around, he had a split second
to see a large, dark form leaping from the top of the
staircase above them and the flash of glistening
fangs going for his throat. Flame crackled at his
ear, and he felt its heat sear his neck and cheek.
The beast crashed headlong into him, knocking him
stumbling back in collision with his old friend. The
Irishman was sent sprawling, and the girl, standing
behind him next to the window, plunged through it as
a result.
Duril heard her scream of terror, but it was all he
could do to keep the snapping, slavering jaws from
tearing out his throat. He bit back a curse when he
saw flames –snapping flames–
in the beast's maw. The scorching heat threatened to
blind him. He saw now that it was an enormous hound,
and intuitively knew it to be some hellish dog from
the nether-regions, guardian to this keep and its
treasures. He felt the blood rush to his head and his
face flush hot as he kept both of his hands bunched
in the animal's hair, barely keeping it at bay. Its
claws had driven a
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