AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How do you know this?” Argus asked, then cast a suspicious glance at Fia.
“All that matters is that we will not be caught unaware,” Corwin said. “I will alert the gatehouse and rouse the men who catch what sleep they can and wake the village as well.”
Corwin ran off.
“Where is Worth?” Varrick asked.
“Last time I saw him, he was here in the Great Hall,” Argus said, perplexed. “I suppose he went to the warriors’ quarters to sleep. Why do you ask?”
“How is it that a troop of warriors can near the castle with us not knowing it until it is too late?” Varrick asked.
“Damn,” Argus muttered. “Worth betrayed us and told them where all the sentinels were posted. That means we already lost men. Worth is going to suffer for this.”
“We need to find him before he can leave us more vulnerable,” Varrick said. “Get Marsh to help you and don’t let anyone else know. If news spreads and he hears it, he won’t show himself, and get the women and children into the keep.”
Merry rushed in, her hands busy braiding her hair. “The news spreads, my lord, I will prepare the Great Hall to receive the women and children.”
He nodded at Merry and turned to his wife. “You are not to go anyplace. You are to remain here.”
“The wounded will need me,” Fia said.
His arms went around her to hug her tight and whisper, “I need you.”
“As I do you, but you fight, and I heal and there is no changing that. Besides, you will not let them breach the castle walls and they will learn soon enough that they cannot defeat the legendary Highlander.”
The hell hounds’ howls sounded so close it was as if they had breached the castle walls.
“Death joins the battle,” Argus said, and it sent a chill through everyone except Varrick.
“Stay safe,” Varrick said and kissed his wife and as he walked away with Argus a horn sounded the alarm… the battle had begun.
* * *
Varrick walked the battlements,encouraging his warriors and ducking the arrows that flew overhead. The flaming arrows were quickly snuffed out in the piles of snow they landed in. Ladders that were braced against the castle walls were shoved off before a man could put a foot to a rung.
Morning would reveal what damage the enemy had suffered and give Varrick a better view of what he was up against. He had no worries his clan would survive a long siege if necessary since he had planned for such a situation. He doubted the group that attacked could maintain such a siege since it was the dead of winter, and the cold alone would hamper them, not to mention lack of food. It was what puzzled him about the attack. Why would anyone be so foolish to attack him in the winter or attack him at all? It made no sense.
Argus echoed his thought. “This attack makes no sense.”
“I was thinking the same,” Varrick said, his anger flaring when he spotted his wife tending to a young warrior fallen by an arrow.
“Lady Fia is fearless,” Argus said, seeing what caught Varrick’s attention.
Varrick shook his head. “Foolish is more like it.”
“I have heard the warriors ask her to curse the enemy.”
“And her response was, I am a healer. I do not harm,” Varrick said.
“Nay, she tells them that the enemy was cursed and doomed when they raised a weapon against the mighty legendary Highlander.”
That his wife spoke with pride about him had his heart swelling with joy and the words came easily to his mind…I love you.
His wife turned her head and smiled when she spotted him.Keep your mind on the battle, husband. I love you too.
He knew not magic let them speak to each other without truly speaking, but he was pleased they shared it, not that he would let anyone know, for it would only add to the belief that Fia was a witch.
“She told you the enemy was near, didn’t she?” Argus asked and did not give Varrick a chance to respond. “What if she is one of them?”
