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Lord Varrick led them. He wore completely black garments, black leather coating his chest and arms, that and the ferocious fury on his face made him appear like a demon who had risen from the depths of hell.
Warriors ran while others flung themselves out of the path of the charging animals and out of reach of the warriors who rode them, swinging their swords as they went.
Her husband headed straight for her, his sword in swift and accurate motion, not missing anyone who got in his way. Worth wasted no time in releasing her and escaping into the woods. She spotted Lord David running toward her, but he wasn’t fast enough to outrun her husband’s horse. Varrick came upon him and swung out his leg, kicking Lord David in the back with his booted foot and sending him tumbling to the ground.
The next thing she knew, she was scooped up in her husband’s arms and deposited on the horse in front of him. She did not think his fury could grow any worse, but it did, his blue eyes swirling with it when he spotted the bruises left on her face from the hard slaps she had suffered.
“Who did that to you?” he demanded, slowing his stallion to turn him around.
“Lord David,” she said, though she sensed he already surmised that, and she knew what he would ask next and spoke before he did. “I suffered no more from him nor from anyone else. They feared the witch too much to touch her.”
They both saw Lord David struggle to get to his feet.
“You will tell me more once we finish here,” Varrick said and with his arm around her waist lowered her gently to the ground. “Watch her, Argus.”
Fia turned to see Argus at the edge of the woods, the dagger in his hand covered with blood.
“Aye, my lord, and you need not worry about Worth. He got what he deserved.”
“Good. I am about to deliver the same to Lord David,” Varrick said and dismounted, his sword in hand.
Fia was not surprised to see that Lord David’s men had already surrendered and she turned to Argus to ask, “How did so many of you leave the castle unnoticed?”
“It is only me and Lord Varrick who left the castle.” He gave a nod to the battlements.
Fia looked to see it lined with warriors and perplexed asked, “How?
The warriors are from clans who pledged allegiance to Lord Varrick. He never said, but I thought it might have been you who warned him that trouble threatened us and that was why he sent for the warriors to be close by and ready to fight. They arrived just in time.”
Varrick’s shout had them both turning.
“LORD DAVID! I intend to keep my promise and show you no mercy.” Varrick swung his sword as he approached the man. “But I will spare your warriors suffering and death if they swear their loyalty to me.”
Shouts, promising loyalty to the legendary Highlander filled the air.
“It appears your clan belongs to me now,” Varrick said, claiming victory.
Lord David glared at him and gripping his dagger in one hand and his sword in another, he whistled.
“Your wolfhounds also belong to me, and they are on their way to Lord Walter. He will decide their fate,” Varrick said. “I have already decided yours.”
“And I yours,” Lord David said and without warning flung his dagger before raising his sword at Varrick.
Varrick had a choice, a hasty one. He either turned and looked to see where Lord David’s dagger had landed, giving the man time to attack him, or not waste a single moment of striking Lord David down dead. Varrick did not hesitate. He ducked, Lord David’s sword missing him, and struck with the power and speed of a lightning strike, burying his sword in the man’s chest and ending his life. He turned quickly after yanking his sword out of Lord David’s chest to see his wife frantically pressing her hands to Argus’s shoulder, her hands covered with blood.
He rushed to her, dropping down beside Argus.
“He jumped in front of me. He saved my life,” Fia said, unable to stop her tears.
Argus moaned. “I kept her safe for you, but don’t let the witch steal my soul, Varrick.”
Varrick felt helpless and he looked at his wife. “Save him, Fia. Don’t let him die. Please do this for me. We may not be brothers by blood, but we are brothers. Do whatever you must, but please save him.”
* * *
Fia saton a bench beside the bed where Argus rested. It had taken several hours to mend him the best she could, and it had been hours now that he slept. She had called on all that her mum and grandmother had taught her and prayed it was enough, prayed he would survive, for his fate no longer rested with her.
Varrick returned to the cottage from time to time to see how Argus was doing, but he had much to see to after the battle, things Argus would have done. With each brief visit, he pleaded with her to save his brother.
