Page 69 of Taming the Eagle
One of the warriors snorted a laugh. “Listen to him.”
“Aye,” another sneered. “I’m going to cut his pretty face into ribbons.”
They attacked, although Fenella didn’t have a chance to see how Aedan was faring—she was too busy defending herself from their leader.
He wielded a long blade and moved with fluid grace. They circled each other, while Fenella went through all the tactics her father had taught her. She’d grown up sparring with Eogan, and although she hadn’t chosen the warrior’s path, Fenella was fast with a blade and quick on her feet.
Her opponent realized this now, and so he watched her with calculating intensity. “I like humping the wild ones,” he said, grinning. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
Fenella broke out in a cold sweat. He was trying to scare her, and succeeding. Nonetheless, she couldn’t let him smell fear or this was over.
Grunts, followed by an agonized cry, filled the courtyard.
Either Aedan or one of the men he fought had just fallen.
Fenella was tempted to glance sideways, to see how the Brigante was faring, but she didn’t dare.
The black-haired warrior lunged once more, his blade whistling past her, again and again, as he drove Fenella backward.
Heart in her throat, she ducked and twisted, cursing her small knife. She wasn’t close enough to get under his guard and use it—and the bastard knew it.
Another scream echoed through the courtyard, yet her attacker paid it no mind. Instead, he plowed forward, jaw set in grim determination.
Moments later, Fenella found herself backed up against a pillar.
Panic tore at her throat, yet she clutched at all the tricks she’d learned over the years. The only way out of this was to fight dirty.
She dropped low, just as the warrior reached out with a hand to pin her to the pillar, and slashed him across the ankle. His howl of pain rent the air, yet she was already rolling away. Bouncing to her feet, Fenella came up behind him and sank her knife deep into his neck.
The warrior’s knees buckled, his sword clattering to the pavers. Blood now pumped from his neck, but he wasn’t yet dead. Gritting her teeth, Fenella stepped up behind him and drew her blade across his throat.
The warrior slumped to the ground.
Spinning around, Fenella’s gaze alighted upon a surprising sight.
Two of the attackers were dead, although another three had entered the courtyard.
But they didn’t just have Aedan to contend with. Kahina had left her hiding place and was holding her own. She stabbed her spear through the guts of a warrior, while Aedan finished him off with his dagger.
Fenella scooped up the sword of the man she’d just killed and joined the fray.
Her pulse beat hard in her throat now, despair sweeping over her. There would be no escaping now—but she might as well go down fighting.
The warriors kept coming. Another group burst into the courtyard. With a howl, they rushed at her.
Standing back-to-back with Aedan and Kahina, Fenella slashed and parried. The three of them had done a fine job of defending themselves, but there were too many warriors now.
They wouldn’t be able to hold them off for much longer.
XXV. DON’T MOURN HIM YET
AEDAN RUSHED FORWARD, his blade clashing with the first of the warriors who lunged for them. Like Fenella, he too had taken the sword of one of the fallen men.
The Brigante slashed his way into the midst of the attackers.
Muttering an oath, Fenella dove after him. Although Aedan was clearly skilled with a blade and recklessly brave as well, he wouldn’t survive long if he got himself surrounded.
They fought back-to-back once more, the pavers beneath their feet turning sticky with blood. Now that she wielded a proper sword, Fenella managed to bring down another two men. Nonetheless, the muscles in her arms and shoulders burned and her hands were slippery with sweat. Aedan appeared tireless, yet she wasn’t. Physical toil had kept her strong during her time at Ardoch, but she wasn’t sure how much longer she could wield this blade.