Hugh sounded an alarm and insisted every man, woman and child keep guard along the outside and inside west wall.
After rousting the bailey, he strode in the kitchen, through the great hall, and up the stairs. “I’m coming for you, woman. You can’t stay hidden forever.”
He stopped in the tower where men made little progress as they tried to pull out the huge stone in the ancient wall.
“Are all women this senseless?” Hugh paced the length of the chambers while Aliyar leaned back on the mattress and yawned. “Mayhap, you should start at the beginning. The last I saw you, we’d eaten a good meal and I thought you retired for the night. How did you come to this?”
I wish I knew.
“The healer came out of the wall while I slept. We talked and she showed me proof of her noble birth. I mayhap raised my voice when she denied my offer of marriage.”
“Mayhap?”
“Are you now my confessor?”
“No, no. I’m merely trying to help you out of this adversity. Which, by the by, you have yet to fully explain.”
“Damnation, Aliyar, I took her virginity and even though she tricked me, we still must wed. Now, she wants nothing to do with me.”
“So say you. The men heard her crying behind the blacksmith walls.”
“Crying?”
“Aye. The thing women do when they are distraught. You are familiar with it, are you not?”
“What in God’s name has she to be distraught about? She crucified my reputation, poisoned me, and took my seed. Now, I find out I breached the virgin walls of someone under de Wolf’s protection. You might as well hire a priest for my last rites.”
Hugh knew he was ranting and yet couldn’t stop. “Ever since seeing her in the cold stream holding little Val, I’ve been besotted. I want her more than life. Now, I’ve yelled at her, albeit for very good reasons. And yet, because she cries, I feel such remorse I’m made a fool. Obviously, there’s nothing to be done but marry.”
“What will DeBruce say? The king?”
“It matters not. Find her and I will wed her immediately.”
“She’s wanted for murder. Have you gone mad?”
“No doubt.” Hugh sighed, his cock hard beneath his tunic. In truth he wanted to lay with Rose quite fiercely.
Suddenly, drums sounded in the bailey.
“Anon!” He and Ali took stairs three at a time and raced out the great hall to the stables. Their mounts were already being saddled and pages tightened the belts under their horse’s bellies.
Riding into the bailey, Hugh shouted to his men, already on top of the wall. “Who is it and how many?”
“Green tunics as far as the eye can see. Mayhap two hundred. More exiting the woods.”
Hugh pulled out his sword as all rallied and shouted over the drums. “Are you ready to defend what we have so long desired? What is now ours?”
“Aye!” His men lifted their swords into the air and shouted as one.
“Do not hold back, my valiants. This time, spare none!” Hugh rode under the portcullis, and yelled to be heard over the drums. “Raise it and let none enter the bailey until the battle is won.”
His men cheered, clanking swords against shields. Then, the iron gate opened as arrows from the wall rained down upon his enemies.
From atop his charger, Hugh swung his curved sword, cutting men in half, lopping off heads, soon covered in gore. None would ever again be so foolish as to try to take what was his. He raised his sword at the next Scot who approached and for a brief instant paused. The man looked so much like Rose, it seemed wrong to slay him.
The slight misstep was all the Scot needed. His sharp blade sliced through leather and Hugh fell off Wind with the air knocked out of him.
Damnation!
He tugged the leg of the Scot and pulled him to the ground but the young Douglas was fast as steel met steel.
By God, my people will have a home and if Rose is with child, it will nay be bastard born.
“Ayaaah!” Hugh swung his blade, ignoring the searing pain in his side, and when he shoved his shield into the Scot, the lad teetered.
When Hugh kicked out his knee, the laird fell onto his back and let go his weapon. “Mercy.”
The ruse was almost believable but Hugh kept his eyes on the man’s hands. When a knife appeared, there was nothing to be done but end the life of Rose’s younger brother.
The other Douglas howled and raced forward with ax high. With blade inches from his forehead, Hugh braced for death but Aliyar’s arrow was true. It pierced the Scot’s heart and he fell dead on the spot. Quickly, Hugh sliced off his head and tossed it to Aliyar who held it high.
Scot horns bleated at the grisly sight and the attackers fled into the woods. Sickened at the waste, Hugh searched the field wondering which of his men would never again share a meal at his table.
“Make sure there is a merciful death to those enemies wounded on the field.” He put his hand to his waist and it came back bloody.
God’s blood. The cut is deep.
With the world spinning, he strode slowly to the portcullis amongst the cheers of his warriors. “Raise the gate.”
“Allah! Godspeed!” Inside the bailey, women and elders happily cried out his name and he waved back.
They deserved this moment, to feel worthy of being defended, to know they had a home and that no one would ever take it from them.
He staggered into the great hall and rested with his back against the wall bleeding abundantly. Two or three of his men were brought in on pallets and he saw to it that the women tended to them.
“M’lord? Are you well? You look pale.” Azzah approached and handed him a mug of sweet ale.
At the sight of his blood pooling on the floor her eyes went wide and she screamed, “Rose, to me! Our master is wounded!”