“The artifacts,” she said with worry.
“Stay near me.” Errol’s voice was low, but strong and steady, his eyes searching the woods. It was so dark once you passed the line of the trees, it was impossible to see deep into the forest. Ten men could be watching them. Mayhap even more, and they would not be able to tell because they couldn’t see them.
Moira withdrew her dagger. “The blade from the chest. What if they have taken it?”
Errol shook his head. “I wouldnae fash about that just yet. If someone has come and they are here for the treasure, ’twill be there after they dispatch us.”
Moira gasped. “We are going to die? Nay.” She refused to end up like Thomas and Fiona.
“I didnae say that. Stay calm. I am just saying that that is more than likely their plan, whoe’er ’tis. ’Twould be easier to gather up the treasure if there was no one preventing them from doing so. Naught will happen to ye, Lass. I promise ye.”
A whir in the air sounded and Errol pushed her to the ground. “Christ!” He swore as he lifted his head in the direction the arrow came from. He took a deep breath. “An archer. And we are sitting out in the open. We can move to the other side, but if there are multiple archers, they will have all sides covered.”
Moira’s heart sped up, her blood pounding in her ears as her eyes searched the trees frantically. She didn’t want to die at the end of an arrow. Or any other way for that matter. Nay, she wanted to live andbring Thomas and Fiona’s story to light. To solve the rift betwixt their two clans and move forward in peace and unification.
“I dinnae believe ’tis an experienced archer. We were sitting still, and yet he missed.”
“What if ’twas just a warning arrow? What if the next one pierces one of our hearts.”
He took her by the shoulders, dropping his head so he could look her in her eyes. Their gazes locked. “I willnae let that happen. I promise ye, Lass. This is no’ how we end.”
His stare was so convincing. Confident.
“Understand?” He asked, his fingers squeezing.
She nodded.
“All right. We are closest to the woods behind us. They are our best chance for cover. At my command, I want ye to run to them, fast as ye can.”
Was he daft?
“Nay! ’Tis a sure way to an untimely death.”
Errol kissed the top of her head. “Remember, lass. I said no harm will come to ye. I will shield ye.”
“So ye can take the arrow, leaving me alone to fend for myself? Absolutely no’!”
“Moira,” Errol drawled, his voice steely. “We cannae stay where we are. We must move.”
“I dinnae want to,” she said stubbornly, but also out of fear, which made her legs feel heavy. She wasn’t sure she would be able to run.
Errol took hold of her shoulders, giving her a slight shake to get her to focus on him. “Look at me. Listen to me. Naught is going to happen to ye.”
She started to speak, and he pressed a finger to her lips to quiet her.
“Nay. Listen. To. Me,” he said slowly. “This is no’ e’en close to the worst situation I have been in. Do ye trust me?”
She darted her tongue out, wetting her suddenly dry lips, and nodded.
“Good. At my word, I want ye to run to that copse of trees o’er there. See them?”
She looked over his shoulder and identified the spot he spoke of, and nodded.
“Good. Run as fast as ye can. Zig zag if ye want, just run quickly. Stay low. The boulder will help shield ye.”
“What about ye?” She asked, her lips quivering.
“Dinnae fash about me. I will be right behind ye. Understand?” He bent, staring into her eyes. “Do ye understand?”
