Page 26 of Kingdom of Chains

She stepped out of his grasp this time. ‘I can do it myself.’ The words came out far more abrasive than intended, taking them both by surprise. ‘I… I apologise. It seems I did not get enough sleep after all.’

He pulled her to him, taking hold of her face once more and kissing her forehead. ‘You must let me love and care for you as I see fit.’

Must I? Really?She pressed her eyes shut, waiting for him to release her. When he did, she turned back to her horse, and he helped her onto it. But because he was not the strongest of men, she ended up doing most of the work herself anyway.

Her eyes met Blackmane’s as she landed in the saddle. The look in his eyes was confirmation that she had not dreamt their shared moment after all.

When everything was packed up and loaded onto the horses, the group continued east, Isabel tucked between Trahern and Hodge with Blackmane at the very front, the farthest from her that he could be. Likely not a coincidence. He never looked back at her—not once. He was focused entirely on his job. Though she noticed all the defenders wore the same serious expressions. Perhaps that was part of their training too.

Four hours into their journey, Blackmane emitted a high-pitched whistle and raised a fist in the air. Everyone stopped. The defenders reached for their bows while the English guards looked around, confused.

‘What is going on?’ Hodge asked Tatum, who was now watching the trees down his arrow. ‘Why have we stopped?’

‘Quiet.’

Hodge scowled but did as he was told.

The guards followed the defenders’ cue and drew their swords. Realising he was the only person without a weapon in his hand besides Isabel, Hodge followed suit.

Isabel looked up, studying the branches above. It was as though the breeze had stilled suddenly. Trahern flinched beside her, and she whipped her head around to look at him. She sucked in a breath when she realised there was an arrow protruding from his chest.

Hodge looked past her to the wide-eyed bodyguard, who was now falling sideways. ‘We are under attack!’

The defenders were already shooting at things Isabel could not see while Hodge’s men turned in circles with their useless swords. More arrows came at them, flashing in and out of sight. One hit the horse in front, and it backed into hers. The gelding’s front legs lifted off the ground.

‘Easy, boy.’

Blackmane appeared out of nowhere, filling the space where Trahern had been, his muscled frame shielding her from the trees on that side of the road. Her former bodyguard was now on the ground, bloody-mouthed and wheezing.

Isabel went to dismount to help him.

‘Leave him,’ Blackmane instructed, as though he had eyes in the back of his head. ‘He’ll be dead before your feet touch the ground.’

When Isabel looked back at Trahern, he was still.

Hodge continued to bark orders at the men around them while the defenders worked calmly and meticulously under a veil of silence.

It will be over soon, she thought. There were only so many arrows someone could shoot.

That number was higher than she expected, however. It was quickly becoming one of the longest moments of Isabel’s life—excluding the night Maddock House burned down.

Blood roared in her ears, and she had no idea what to do or where to look. Then men began to drop from the trees around them, armed with axes, short swords, and shields. And some with nothing at all, because they were already dead.

Blackmane dropped his bow to the pommel of his saddle and drew his sword while reaching for Isabel with his spare hand. ‘Jump.’

Without hesitating, she kicked the stirrups off her feet and drew her legs up. But then Hodge’s horse slammed into hers before she had a chance to leap, knocking her forwards. Blackmane caught her arm on the way down and swung her under his horse.

‘Don’t move from that spot,’ he barked.

The defenders’ horses were clearly far better conditioned to the sounds and sights of battle. Blackmane’s mare barely moved a hoof as people fell and weapons screeched, the smell of blood taking over the air. Isabel pressed her eyes shut and clapped her hands over her ears. Then she hummed loudly so it was all she could hear.

Seconds ticked by.

Minutes.

Then someone tapped her arm, and the humming stopped. Slowly, she peeled her eyes open, terrified of what she would see. A bloody-faced Blackmane was crouched beside her, saying things she could not hear. Maybe her hearing was damaged from the noise.

Blackmane pointed to his ears, bringing attention to the fact that she was still covering hers. She cautiously lowered her hands.