"I ken the way to Rornoch from either direction. Chief MacKerrick is a friend of mine."
"You lie! Why would a stable hand know a chief? Did you work for him?"
"Nay." Darack knew the man was trying to distract him, and he had no time to say more anyway. The man to the far left lunged forward, stabbing his weapon toward Darack's gut. He deflected the blade with a clang and shoved the bastard into Hay. The two toppled to the deck in a melee of plaid and clashing blades. The third man, the only one still standing, engaged Darack in swordplay, and he easily kept up with the thrusts and blocks.
The other two men regained their feet and stood by, their weapons raised. "Have no worries, m'lady," Hay yelled at the door. "We've come to rescue you from this knave."
"Nay, leave Darack be! I won't go back to Alec!" she shouted.
Darack parried and thrust, then found an opening. His blade sliding between the man's ribs, Darack made quick work of his opponent who howled and thudded to the bloody, rain-soaked deck.
The remaining two men converged on him at once, both of them smashing their blades against Darack's. Hay's blade sliced deeply into Darack's left arm, since he had no targe to protect it. The burning pain shot fury through him. He shoved Hay backward toward the rail. When he slammed into it, Darack lifted the man's legs upward and tossed him overboard. He shouted on the way down to the rough North Sea.
Now, only one enemy remained. Darack ground his teeth against the pain tearing through his arm. Fortunately, his sword arm had not been injured.
His foe charged him, his blade low. Darack leapt out of the way, but not quickly enough. The man crashed into him, knocking Darack to the deck. His head slammed painfully against the wood, disorienting him. The bastard stabbed the tip of his blade into Darack's side. A new pain consuming him, Darack retained enough sense and self-preservation to shove the other man's feet and legs upward, hoisting his enemy over the railing and sending him flying into the sea. The man screamed all the way down.
Still lying on the deck, Darack quickly glanced about to make sure no more Lindsays waited to attack him. Thank God, the deck was empty. He pushed himself to his feet, but darkness, dizziness and the pain in his head overcame him. He slumped back to the deck.
