"Damnation!" Neacal raced down several flights of narrow stairs. Dunn's claws clicked behind him.
As Neacal passed through the kitchens, he had a quick glimpse of three startled female servants watching him. He rushed out the door, through the kitchen garden and across the bailey. He paused, trying to listen despite his elevated breathing and heartbeat thumping in his ears.
Dunn passed him, loping ahead, toward the area behind the stables. Neacal hurried after him, then caught his collar as they entered the shed.
"Stay," he hissed softly and drew his sword.
"Ow! You bitch!" a man growled behind a pile of hay. "Where the hell did you get a knife?"
Neacal hastened forward. The dim light of gloaming revealed two people struggling upon the ground. A knife went flying.
"For that, I'll show you no mercy!" One of the castle guards was choking a woman upon the ground.
Neacal leapt forward and kicked the man off her. Damnation, 'twas Anna Douglas, a gag tied in her mouth. He switched his gaze to the attacker. His largest guard, Farquar, stared up at him in shock from where he'd landed on his back.
"You bastard!" Neacal growled. "How dare you…" Rage consumed him in a hot wave. He kicked the guard in the face and sent him sprawling backward again.
Farquar scrambled to his feet and snatched his sword from its scabbard. He was a couple of inches taller than Neacal but that mattered not. How dare his own guard attack Anna and then challenge him?
"I see," Neacal said. "You wish to die this night."
Farquar grinned. "'Tis doubtful. You're not half the chief your brother was."
So, Farquar was one of the last few still loyal to his dead brother.
"Are you all right, lass?" Neacal asked Anna.
Nodding, she struggled to remove the gag from her mouth.
"I didn't get to have my fun yet, if that's what you're asking," Farquar sneered.
"Nor will you, ever again," Neacal said. The fury burning in his veins like molten steel urged him to run the man through. "Go, Anna! Run back inside!" Neacal needed to focus on killing this whoreson before he hurt another woman.
Anna scrambled away from them, but Neacal couldn't take time to see where she'd gone. Farquar charged him, sword aimed at his gut. Neacal blocked the blow, yanked his dirk from the scabbard and stabbed Farquar in the shoulder.
The man growled in pain, calling him several vile names.
"How dare you force yourself on a woman while working for me?"
"What's it to you? You're a raving lunatic who wouldn't know what to do with a woman if you had one under you."
Neacal gave a humorless smile and attacked, slashing and thrusting his blades. If the knave wanted to see a lunatic, Neacal would give him one. Farquar couldn't keep up with his quick and efficient slices. Neacal's sword stabbed into the man's chest. He tried to jab Neacal at the same time, but Neacal raised his dirk and cut the man's throat. He shoved the bleeding bastard away, sending him sprawling to the ground where he squirmed about. Neacal watched him carefully, lest he leap up and get in one last thrust before death claimed him. Moments later, the guard lay still, the straw soaking up his blood.
Neacal drew in a deep breath, incredibly relieved he'd stopped the rapist before he could do his evil deed. Especially to Anna. She was the closest thing to an angel he'd ever seen.
Neacal hadn't realized the blackguard was completely disloyal. How many others were? He would have to be much more cautious and watch each of his soldiers.
Sobs echoed behind him. He swung around to find Anna huddled on the ground in a dark corner, her knees drawn up.
"Saints, lass! I told you to go inside." He knelt beside her. "Did the knave hurt you? Did he… force you?"
"Nay," she whispered. "You showed up… just in time." Her tears glinting in the low light ripped at his heart.
"Thank God. Did he hurt you elsewhere?"
Still crying, she shook her head and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'll be all right. I thank you, m'laird."
"Call me Neacal. And you need not thank me. 'Tis my responsibility to protect those living under my roof, especially women." Though he knew not why, some raging, volcanic force within him made him feel he would fight every last one of his guards to protect her if he had to. "Why did you not run when I told you to? If he'd bested me, he could've killed you next."
