Page 43 of Wolfehound (De Wolfe Pack Generations #11)

Huddled on the ground with a servant beside her as she peered into one of the shelters was, in fact, the black-haired woman.

Tyrus watched her for a moment, his mind working quickly on the best way to handle the situation.

Whatever he did, it was going to have to be fast. He had to get to her, and get her out of Folkingham, before Liam or anyone else showed up.

He would have a fight on his hands if he didn’t move swiftly enough, and given the fact that Scott de Wolfe and War Herringthorpe were both here, he wasn’t entirely sure it was a fight he could win.

Opening the gate, he made his way in her direction.

“My lady,” he said evenly. “My apologies for disturbing you, but the man in the stable said that you have puppies to sell. May I trouble you with a question about them?”

She looked at him, startled, and Tyrus was struck by the color of those blue eyes.

They were positively glowing, a color he’d never seen before.

Along with her black hair, he had to admit that he’d never seen a more beautiful woman.

But the moment she saw him, he could see something in her expression that suggested fear. Panic, even.

He had to act fast.

“My deepest apologies if I startled you,” he said quickly, holding out both hands to show her that he was not a threat. “I simply wanted to know if you had any puppies for sale. I’m told they are fine dogs.”

She stood up to face him. “Who are you?”

He shook his head. “My name is Ty,” he said. “I was simply passing through and stopped here because my horse… He seems to be lame. The man in the stable said that you are Lady Cambria.”

The servant boy was now standing alongside the woman with the blue eyes, and she leaned over, whispering something to him. He bolted out of the pen area and ran off. When the child was gone, the fear in her expression seemed to ease.

“You’re a traveler, then, Sir Ty?” she said.

He nodded. “I am,” he said. “A dog would keep me company on the road.”

“A dog is for more than simply running alongside your horse,” she said. “My dogs are the best in Lincolnshire. They are big, strong, and loyal. Men pay me a great deal for one of my dogs.”

“How much do you want for a male?”

“Three pounds.”

“Three pounds ?”

“Five for a female.”

His eyebrows lifted. “That is tidy sum, my lady.”

“My dogs are worth it,” she said. “Do you want one or not?”

He pretended to consider it. “Possibly,” he said. “But I’m interested in something far more intriguing.”

“What?”

“You.”

Her brow rippled in confusion. “Me?” she said. “My lord, if you think to woo me, know that I have been betrothed for years. I am to be married imminently.”

He nodded. “I know,” he said. “I heard about the wedding. To Liam Herringthorpe.”

“Aye,” she said, eyeing him. “Know that I have sent for him, so if you do not wish to buy a dog, you should leave me in peace.”

It occurred to him that was why the servant had run off so fast, the one she’d whispered to.

Tyrus had an assortment of daggers at his waist, as he always did when he traveled, so it was a simple thing to put his hand on the hilt of a big one that was in a sheath.

He wanted to make sure she saw it as he took a couple of steps closer.

“Then we have little time,” he said, lowering his voice.

“I know who you are, Gwenllian. You are the daughter of Llywelyn the Last, the granddaughter of Simon de Montfort, and the great-granddaughter of King John. I have been sent to bring you to London, and if you scream, I can cut your life short faster than anyone can get to you. They may kill me in the end, but you will still be dead, so unless you want that scenario, you will do as I say. Come to me now.”

Her expression was full of anger and fear. “You are from Canterbury,” she spat. “You are that knight!”

“I am,” he said. “And you are now my captive. Come to me.”

“I will not !”

“If you do not, I will kill half of these dogs before you can stop me.”

That was the only threat that meant anything to her, and she stiffened up. “Do not touch them,” she said. “You will leave my dogs alone!”

“Then do as you are told.”

“I am not going anywhere with you!”

He began to move, a big and imposing presence, heading straight for the dog pen, and she ran at him, fists flying.

“ Stop! ” she shrieked. “You will not hurt them!”

She was close enough now that he could grab her. He clamped a hand on her soft arm in a grip that was like a vise. “Thank you for complying,” he said, which sounded oddly out of place given the situation. “Now, we are going to walk to the stable and you are going to get on my horse.”

Cambria wasn’t one to go peacefully. She began to struggle against him, trying to hit him, but his grip tightened to a painful point and she was forced to stop purely because he was causing her agony.

But she was still trying to pull away, even as they walked.

That was her only plan until they passed by the big iron pot used to boil down hides.

There were two large iron rods leaning on it, both of them used to either stir the pot or stir the fire, and she grabbed one of them.

The next thing Tyrus realized, she was swinging the iron rod at his head.

He was forced to let her go as he dodged the rod. With a scream, Cambria took off running, but he was faster. He threw himself at her, tackling her legs, and they both went down.

That was when Kyle Herringthorpe walked into the yard.

“What is…?”

He couldn’t even get the words out before he was throwing himself on top of Tyrus, trying to pull him off Cambria, who managed to get a hand up and poke Tyrus in his right eye.

He grunted, grappling with both her and Kyle, so she poked him twice more until he put a big hand on her head and rammed her face right into the ground.

By this time, Kyle had him around the neck and was choking him, pulling him off Cambria, who managed to scoot out from underneath him.

Kyle was strong and had a good grip on Tyrus’ neck, and the man was starting to feel faint.

But he retained his wits enough to grab at one of the daggers around his waist and ram it backward, stabbing Kyle at the base of his neck.

The young knight immediately fell away.

On her feet, Cambria had the iron rod in her hand again and she swung it as hard as she could at Tyrus’ head.

She was fortunate enough to make contact and Tyrus was knocked sideways as stars danced before his eyes.

About this time, Nathaniel burst through the gate because he’d been near the stable and heard the noise.

But Tyrus was armed and he unsheathed his broadsword just as Nathaniel rushed in.

The young knight barely missed being gored.

“Here!” Cambria cried, tossing Nathaniel her rod.

Fortunately, the knight was able to catch it, bringing it up to block a strike that surely would have cut his left arm off. He wasn’t in armor, nor did he have his broadsword with him, so all he was able to do was dodge the sword strikes that were coming at him.

Meanwhile, the entire bailey was running in the direction of the kitchen yard, lured by the shouts.

Cambria was trying to get to Kyle, who was in the dirt, bleeding from the knife in his neck.

She finally managed to duck around the battling knights and grab Kyle by the arm, pulling him away from the fight.

Seeing all of the blood, she grabbed the sleeve of her dress and yanked hard, pulling it free from the bodice.

“I have to take the knife out,” she said to Kyle, looking him in the eye as blood ran from his mouth and the wound. “Do you hear me? I must get this out and then I will apply pressure to stop the bleeding. You will heal, I swear it. Be brave, young sir. I will be swift.”

Kyle simply nodded. Cambria yanked out the dirk, which was about three inches long, and immediately put the torn sleeve to his neck, applying pressure. He tried to lie back, to put his head on the dirt, but she wouldn’t let him.

“Nay,” she said, her voice trembling. “Turn on your side and let the blood run to the ground. Better still, can you sit up?”

Kyle nodded. “Aye,” he said weakly. “I do not think it is too bad, just bloody.”

Cambria helped him into a sitting position, leaning him against the buttery.

By this time, the kitchen servants were spilling out, watching the fight in horror, and Cambria had them help Kyle into the kitchen.

With his blood on her hands and on the front of her blue dress, she turned to watch Nathaniel hold off Tyrus.

The young knight was doing a splendid job of it, but Tyrus was strong.

He was gaining ground. Just as she feared she would have to jump in and assist the young warrior, the entire world seemed to explode with knights.

Liam, followed by Scott and War, burst into the kitchen yard and went after Tyrus.

For his part, Tyrus saw his life flash before his eyes, so he disengaged with Nathaniel and began to run toward Cambria.

His intent was clear—use her for protection against the onslaught.

Seeing this, Cambria made a break for the kitchen door, but Tyrus was fast. He was nearly upon her.

Liam, however, was faster.

He reached Tyrus before Tyrus could reach Cambria and grabbed the man by his tunic.

It was all he could get his hands on. He yanked hard, pulling him off balance, but Tyrus came around with his broadsword and nearly stabbed Liam with it.

As it was, he caught him in his midsection, tearing his tunic and drawing first blood.

As Liam leapt back, out of range of the man’s arcing broadsword, Scott charged in and nearly took off Tyrus’ head.

After that, the fight was on.