Mist Warrior (36 page)
“
'Tis the best I can do.
”
“
Good enough,
”
he said with a bitter smile.
“
Hand me my sword, lady, please. In the corner
,
you'll find another trap door, we will follow them all the way to ground level.
”
She quickly found the trap door and opened it. The blows against the door above them continued. Catriona took the lantern from Richard and quickly descended. Richard paused only long enough to bolt each door
,
but she heard the others breaking through the one above just as Richard would secure the one below.
Finally on the ground floor, Richard bolted the last and staggered against the wall, his face ashen.
“
Come on,
”
she said urgently, grabbing his arm and tugging him forward.
“
Straight ahead,
”
he gasped.
“
There is a heavy oak door which leads to the bailey.
”
Catriona
hauled
Richard’s
arm over her shoulders
,
but he could barely stand. His weight threatened to drive her into the ground. She found the door and opened it. They lurched through into the chill of the night air. In the bailey
,
she saw men fighting, not far from her lay bodies with various weapons strewn around them.
Richard fought to close the door behind them
,
but he staggered, almost falling.
The door crashed open, knocking him
back three paces where he slammed into
the dirt. The knight and David charged through. Catriona's gaze desperately scanned the ground. She saw a crossbow, the quarrel still in place, and lunged for it.
Seizing it in shaking hands, Catriona
turned and aimed. The knight lifted his sword to kill Richard.
She sque condand aiezed the trigger.
The bolt struck the man full in the face, killing him instantly. As he toppled over, Catriona charged, swinging the crossbow with all her might. It smacked David in the jaw and knocked him on his back.
“
Richard!
”
she screamed and grabbed his arm. Somehow
,
Catriona
hauled him up. He used his sword like a cane and lurched forward. They entered the bailey and Catriona heard a familiar voice bellowing a war cry.
“
Cruach Mór!
”
Her gaze locked on Branan in the middle of the bailey, fighting like a man possessed. Blood soaked his inar and plaid
,
but he continued to move with fluid grace. His claymore swept outward, dealing death with every stroke, smashing through armor and bone. Beside him fought Gavin and Duguald, their weapons also mowing through Strickland's men.
“
Praise the saints,
”
Richard whispered.
“
I never thought I'd be so glad to see that man.
”
“
MacTavish!
”
another voice roared.
Catriona spotted Jamie galloping through the gates, behind him rode the mercenaries of Thistlewood.
“
I take back everything I ever said about your foster-brother,
”
Richard said and laughed. He gasped
in pain
, his knees buckling. Catriona somehow managed to pull him toward a wall, slightly away from the fighting. She eased him down, his back against the stone.
“
Branan!
”
Catriona
screamed, wondering how her small voice could carry over the din of the fighting.
But Branan's gaze locked on hers. He killed the man he fought and cut his way toward her.
Catriona sent grateful praises to the heavens. But too many fought c map width=between her and Branan. She and Richard were trapped.
Terror raged deep within her. She forced it down and began tearing strips from her skirts,
trying to bind Richard's wound
. He panted, his eyes glazed with pain.
“
Nay, Catriona,
”
he whispered hoarsely.
“
You know
it’s
mortal.
”
“
Nonsense,
”
Catriona
snapped
, b
ut in her heart she knew...he was absolutely right.
Richard grabbed her hands with surprising strength.
“
Listen to me,
”
he growled.
“
I am dead. My only concern is for you. Get to Branan. He will keep you safe.
”
She tore her gaze from his
and looked over her shoulder.
Branan still hacked through the enemy, trying to get to her
,
but made slow progress. There were just too many.
“
Catriona,
”
Richard said, his voice gentling. He touched her cheek with bloodstained, shaking fingers.
“
I pray you forgive me.
”
He paused and smiled bitterly.
“
We would have had a good marriage, my sweet, as soon as you pounded some sense into my thick skull.
”
Tears pushed forward in her eyes.
“
Richard, I am so sorry.
”
His dark eyes seemed dull with pain, his normally tanned skin gray from blood loss. A wisp of his long mahogany hair escaped its tie and brushed across his cheek. Gently
, Catriona
smoothed it from his face. To be sure, he was a handsome man. She only wished it did not have to end like this. Not with his death...Christ Almighty....not like this.
“
You are my wife now,
”
Richard
whispered, cupping her face in his hands.
“
All that I have is yours. Help Branan. He will take care of you, he loves you
,
my sweet.
”
Catriona
blinked at him startled.
“
Why do you think I was at odds with him so? I see it in his eyes every time he looks at you.
”
Sadness filled
Richard’s
gaze.
“
I had hoped
,
eventually
,
we might find love between us...you and I...but now
….
”
“
Catriona!
”
Branan's voice r
o
ared across the bailey.
“
Behind you!
”
She looked over her shoulder. Strickland rallied a handful of men, coming toward them.
Richard snarled a curse, surging to his feet.
“
Richard
, nay
!
”
Catriona
gasped in horror.
He sagged against the wall, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword, his free han
d pulling her closer. Richard’s
mouth descended on hers for a hard kiss. But deep within
, Catriona
sensed his gentling and his sorrow, his lips slid over hers in an tender and poignant farewell.
Ric cGar
,
his eyes blazed with life.
“
Go now,
”
he said hoarsely.
“
Get to Branan. I'll hold them off for as long as I can.
”
“
Richard
—
”
“
Silence, woman! Run!
”
He shoved her away and through an effort of supreme will stood on his own power, brandishing his sword.
Catriona
hesitated, watching as Richard crossed swords with the first man. But he was weak from blood loss. He blocked two blo
ws before the third slammed
between his shoulder and neck, tearing flesh and cracking bone. A crimson stream spewed from the wound.
“
Catriona!
”
Branan roared.
“
Run!
”
Terror cut through her as she saw Richard drop and knew he would never move again. Tears blurred her eyes as she sprinted away.
Another of Strickland's men saw her. He broke away from the fighting and charged.
“
Cruach Mór!
”
a
voice shouted.
Catriona
looked up in confusion, knowing the voice was not Branan. Jamie ran toward her. Catriona sprinted to him with all her heart, forcing her legs to move.
Jamie dove past her and tackled the soldier just as the man
’s fingers brushed the fabric of her dress
. They rolled on the ground
,
but it was Jaime who gained
his feet first. His sword ended
the man's fight.
Catriona found herself in a corner with wooden crates of supplies. She cast around for escape as Jamie backed toward h cckefaceer, determined to defend her with his life.
Her foot bumped something on the ground.
Catriona
saw more weapons strewn about...and a bow. Her gaze took in a quiver of arrows and then a second one caught her eye.
“
What the hell am I doing?
”
she snarled. These bloody whoresons had slain Richard and it was damn sure time she
made them pay. Catriona
snatched up the bow and arrows.
“
Jamie,
”
she barked
,
moving toward the crates.
“
Lass?
”
he a
sked, his voice fearful.
Jamie
spied the bow in her hand and a wry grin creased his face.
“
Aye, lassie,
”
he said and moved to give her boost.