At the top, tears in her eyes, Lathir hugged her father as the others moved back. “I love you so much!”
His body trembling from exertion, he returned the embrace. “I love you too, lass.” On wobbly legs, hestepped back.
Loose strands of hair lashed against Lathir’s face as eyes dark with emotion shifted to Rónán, then Craigshyre. “I thank you both.”
Rónán frowned at the riders making their way up. “The Earl of Ardgar’s men willbe here soon.”
Lines of worry on her face, she lay her hand upon her father’s shoulder. “Come.” Her betrothed helped Lathir guide her father onto a steed, where several mounted riders waited. “The knights will take you to Wynshire Castle.”
The man’s face darkened to a fierce scowl. “By God you willride with me!”
She angled her jaw in a stubborn tilt. “I will stay and fight.”
“B–blast it,” her father snapped, “I—”
“The enemy is nearing the top!” a watch at the ledge called down.
Steel hissed against leather as Craigshyre withdrew his sword. He whirled toward their knights. “Prepare to fight!”
Lathir nodded to the lead guard. “Go!”
The warrior scooped up her father’s reins. With Lord Sionn’s face twisted in pain and frustration, the small contingent canteredinto the woods.
The slide of steel against leather hissed as Lathir withdrew her sword. “The Earl of Ardgar will pay for his cruelty.” Eyes burning with fury, she stormed toward where their combined forces were preparing a defense.
Blade in hand, Rónán kept pace. “I understand your anger, but to allow emotion to guide you gives your opponent the edge.”
Cool eyes shifted to him. White knuckles on her hilt relaxed to a degree. “He almost killed my father.”
“He did, but Lord Sionn is alive and free.” Rónán caught her wrist, drewher to a halt.
“Release me!”
“However much you wish to decimate the enemy, our mission to free Lord Sionn is done. If we want to seize the stronghold, to make those who harmed your father pay, with them now having learned that we know a secret way into the castle, we will need to return with at least three times the force. To stay and challenge their attack will do naught but leave many warriors willing to risk their lives to protect you dead.”
The outrage in her eyes faded. “You are right. Though I despise Lord Ardgar for what he has done, the time to confront him will come, butnot this day.”
Relief swept Rónán. “Before we depart, we must hold Ardgar’s men back to give your father’s guard time to take him a safe distance away; then wewill join him.”
* * * *
The cacophony of blades rang out, melding with the screams of men as the battle raged around Rónán. Another spray of blood streaked his mail as he drove his sword deep into the next aggressor. Breathing hard, he glanced toward Lathir. Pride filled him as she quickly defeated her attacker.
Their having shoved boulders to seal off the incline, along with archers raining arrows on the advancing fighters, were preventing many of the assailants from reaching the top of the cliff. Though the fighting was fierce from those who’d managed to slip past, their tactics were keeping the main force trapped on the road.
With a deft slash, Rónán took out a charging knight, then glanced around. Enough time had passed. Lord Sionn should be a safe distance away. “We can beginpulling back.”
Sweat mixed with blood on her garb, Lathir downed her next attacker. With a nod, she edged toward the forest.
His mail bloodied, Craigshyre battled two assailants. With impressive skill, he killed the first, whirled to deliver a lethal blow to the second, yelled to their guard to withdraw, then backed toward the woods.
Boulders scraped.
In midstep, Rónán glanced toward the top of the road.
Horses pulling ropes lashed around the large rocks, hauled them aside.
“Charge!” a large Englishman boomed.
