Page 74 of Bound to a Warrior
“And does he keep safe distance from it?” Mercy asked.
“That’s the problem,” Duncan said. “Reeve never backs down from a battle.”
“He’d take on a whole troop,” Trey said shaking his head.
“But he must know the odds are not in his favor,” Mercy said.
The two men laughed.
“Reeve would continue fighting to the very end,” Trey said. “And even then I wonder if he would defy death and finish the fight.”
“It doesn’t sound as if he needs your help,” Mercy said.
“Regardless,” Trey said. “We never leave a brother to fight on his own if it can be helped.”
“Which is why you came in search of Duncan?” Mercy asked.
“We received word that he was headed home, soldiers close on his heels and—” Trey quieted suddenly.
“That he had baggage with him?” Mercy asked.
“Something like that,” Trey said and then said no more.
“Was there something in particular that drove you to find him?” Mercy asked.
“Last I heard he was journeying through Pict territory, which caused me no worry since we have done that before. It was when I learned that a contingent of men was being sent to patrol the area between Pict land and ours that I knew he would require help.”
“Then according to your decision, we should go help Reeve,” Mercy said, “since soldiers surely wait his approach.”
Trey looked to Duncan and Duncan glared back.
Mercy sighed. “I understand. Duncan had an added burden…me, while Reeve is on his own.”
“Much better odds of survival,” Trey said.
Mercy sat tall and straight in front of Duncan. She would not allow his doubt in her to upset her. She had never faced a fight until Duncan happened in her life. Purposely or perhaps inadvertently he had taught her to embrace her strength and courage and now that she had, she had no intention of stopping.
“I’m ready when you are,” she announced with confidence.
“What say you, Duncan?” Trey asked.
“It is quiet except for our chatter. I suggest we wait and listen. Reeve knows we would come for him. He will let us know if he needs us.”
“True enough,” Trey said.
They waited in silence. The night dark and the air chilled. There was the occasional rustle of trees from the light wind and the scurry of an animal across the land, or the hoot of an owl. But no human sounds and so they continued to wait.
Then when Mercy finally slumped back against Duncan believing nothing would happen, a shout sounded.
“We got him,” the man bellowed. “We got him.”
“Don’t hurt the woman,” another man ordered.
Mercy turned to Duncan and he nodded understanding that the soldiers thought they had captured him.
“What wo—”
A scream pierced the night, followed by painful moans, more screams and solid thuds that rocked the ground.
