Cursing, Cyrus withdrew his sword. "Stay here. No matter what happens, do not come out. When the maid gets free, take her away from here. Both of you, find a good hiding place."

Face blanched white and eyes filled with tears, Elspeth nodded.

Cyrus charged out of the undergrowth, running swiftly toward the girl's attacker. One of the other guards saw him, snatched out a blade and darted forward. Cyrus avoided his first strike and swung his blade, catching the man hard in the sword arm and causing him to scuttle away, shouting in pain.

Cyrus booted the other guard, sending him slamming against the stone wall. The maid's attacker leapt to his feet, pulled his sword and lashed out with an echoing battle cry. Their swords clanged as Cyrus tried to lure him away from the maid.

From the corner of his eye, he saw that she arose and fled along the road in Elspeth's direction. Hopefully, she could take the lass into town and hide her. Meanwhile, he would kill or maim as many of these whoresons as possible.

Four lay bleeding on the ground when Dalacroy scurried out with more clansmen, screeching. "Capture him! Capture him! Leave him alive until we find the wench."

A dozen or more Comyns dashed forth and crowded in on Cyrus. Possessed of a powerful battle rage, he lashed out multiple times, landing several injuring strikes against the foes before the men behind him grabbed his arms. He kicked one in the groin, sending him sprawling, then knocked two heads together. With all his might, he fought as long and hard as he could, until several Comyns tackled him to the ground and tied his hands behind his back.