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The men called out their pleasure at the news.

“Make jest all you will, for you will not be laughing when you reach the Lowlands and learn that Hedely will never get even a smidgen of my wealth,” Lady Elizabeth shouted.

“She lies!” Hedley yelled. “Lies are the only thing she has left, and they will not help her. “There’s no time to waste. We leave now and go deeper into the woods, but first—” Drawing his dagger from his belt, he walked toward Leora.

“Nay! Nay!” Lady Elizabeth cried out, hurrying to shield Leora.

Simmons shoved her away, Novice Angelica grabbing hold of her before she could take a tumble.

With nowhere to go, Leora stood her ground, ready to defend herself.

“Fearless, are you?” Hedley sneered.

“Will you be the same when you face my husband?” Leora challenged.

Hedley sliced her forearm quickly and the blood followed just as quickly. “I’ll do the arms first, though I am eager to start on your face. Bit by bit, you will lose your beauty.”

“How much of a coward are you that you wound my arms so I cannot defend myself against you?”

He raised his blade again, but this time Leora was quick and turned her face, the tip of his blade catching a small spot on her jaw near her ear.

“We’ll see how brave you are when I cut out your tongue,” he threatened and turned away from her. “We leave now. We have delayed long enough. Get them on horses.”

* * *

Noble watchedhis warriors finish off the last of the mercenaries and wondered why the other troop hadn’t attacked yet. Had Slayer’s warriors taken care of them? Were they no longer a threat? Whatever the reason, he still had to keep his clan prepared to continue fighting no matter how exhausted some were or how many wounds were suffered.

He glanced at the aftermath of battle. Many of the enemy lay dead, some wounded beyond help. Weapons littered the ground along with shields and the stench of battle itself stung the nostrils, an odor all too familiar to him.

He shouted orders for discarded weapons to be gathered and weapons taken off the dead bodies. Clansmen saw to it while his warriors needed no orders to remove the dead bodies so they would not prove hazardous during another round of battle, a chore they had grown accustomed to doing.

It was a scene that Noble had seen repeatedly after battle, but this time it was different. This time it was his home he was defending, his clan, his wife. That Leora was safe in the keep and would remain there until he came for her allowed him to fight without worry. He would love to go to her now and hug her tightly, if only for a few moments, and feel her love for him but with another attack possibly imminent, he could not take the chance.

He turned his head quickly, hearing something. Men on horses. But there had been no warning, no sound of a horn from those in their tree perches.

“Weapons!” he shouted, so all would be prepared, not sure if friend or foe approached.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and those with weapons raised them ready to fight and those without grabbed the nearest weapon bracing for another fight. Tension was taut and though fatigue could be seen on many faces, so could a fierceness to defend their home.

Weapons were soon lowered, and smiles broke out in relief when Ross and his men emerged from the woods and entered the village.

Noble didn’t smile. He saw the results of a hard-fought battle on Ross and his warriors. Dirt. Sweat. Blood. He surmised what had happened. They had run into the other troop of mercenaries.

Ross waited until he dismounted in front of Noble to speak. “My tracker warned of a nearby troop last night and in the opposite direction than the one you expected.”

“I sent word as soon as I learned of the troop,” Noble was quick to say.

“I got it a bit late, but it did not matter. When I learned of the size of the troop, I sent one of my men to divert Slayer’s warriors to help us attack in the morning. I had no doubt you could handle the troop that would attack you, but this troop would have caused you difficulties and cost you a large loss of men. I sent warriors ahead to find Mother Abbess. They will return with word soon enough.”

“I am grateful for your help,” Noble said.

Ross rested his hand heavily on Noble’s shoulder. “We are Gallowglass.”

No more needed saying. Gallowglass always protected Gallowglass.

Noble turned his head slightly, thinking he heard Chief’s puppy yap, but that couldn’t be. The pup was safe in the keep with Leora. He heard it again, but closer this time. He turned to see Chief racing through the village, jumping and swerving to avoid fallen warriors and not once did he stumble over his own legs. When he spotted Calla trying to keep up with the pup, fear squeezed at his heart.

He ran toward Calla, Ross following along with him.