Red Keep

The Red Keep stood a half mile away, the square block of its heavy tower dominating the lesser buildings. Above it hung a pall of smoke, fed by black wreaths that curled upward from the narrow windows. Not far outside the gate a huddle of huts was burning furiously. In all the scene there were no men, unless some few were unseen among a score or more of horses standing grouped close to the drawbridge of the castle. The horses and the double fire made it very clear that this was a raid, a surprise, a fight as yet unfinished. Sir Roger shouted "Rescue!" and drew his sword. Conan, in a voice that cracked as he raised it, repeated the word and the action. "Blow trumpet!" cried Sir Roger, to hasten the laggards. "Forward!" From the knoll the horsemen furiously spurred to save their friends. It is young Conan's first battle and his first encounter with the Sauval brothers, Odo and Aymar. The treacherous pair of robber-barons have fired the Red Keep as the first step in taking over this corner of Burgundy. And they have other plans . . Lady Anne d'Arcy is left bereft of home and family, and becomes a ward of kindly Sir Roger. Whatever the difficulties, Anne remains firmly determined that, with or without Conan's help, the Red Keep will some day again be hers.