The Silken Cord by Leigh Bale

Author:Leigh Bale [Bale, Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Historical, castles, william the conqueror, slave, christian, inspirational, wales, england, medieval, C429, Extratorrents, Kat
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The sally port! Wulfgar had told Ariana it sat on the east side of the gatehouse. An outcropping of rock on the outside of the castle wall shielded it from casual view. Perhaps she could find it in all the confusion of fighting men.

She peered at the buildings, trying to get her bearings. She stood with Markus and Dafydd on the west side of the gatehouse. Men fought in the bailey, blocking their way. If she could skirt around to the other side of the castle, they might be safe.

Pulling Dafydd with her, she raced along the inner wall, aware of someone high upon the ramparts shouting at them. Booming voices could be heard and Ariana knew they’d been seen.

Something whizzed past her face and thunked into the ground at her feet. An arrow!

On she ran, dodging slashing swords and axes as men battled against each other. Dark shapes unfolded at the top of the wall. Dogs barked, snapping at her heels.

She jumped over a dead man lying sprawled across their path. The scent of death filled the air.

One of Edwin’s mercenaries whirled on her so fast she almost charged into his burly chest. Inhaling a sharp breath, she sucked in her stomach to evade the slicing arc of his sword. The sharp point clipped her left hand, drawing blood. She bit back a cry at the stinging pain.

The giant man loomed over her, his angular face cast in shadow.

Merciless.

“Look out,” she shouted, trying to push Dafydd back. Her ankle twisted beneath her and she groaned.

Sensing easy prey, the giant’s eyes filled with venom, his mouth curved into a cruel grin.

Oh, where was Wulfgar when she needed him?

“Stay back,” she warned the giant as she brandished her dagger. She stabbed the air in a threatening gesture, but the man laughed at her puny effort, his great chest shaking with mirth.

“Oww,” he yelped when Dafydd snuck up on his side and drew back his foot to kick him in the shin with his pointed shoes.

“You leave my sister alone.” The boy kicked him again hard.

The giant’s hollow eyes widened then gleamed deadly. Ariana saw the flash of his teeth as his lips curled in a sneer. “You’ll pay for that, little whelp.”

The mercenary never saw the club of wood being aimed at his head. Climbing on the woodpile, Markus smacked the man just above his left ear with a stick of firewood. The giant tilted to the side and grunted.

Markus had helped them.

Ariana had no time to consider why. The hulking brute turned on Markus, drawing back his arm to thrust with his sword. Markus’s eyes widened but he sprang off the woodpile and dodged the blow. The giant roared with rage.

Now was her chance!

Ariana stabbed toward the man’s chest, but he shifted his weight and she clipped his shoulder instead. Blood spattered across her tunic and his angry bellow filled her ears.

Smack!

With a powerful swipe of his hand, he knocked her back and she rolled across the ground, her ears ringing.

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