Warrick’s men were quick to defend against the marauding warriors, but it grew more difficult when another troop came pouring out of the woods on horse and headed for the village. They entered with force, some of them letting loose with their arrows as they did, taking down some of Warrick’s men.

The MacVarish clan were quick to take up arms in defense. Women gathered the children and Adara went to help them. Two of Warrick’s warriors rushed at Adara insisting she get to the safety of the keep.

She refused, wanting to help get the children to safety along with her. There was no time to argue with her. The two warriors helped herd the children along with a few of the mums while the other mums went to take up arms alongside their husbands.

The children ran quickly, running ahead of Adara to her relief. The two warriors remained by Adara, their task… to keep her safe. It was not long before one fell from an arrow to his leg while the other rushed behind Adara to shield her, urging her to run and not look back, to get to the keep.

She hoisted her garments, so the hems would not trip her, and ran so hard and fast she thought her increasingly pounding heartbeat would burst from her chest. The children were at the steps and she needed to get there and see them and her unborn bairn kept safe.

It was not long before she heard the warrior drop behind her, but she did not stop, she kept running. She caught flashes of dark shrouds as other warriors took their place doing their best to protect her, but it was up to her to get to the keep no matter what, and she kept running.

She cursed the rain that had fallen last night, the path to the keep heavy with mud in spots and she tried to avoid them, not wanting her feet to get mired in mud or for it to slow her down.

She was not far from the keep. Soon, very soon, she would reach the steps.

The sound of horses’ hooves grew ever closer and she was terrified that at any moment an arrow would take her down. Two more of Warrick’s men were suddenly behind her, keeping close on her footsteps. It was not long before both were hit, but this time when they went down, one fell into her, knocking her off her feet.

Instinct had her turning as she fell, so the bairn would not suffer the impact of the fall and she hit the ground with a hard bounce to her back. The rider was nearly on top of her and his bow was raised, an arrow ready to fly when one of Warrick’s warriors launched himself at the man, knocking him off the horse and tumbling to the ground with him. The horse raised his hooves in protest and Adara rolled to avoid him, but his one hoof glanced the edge of her hand.

Pain shot up her arm and she wasted no time in scrambling to her feet. She was suddenly hoisted up off the ground, rushed into the keep, and deposited on a bench.

“Stay here, we will not let them breech the keep doors,” the warrior said, “though it would not hurt to barricade the doors.”

“Your name?” Adara asked as he turned to leave.

“Gavin, my lady.”

“I know a warrior has probably already been sent to alert Warrick of the attack, but also send word to MacCara keep. It is closer and Craven will bring his warriors.”

The young warrior smiled. “You think like Lord Warrick, my lady. His orders were the same if it should ever prove necessary. Word should have reached Lord Craven by now.” He gave her a respectful nod and hurried off.

Wynn was at her side along with another servant while the remaining servants helped the mums settle the children. Both women gasped when they looked upon her hand.

Adara feared what she would see, pain radiating up her arm. She winced when she glanced at it. Her two crooked fingers and down along her hand to her wrist was swelling and bruising before her eyes, and she feared her two crooked fingers had suffered even more damage.

Adara did the only thing she could think of, she ordered them not to touch her injury. Espy would come with Craven or follow quickly behind him if he refused to bring her. She would wait and trust Espy to tend it.

She quickly instructed the servants to do as Gavin had suggested and barricade the doors in the Great Hall and sent a servant to have the cook barricade the kitchen doors there as well. She had confidence that Warrick’s warriors would be victorious, but it was wise not to take any chances. The servants, mums, and children were only too eager to do so and tables were pushed against the door and benches piled on top.

Adara sat with her right arm cradled in her left, the pain not as intense as it had been, though the bruising had grown worse.

Clashing swords could be heard outside along with screams of the injured and dying.

The children clung tightly to each other, the smaller ones gripping the mums’ legs, some hiding beneath their tunics. It seemed like forever before a heavy pounding sounded at the doors and eyes, wide with fright, looked to Adara.

She did not hesitate, she got up and went to the door.

“Adara!”

Her legs grew weak with relief, recognizing the voice. “Craven!” she called out, then summoned everyone to move the barricade.

Craven and a few of Warrick’s warriors entered the Great Hall.

“You are injured,” Craven said as soon as he saw her hand. He looked to Gavin. “Go fetch my wife.”

Adara silently thanked the heavens and her relief must have shown on her face.

“Did you think I would be able to keep Espy away?” Craven said with a shake of his head.

“How many will be in need of her skill? And how many will need burial?” Adara asked, worried for her clan and Warrick’s warriors.

“Warrick’s warriors are well trained in tending their own wounds as well of each other’s wounds, though my wife will see if she approves of their skills. They are also trained to protect any and all belonging to Warrick. No one in your clan died. Some were injured but not badly. Warrick’s warriors suffered many injuries and four of his warriors lost their lives, far less than the enemy did. God help those who attacked here today, for he will rain hell down on them.”

Espy came rushing into the Great Hall as Adara gave orders for the children to be fed and looked after so the mums could go and see to their husbands. Only after the carnage was cleared would the children return home. Craven was quick to take his leave to assist Warrick’s warriors in getting all done as soon as possible.

“This may be a bit painful,” Espy said, probing Adara’s injured hand after giving her a hug, relieved she had not been badly harmed.

Espy’s touch was not as painful as she thought it would be, though Adara grimaced now and again.

“To my great relief, I do not believe any bones are broken,” Espy said.

“The hoof barely glanced the edge of my hand.”

“The blow bruised the flesh, but caught no bone. It will be tender and take weeks to heal. I will fashion a sling for you so that you may rest it. I will also show Wynn how to make a comfrey poultice to help with the bruising and healing.”

“I know how to make a comfrey poultice,” Wynn said, having remained close to Adara.

“That is wonderful, Wynn. You can make it now,” Espy said.

“No,” Adara said, “I want to go outside and see to my clan and Warrick’s warriors.”

“You need to rest this hand. There is nothing you can do for them,” Espy cautioned.

“I can be there for them. Show them I care. Show them I am not hiding away in fear,” Adara said.

“Aye, you can do that,” Espy said, “but first let me fashion a sling so that your hand can rest and begin to heal.”

“Send word, when my lady is near done and I will have the poultice ready,” Wynn said, a tear in her eye as she looked upon Adara with pride.

Adara issued more orders, instructing the cook to see that food was provided for the clan and the warriors and left on the table for any who wandered into the Great Hall looking for sustenance.

It was not long after Adara’s arm was placed in a sling that she and Espy left the keep and walked through the village, stopping to help those in need. Adara was amazed that there was less of a carnage than she had expected. The bodies of the fallen foe had been removed and those too badly injured to escape on their own had been left behind and were being tended by Warrick’s warriors.

Adara may not have been able to give Espy a helping hand with the injured, but she lifted spirits with words of encouragement and praise for a victorious battle to both the clan and Warrick’s warriors.

Adara also insisted on remaining with one of Warrick’s warriors while Espy bandaged a gash in his leg. The young warrior, Brock, feared he would be left with a limp and not be able to continue as one of Warrick’s warriors.

Adara leaned down and whispered near his ear. “Warrick would never desert one of his warriors who served him with honor as you have done.”

Brock kept his voice to a whisper. “Please, my lady, do not tell anyone I allowed myself to fear.”

Adara reiterated Wynn’s words, but added a thought of her own along with them. “We all fear something, sometime, but it is whether we let that fear stop us that makes the difference.”

Brock smiled gently. “I am grateful to you, my lady. You suffered a wound yourself and yet you tend others with your kind and encouraging words.”

Adara acknowledged something then that had been growing ever stronger in her. “We are family, Brock. I will always tend my family.”

It was night by the time Adara returned to the keep, exhausted, hungry, and her hand aching, Espy joining her against her wishes.

“I do not care, wife,” Craven said. “You have done enough for the night. No one needs you now. You will eat and rest and tend to yourself.” When Espy went to protest, Craven pressed his finger to her lips. “You would advise a woman in your condition to do the same.”

Espy sighed. “You are right.”

“Adara, you heard that, my wife says I am right,” Craven said with a chuckle.

Adara laughed and looked on with envy as Craven smiled and took his wife in his large arms, Espy resting her head on his chest.

She was glad when Wynn appeared and diverted her attention, placing the comfrey poultice on her hand. It was not on her hand long when the Great Hall door burst open and in stormed Warrick.