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Broc

Broc picked up Tora and handed her to Merryn who already held Shealee. “Run. Just run back to the hamlet with these two and I’ll find you.” His mother hadn’t come out yet with Magni and Lia. He couldn’t protect six people.

So, Merryn raced out the door with the two bairns in her arms.

Broc asked, “Mama, you are hale?”

The men blocked both doors, arranging themselves in a way they thought to achieve an advantage, but they were wrong.

Broc reminded himself that these were men, not boars.

He could predict how they would move, and if he did it wisely, he could beat them.

He was taught how to do so by men wiser than him.

“Aye, we are all fine. Worry about the two other bairns. I can handle this. Come back for me with more guards, Broc.”

“I’m not leaving you, Mama.” He swung his sword at the man closest to the front door, knocking it out of his hands. That left two in the back of the chamber. “Magni, run!”

“Lia, come!” Magni shouted, grabbing her hand, but she shook her head.

“Nay, I must stay, Magni. You go.”

“Not without you, sister!”

The two men came at Broc, one with a sword and the other with a small dagger.

His insides dropped to his toes, the fear of being impaled on a sword slowing his reaction for a moment, but then he swung his weapon in a wide arc.

He caught one of the men in the flank with the side of his sword and knocked him over.

Broc struck the second man’s arm, and he bellowed, grabbing his bleeding extremity and running out the door.

Kyla grabbed the first one by the hair and spun him around to kick him between his legs, dropping him to the floor instantly.

Broc manipulated his sword toward the one whom he’d knocked down, now back on his feet and coming at him.

He waited until he was nearly upon him, then thrust his weapon into the man’s middle.

Broc pulled his sword out and stared at the man, knowing he was dead.

There was so much yelling and screaming that Broc wasn’t sure what was happening, but he had to save his mother. Someone banged on the back door, yanking on it. He prayed Merryn got away. He turned as the one who took the hit to his bollocks stood up, grabbing his paltry sword, a foolish mistake.

Merryn opened the front door and said, “Hurry, Broc. More are coming down the path.”

“Go, Merryn! Run.” He impaled the third man on his blade and that fool fell to the floor. The back door opened, and Kelvan stood there.

Shocked to see his face again, Broc turned back to fight him, but three men all pushed around him, bellowing.

Kelvan shouted, “Get the woman and the faery. Let the wee ones go.” Then he yanked on Broc’s mother’s hair and dragged her out while two others came at him. “Kill him!”

“Broc, leave! I’ll be fine!”

One man grabbed Lia, and the other one took Magni, pulling him back while he screamed.

Three left and Broc faced one man, taking him down quickly. He headed out the front door because he had to see where Merryn was. She was running in the opposite direction, away from the shoreline, while Kelvan and his group headed toward the shore and the ships.

Broc stood in the path, having to make the decision of which way to go. “Merryn, run for Connor. Don’t wait for me!”

Kelvan said, “I’m coming for you, Merryn!” Then he whirled and raced straight for them while he shoved Kyla and the bairns toward the boat, the two men grabbing and tugging the group behind them.

But Kelvan didn’t stop.

Merryn set the bairns down and pulled out her bow and one arrow, nocking fast, but Broc went after him, staying off to the side to give her free range to take the shot. She fired and caught Kelvan in the leg.

“You bitch!” Kelvan dropped his weapon and grabbed his leg, trying to yank the arrow out of his bleeding flesh. “I’ll kill you, Merryn! Just like I did to your sister.”

Broc was nearly upon him, but the bastard spun around and headed in the other direction. Broc followed, but then two arrows came at him from someone at the perimeter.

“Broc, go!” His mother’s voice carried to him. “Too many archers. Save those bairns!”

“Broc!” Merryn’s voice caught him, so he turned around. He couldn’t fight five men by himself. They had two bairns to save. He raced after Merryn who had set Tora down. “I can’t carry Tora. Help me, please!”

So, he did what he thought was best and sheathed his weapon, grabbing the crying bairn up into his arms. “I’ve got you, Tora. Grandda is not far.”

“Gwandda coming. I saw him. I want Gwandda.”

“We’ll find him.”

Broc glanced over his shoulder to make sure they were not being followed. His heart sank watching his mother, Lia, and Magni leaving the coast on Kelvan’s ship. He couldn’t catch them if he wished. He had no boat.

Broc and Merryn ran for a short while until they were at the well, the two villagers still there, one filling a cup with water and holding it out. Merryn said, “Broc, I have to stop.”

He nodded. “They’re gone.”

They stopped and Merryn hugged Shealee so tight she squirmed against her, but the wee lass cupped her cheeks and kissed her. “Mama.”

“Tora, you are hale?” Broc asked, setting her down for a moment.

“Aye, but I want Mama.”

A whistle rent the air, and Broc turned to see Connor coming toward them. “I had this feeling.” He raced down the path, stopping to hold out his arms to Tora.

“Gwanda!” She launched herself into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder.

“The other three? Where are they? Kyla?”

Broc shook his head. “I couldn’t fight them all. Eight total. Two archers. They ran to a ship. We’re too late.”

Tora said, “They on the boat now. Going to the castle.”

Broc took the refilled cup after the others had finished and drank it down. “Hellfire, I failed my own mother.” He closed his eyes, handed the cup back, and bent over, his hands on his knees, wondering what the hell he would tell his father.

Connor nodded. “You saved two. You brought the most vulnerable out of their clutches. Great job, both of you. Let’s get them home. Lia and Kyla will keep the three of them safe until we get there.”

Broc tugged at his hair, groaning because he wished to scream over his failure.

“Broc, I know my sister. If you had her here and any of the bairns were still in Kelvan’s clutches, she’d be chastising you for the rest of the day. Think you she would want to be saved ahead of the bairns? Truly?”

Broc had to chuckle at that image. “Nay, you are correct, Uncle. My thanks for that picture of my mother yelling at me.”

The older man spoke, his voice cracking, “How many did you kill, lad? By the look of your sword, you took care of more than one.” He clasped Broc’s arm and said, “Give me your weapon. I’ll clean it for you.”

Broc took it out and handed it to the man, appreciating his kind gesture.

Merryn rubbed his back. “He killed three, but then four came in behind us. He took care of one of them, but the other three forced the captives out the door. We had to go. Kyla told us to leave and return with more forces.”

Connor sighed. “My sister is a wise one. Always thinking of others first. You did the right thing. Did you recognize any?”

Merryn said, “Aye. Kelvan said he was going to kill me, so I hit him in the leg with my arrow. I was hoping for his black heart, but I missed.”

“You hit him, Merryn, and stopped him in his tracks. That was a fabulous shot under the conditions,” Broc said.

He retrieved his weapon, thanking the thoughtful man who said, “Nay, we owe you, young man. Our thanks for ridding us of the scum. May they never return to Tiree.”

They met up with the other three and climbed back into the boat before Broc collapsed. Thane came over and handed him a hunk of dried meat. “Eat. You’ll feel better. You did a fine job. Two of you saved two. Those numbers are great. Be proud of yourselves.”

Broc had to admit he didn’t feel like he should be proud of himself, though the look on Merryn’s face convinced him they did the right thing. Shealee was back in her arms again, exactly where she belonged.

That and the scream that carried to them from the shore in front of MacQuarie Castle also convinced him they’d done something right.

Dyna stood on the shore and caught sight of Tora, her wail filling the air. Once they climbed off the ship, Dyna grabbed her daughter and asked, “Who do I thank?”

Simone said, “Broc and Merryn. They saved two. The others got away and are headed to Mingary. We split up, so those two fought against eight. If we had stayed together, we might have been able to save them all, but we separated, hoping to cover more ground.”

Dyna hugged Broc and sobbed.

Tora patted his shoulder while she held on to her mother.

The pat on his shoulder was worth everything.