Merryn set the bairns down and pulled out her bow and one arrow, nocking fast, but Broc went after him, staying off to the side to give her free range to take the shot. She fired and caught Kelvan in the leg.
“You bitch!” Kelvan dropped his weapon and grabbed his leg, trying to yank the arrow out of his bleeding flesh. “I’ll kill you, Merryn! Just like I did to your sister.”
Broc was nearly upon him, but the bastard spun around and headed in the other direction. Broc followed, but then two arrows came at him from someone at the perimeter.
“Broc, go!” His mother’s voice carried to him. “Too many archers. Save those bairns!”
“Broc!” Merryn’s voice caught him, so he turned around. He couldn’t fight five men by himself. They had two bairns to save. He raced after Merryn who had set Tora down. “I can’t carry Tora. Help me, please!”
So, he did what he thought was best and sheathed his weapon, grabbing the crying bairn up into his arms. “I’ve got you, Tora. Grandda is not far.”
“Gwandda coming. I saw him. I want Gwandda.”
“We’ll find him.”
Broc glanced over his shoulder to make sure they were not being followed. His heart sank watching his mother, Lia, and Magni leaving the coast on Kelvan’s ship. He couldn’t catch them if he wished. He had no boat.
Broc and Merryn ran for a short while until they were at the well, the two villagers still there, one filling a cup with water and holding it out. Merryn said, “Broc, I have to stop.”
He nodded. “They’re gone.”
They stopped and Merryn hugged Shealee so tight she squirmed against her, but the wee lass cupped her cheeks and kissed her. “Mama.”
“Tora, you are hale?” Broc asked, setting her down for a moment.
“Aye, but I want Mama.”
A whistle rent the air, and Broc turned to see Connor coming toward them. “I had this feeling.” He raced down the path, stopping to hold out his arms to Tora.
“Gwanda!” She launched herself into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder.
“The other three? Where are they? Kyla?”
Broc shook his head. “I couldn’t fight them all. Eight total. Two archers. They ran to a ship. We’re too late.”
Tora said, “They on the boat now. Going to the castle.”
Broc took the refilled cup after the others had finished and drank it down. “Hellfire, I failed my own mother.” He closed his eyes, handed the cup back, and bent over, his hands on his knees, wondering what the hell he would tell his father.
Connor nodded. “You saved two. You brought the most vulnerable out of their clutches. Great job, both of you. Let’s get them home. Lia and Kyla will keep the three of them safe until we get there.”
Broc tugged at his hair, groaning because he wished to scream over his failure.
“Broc, I know my sister. If you had her here and any of the bairns were still in Kelvan’s clutches, she’d be chastising you for the rest of the day. Think you she would want to be saved ahead of the bairns? Truly?”
Broc had to chuckle at that image. “Nay, you are correct, Uncle. My thanks for that picture of my mother yelling at me.”
The older man spoke, his voice cracking, “How many did you kill, lad? By the look of your sword, you took care of morethan one.” He clasped Broc’s arm and said, “Give me your weapon. I’ll clean it for you.”
Broc took it out and handed it to the man, appreciating his kind gesture.
Merryn rubbed his back. “He killed three, but then four came in behind us. He took care of one of them, but the other three forced the captives out the door. We had to go. Kyla told us to leave and return with more forces.”
Connor sighed. “My sister is a wise one. Always thinking of others first. You did the right thing. Did you recognize any?”
Merryn said, “Aye. Kelvan said he was going to kill me, so I hit him in the leg with my arrow. I was hoping for his black heart, but I missed.”
“You hit him, Merryn, and stopped him in his tracks. That was a fabulous shot under the conditions,” Broc said.
