Page 52 of Fang & Fury

She was still holding her own. But for how much longer?

Ailsa stepped into the gap, taking the next blow on her own blade. It wavered slightly, and she realized she wasn’t holding it as Darach had shown her.

Twisting, she then looked at Kayla.

Their gazes locked, understanding passing between them, before Kayla rasped, “Together.”

16: IT’S BEEN A WHILE

KAYLA SWUNG HER attention away from Ailsa. Jaw bunching, her blade met that of a huge warrior, a man with monstrously coiled muscles in his shoulders and upper arms.

An ox tattoo glowed at the center of his bare chest.

Ailsa remembered him.

Kayla had given him that mark midwinter. She’d worked on it for nearly two days. He’d been withdrawn, taciturn, but she hadn’t judged him for that. It was an irony that the monster she’d created was trying to bring her down.

Ailsa lunged forward too, stabbing in a frenzy with one hand as she clawed with her other.

The warrior’s mouth was set in a grimace now, blood and sweat running down his face.

Hot pain lanced across her shoulder, but she barely noticed. Instead, she fought on.

It was hopeless though. They were vastly outnumbered. And even as she raked her fingers down his face, digging so deep her nails met bone, she knew. It was almost over.

They were about to die.

Next to her, Kayla slammed her dagger into the man’s ribs.

The great warrior sagged against her blade, and his glowing eyes met Kayla’s.

Ailsa watched as silver pulsed in their depths and then faded, revealing moss-green irises.

He choked something unintelligible, his face twisting, and crumpled.

Ailsa stepped to one side. Lowering her shoulder, she readied herself for the next warrior.

No one charged her.

Instead, the press around them shifted. The choking wall of iron drew back like a wave ebbing from the shore.

And then, the surrounding noise changed.

The shouts became panicked, furious. Shrieks filled the air.

The warriors nearest turned.

Ailsa’s breathing seized.

Women, tall and lithe and clad in flowing pine green, moved into the fray.

Green. Ailsa’s favorite color.

Oh, fuck.

And as she looked on, the newcomers took on the warriors with nothing more than their bare hands.

Their dark hair flew around them as they twisted and turned.