Page 31 of Bound to a Warrior
Duncan was quick to react, his large fist met the one man’s face and he stumbled and fell. He turned to lay low the other soldier and saw that Mercy had already landed a good blow to the soldier’s face. Blood poured down his nose and he looked dazed. She took advantage of his stunned posture and landed a kick to his leg that sent him sprawling.
Duncan turned in time to land several blows to the returning man and as he stumbled to regain his footing, Mercy stepped forward and with her free hand claimed the fellow’s sword, retrieving it from the scabbard. She was quick to slip it into Duncan’s hand and kept her chained arm close to his, giving his sword hand free rein.
The other soldier recovered, though blood continued to pour from his nose, and with several foul oaths spewing from his lips, he charged Duncan. He was no match for Duncan’s skilled hand, and with one swing he ended the man’s life.
He had no time to worry over Mercy, who was trying frantically to keep pace with the rhythm of his movements, though it wasn’t easy for her. It actually appeared as though she flew through the air when he had given a good thrust.
The last soldier didn’t hesitate to attack. He gave a wild cry and charged forward. Duncan remained where he was, feet braced firmly on the ground, his hand ready to swing and he saw that Mercy kept her eyes on his hand, prepared to follow.
Duncan waited until the man was close enough, the fool thinking he had an advantage with them shackled together. It was the last mistake he would ever make. Duncan killed him in one swift blow.
He didn’t waste a moment. “We take their swords and whatever else is on them that we can use.”
Mercy nodded and when they were done, Duncan took only one sword and two dirks, slipping one into his boot and the other at his waist. He also sheathed the sword in the scabbard he had fastened around his waist.
“We go,” he said and clasped her hand before marching forward into the mist.
They traveled for hours before Mercy voiced her fatigue and hunger.
“We’ll stop, but not for long,” Duncan said, scouting the area in a glance and choosing a secluded spot behind two large boulders.
Mercy sighed with relief as she lowered herself to the ground and leaned back against the rock.
Duncan took the food from the sack and handed her a hunk of cheese and an apple. If he allowed himself to linger on her lovely face he would feel even guiltier that he was pushing her so hard. Weariness was evident in her slow movements and a smile that barely made it to her mouth, but he had no choice. He had to keep them going. He had to get them to his land where help would be at hand.
“You fear more soldiers are about?” she asked.
“I’m hoping that only two soldiers were sent to cover this area, since the terrain is more difficult. They would assume we would avoid it.”
“They believe I slow you down.”
“Being chained would slow down a pair, but for a pair who works together, it would not be a hindrance,” he said and smiled. “We work well together.”
“We do, don’t we?” she said and though she attempted a smile, a shudder grabbed her first and ran through her. “You have killed men before, haven’t you?”
Duncan cursed his own stupidity. He had been so obsessed with getting them out of there and as far away as possible that he had never considered the effect of Mercy seeing two men killed before her eyes.
He wanted to reach out and take her in his arms, but somehow he sensed that wasn’t what she needed. “Yes, I have, but you haven’t, have you?”
She shook her head. “No, I have never seen a man killed.”
“Yet you entered the battle like a brave, seasoned warrior, without fear or delay.”
“I was fearful,” she admitted, “though it was of dying.”
“The best weapon when in battle…survival.”
She turned her lovely sapphire eyes on him and he was glad to see that their brilliant color hadn’t dimmed.
“I want to survive, Duncan,” she said adamantly. “I know not what the future holds for me, but I do know I want to live.”
He eased her into his embrace, though she went willing. He cuddled her close in the crook of his arm and she rested her head to his chest as she so often did.
“You’ll survive, Mercy. I promise that you will survive.”
Her head shot up and her eyes turned wide with fear. “You must survive too. Promise me that you will survive.”
His heart swelled with how much she cared for what happened to him and a wide smile surfaced of its own accord. “We’ll survive together.”
