World of de Wolfe Pack: Her Haunted Knight (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Alden Stella Marie

Author:Alden, Stella Marie [Alden, Stella Marie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Kindle Worlds
Published: 2018-01-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

While Rose paced outside her brother’s chambers, The Destroyer sat on Wind looking up at Naward, muscles taut. The chargers waiting in the woods behind him stomped the ground and blew air through their lips. His men waited, quiet and tense. This was the battle that would determine their fates and that of their families.

Ali’s teeth shone bright against his dark face, blackened with charcoal. “The Douglas are having quite a celebration.”

Hugh couldn’t imagine any warrior being so careless with life and home. “Might this be a ruse? What if they’re waiting prepared as they lure us in with drunken songs?”

“The Scots didn’t strike me as that clever. Why? Did you think otherwise?”

“No, no. But by God, they must have DeBruce’s support. Otherwise, who’d dare behave so recklessly.”

“Ah. You suspect that’s why Edward sent you north.” Ali grew silent, face grim.

“Aye. If I kill this clan outright, irate Scots will descend like locusts from the north. If I don’t, Edward will rescind his promise and maybe even insist we depart England for good.”

The drunkenness grew louder, sweet music to Hugh’s ears, and a new idea took root. He pressed a left thigh into Wind who turned so he could speak to his men.

“Hold back on the flaming arrows. Stay your blades and kill none. Allow all within to surrender.”

Ali nodded, then rode forth holding onto a long ladder with Doğan on the other end. When they arrived, they leaned it against the wall, and climbed.

Hugh lifted his fist. Turk, Mongol, Jew, and Christian mercenaries drew swords and readied their bows. Soon, they’d take what they’d waited so long to have; home, land, a dwelling.

Family. Wife. Children.

He pictured sweet Rose and wished for nothing more than to have the right to lie with her. Alas, it was just a dream for once this was over, Edward would choose him a wife with a dowry fit for the Steward of Naward.

Ali’s owl hoot signaled the start of the battle and Hugh focused, motioning his men forward. His best archers knelt and pointed their cross bows at the four guards silhouetted atop the battlement. However, before Hugh could signal for arrows to fly, one man disappeared, followed by the rest.

A few moments later, the portcullis opened and Hugh whooped. “For home, for keep, for family.”

He led the charge into the marshy ground between forest and castle wall. Drums within the keep pounded and the bleat of a horn signaled that they were found out.

Gritting his teeth, Hugh gripped his sword as the Douglas clan poured out of the arch.

What’s this?

Most of them wore no armor and their swords wavered. Those mounted, barely stayed astride, half naked.

Bloody hell. What a sorry sight.

The priest’s wine must’ve been strong.

Oh, for the love of God. This is embarrassing.

Disgusted, Hugh left his warriors to deal with the drunken Scots in the field and entered the melee in the bailey. Swinging one leg around the back of his horse, he jumped in front of Ali who was dodging the blows of a barefoot man in his braies.

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