Page 61 of Keepers of the Highland Crown
“At a gallop?”
“Aye.” She inwardly quivered, but didn’t all warriors before a battle’s charge? “The first is behind that third tree onour left. I shall point for you when they advance, as I hear the sound in their movements before they appear. Simply state commencement, Sir Callum.” Her tone was stern.
“We take lead!” Callum yelled toward Sir Brayden and Holger.
A ruffling took place beside her as Callum dropped Luss’s reins then threw back his cloak while fetching the bow and his first arrow from the quiver which was tied onto the saddle’s back. “Stay tight upon your steed’s mane, I shall be aiming the arrows over your skull.” She nodded. “Charge as quick as his stride will give.”
She sank her heels into the stallion’s ribs. The beast burst forward at a gallop, and the mane slapped her cheeks, but she stayed low. First splash underfoot by the initial warrior was… “There!” She pointed left before a shadow even appeared from behind the wide pine trunk.
Whizz.Callum’s arrow sailed the air, the bolt from the enemy’s crossbow flew over her, and Callum’s arrow sank into the enemy’s eye socket.Thump. The ground greeted the first corpse.
Stomp. Stomp.“Callum, there!” she screamed, pointing right as another stepped from behind an oak on the right side four strides beyond them.
Whizz. Thump.That was two slayed. Three more to go!
“Aim for the archer’s fukin’ stallion!” someone shouted.
“There, Callum!” She pointed toward a tall boulder as the would-be horse killer emerged with his crossbow.
Whizz. Callum’s arrow sailed forward while the enemy’s crossbow bolt went for Luss’s neck. With a cry she pulled her stallion a hard left, leaning all her weight on her left buttock to aid the beast’s sense of where she sought in direction.
The enemy’s arrow’s sound signature sailed through her stallion’s forelock which billowed in the wind above his ears withthe enemy’s arrow just missing Luss. The would-be horse killer was not so lucky; her knight’s arrow landed dead center of the thick neck as the threat fell onto his knees – dead.
Crack.Was that a twig breaking on the ground? No, that was a branch straining under someone’s weight. The trees. Brazen brimstone! He was hiding in the trees! Her eyes looked up, frantic. “Callum, there!”
The bow’s sting gave a groan in protest as Callum pulled with all his strength to make the high shot.Whizz.His arrow soared through the leaves on the mighty oak which had hidden the would-be attacker.Crack, crack.The branches broke as a hulking body fell before landing on the ground with a dull thump.
Any more clicks? No, just that original fifth. Where was he hiding? Where… where was he?
Crack.A twig breaking. The fifth warrior! The sound signature was at ground level but which direction? Right, it was on the right far beyond… “Callum, the final is directly there!” Her finger pointed right as her knight gave a dull grunt before he released his arrow.
The final threat who stepped out from behind a wide yew trunk fell onto his knees after Callum’s arrow landed his torso.
To pause was to give any more time to hunt them. Pressing her charger into all he had for three beats at a gallop, she grabbed hold of the mane with both hands. They had cleared the line! Had everyone made it? Glancing about at the riders behind, she breathed. Aye, three lads, one knight and one Northman – all present!
What about Sèidrich?
She leaned her skull slightly. “How could you let them clear the gate, you witless eejit!”Gurgle, flop. That guard just paid with his life at Sèidrich’s wroth.“Move your arses!” theslayer raged. “The lady must be captured! They cannot reach Perth!”Wanna bet?
“Callum…” She glanced toward him. Whoa! An arrow was sticking out of her knight’s shoulder! “Callum!” she cried, pulling on her stallion’s reigns, slowing the beast. This was why Callum had grunted; the last bolt had struck him!
“It only grazed me. Do not worry for this and,” he assured, “do not slow, Nella, lest more hunt us.”True.
She nodded, turning back, closing her fist on the left rein to head that direction. Next stop – Perth!
Chapter 32
Damn! That was close to his heart if it had sunk through his flesh. If not for the stolen chainmail tunic, the bolt… Callum looked down at his shoulder where he had yanked the bolt free. It would have finished him for sure.
If not for Nella’s efforts they would have been taken fully unprepared. His stare moved toward the lady who rode beside him whose horse he was leading with the reins while she shuffled through the parchments from the late Lord MacMardan’s chambers.
“My lady,” Holger said in a demanding whisper at her as the three young smiths conversed among themselves a few strides back, “a chronicle should be in order, directly before riding through this open meadow.”
Callum’s eyes narrowed. How dare he order Nella about! Her scalp tilted slightly before he could say as much. If he spoke now, it may harm her. He clenched his jaw.
Her eyes met Callum’s first. It was a small gesture, but did it smooth his anger slightly? Aye. She whispered to him and Brayden and Holger. “All silent, except creatures born of the forest.”
“That would be my mother-in-law,” Brayden groused before the three glanced at him. “’Tis true, the lady is the same as the woodpecker a stretch back except instead of a tree she is always pecking upon my lady and me. ‘Lady Maise, your knightis too short. Lady Maise, your knight slouches.’” He paused as he shrugged his shoulders. “Pardon, near brushes with death tend to bring out my sour side.”
