Page 36 of A Flawed Scotsman

A large warrior appeared in his path and he recognized the red-haired male from when he’d been dragged to the Mackenzie. Ruari charged, the swords colliding with so much force that his arm shook. Taking one step back, he swung a second time and, once again, the guard blocked effectively. When the warrior held his weapon with both hands and sliced across, Ruari jumped back to avoid being cut.

The man was a better swordsman then most of his clan. Ruari growled and charged, sweeping across with his blade. Each swing was blocked and then he, in turn, did the same to blows from the man.

He managed to cut the man’s upper arm, but it was not a deep wound. When he charged again, the red-haired fighter pulled one of his own men to use as a shield. Ruari’s sword sunk into the hapless man’s stomach and he withdrew it just as the red-haired man dropped the dying man.

A scream from behind caught his attention and he turned just in time to block the downfall of a strike. It was a quick moment before he downed the man and turned to face his earlier opponent.

The red-haired warrior had gone.

Ruari reached the rear wall and scaled up to the top where Ross guards shot arrows down at the courtyard.

In the distance, a large contingency of riders appeared. At seeing the number, his heart sank. He turned to look into the courtyard. Even though Clan Fraser was holding its own, it would not be for long. Eventually, they would run out of arrows.

There was one evening he’d been up late, unable to sleep and he’d stood at his balcony and watched as basket after basket was lifted up to the gates. He’d wondered what they were storing in them and now he knew. Clan Fraser had been preparing for this.

A new group of Mackenzie warriors entered the gates. They grouped together using their shields as a barrier.

He exchanged looks with the guards on the wall. “We wait until those arrive and try to hold them off as long as possible. I do not expect ye to fight to the death. We must just try to keep them at bay until the rest of Clan Fraser arrives.”

With hard expressions that would make most men’s blood run cold, the warriors nodded. His clan had been at war for a long time. These men were not strangers to conflict.

Below, Fraser guards fought valiantly against their enemy. Thankfully, the rumor about Mackenzie leaning too heavily on numbers seemed to be true as the Fraser warriors were much better at hand-to-hand battle.

Although there was no doubt that they knew they were outnumbered, there was bravery in fighting to keep one’s home and defend what rightfully belongs to the people of the clan.

The fighters were almost even in number now proving what amazing shots the archers were. The Mackenzie would not have an easy time conquering Clan Fraser.

Until the other warriors, who rode at full speed, arrived, the Frasers stood a chance to win.

Ruari looked to his men. “When the reinforcements arrive, head out the same way we came. Return to Ross lands immediately and ensure the archers do the same.”

He climbed down from the wall and upon hitting the ground, once again, he drew out his sword.

Slicing a path through to the front entrance of the keep, he had but one goal in mind. Not to let Esme die. He had to save her from what was sure to be a slaughter.

He raced through the great room, his heart thundering in his chest and raced up the stairs to the top of the keep.

Once atop the keep, arrows whizzed by and several men lay on the floor with arrows impaled in their bodies. No one was dead. Not yet.

“Esme!” he called out. He spotted her as she loosed an arrow.

Her hair flew around her head like flames as she concentrated on the scene below. Her gaze did not waver to him when he came to her side, holding up a discarded shield in front of them.

“We must go, more come.”

“They will fall, too, then.” She loosed another arrow and it hit her target, the man falling with it impaled in his neck.

“Ye should go with him.” Her father neared and Ruari noted he’d broken an arrow off that had hit him in the upper left arm.

The man had continued to fight despite it, which didn’t surprise Ruari. A true laird fought alongside his men to the death.

The three of them rushed to the other side of the building to see the huge army headed their way.

“Why would he do this?” Esme exclaimed. “If he kills us all, what will he gain?”

Ruari took her arm and led her away from the edge. “We must go. I did not bring my men here to die.”

She smiled up at him, her brown eyes full of tenderness when meeting his. “I agree, ye and yer men should go. This is not yer fight.”