Chapter 16 #3
Brodie dropped the torch. Milton stumbled back to avoid being struck by the flames, then tumbled down the steps, yelling curses.
"I told you, dimwit!" Randall yelled. The torch continued to burn on the wet stone floor.
Four of you go outside and search the older guard's body for the keys, Brodie told the selkies, then proceeded downward, sword in hand.
Randall jumped back, eyes widening at Brodie's nudity and his sword. "You're nay Alred!"
"Canny lad. Now, throw down all your weapons. You're vastly outnumbered, Randall. Is that your name?"
The rest of the selkies filed in behind Brodie.
The drunk guard, Milton, scrambled away on all fours, leaving his sword where he'd fallen.
"Throw all your dirks and blades there, in a pile, or else die at the end of my sword." Brodie smirked.
Milton threw his dirk to the floor with a clatter. Randall was resistant, his stunned gaze searching their faces, clearly unable to believe the army of naked, armed warriors facing him. "Selkies?" he hissed.
"Aye." Brodie gave him a feral grin. "We're here for our ladies."
Randall surrendered and threw down his sword, then removed the dirk from his belt.
"And the sgian dubhs! Toss them now!" Brodie ordered.
Five small knives hit the ground.
Brodie guarded Daavar while he picked up the weapons and passed them out among the other selkies.
Keys jangled as Ronin descended the steps and opened the cell doors. The females inside rushed out.
Are they all here? Brodie asked.
Aye, the ones from the last raid, at least, Harcus communicated.
"Oh hell. His lairdship will string us up," Milton squawked from the corner.
"We can do it now, if you prefer," Brodie taunted. "Get it over with."
"Nay!" the men yelled.
"You'd best run away then, both of you, and never let Talnaroch find you.
He will take his vengeance out on you," Brodie said, hoping to decrease the number working for the bastard earl.
"Tell your comrades the same. Anyone here.
If they're not dead yet, they will be soon. When is your boss returning?"
"Eh... in a few days," Randall said.
"Where is he holding the other selkie women? The ones you abducted earlier?"
"I did nay work for him then."
"Who would know? Milton?" Brodie glanced at the drunk guard.
He shook his head dramatically. "Alred... maybe."
"Damn. I think he's dead."
Turning ashen, Randall drew back farther.
Brodie communicated with the selkie males. Six of you go up the steps, two with swords in front, and the other six stay in back. Keep the females in the middle. I'll bring up the rear.
They agreed and proceeded outside as a group.
"Help," a man yelled up ahead.
Brodie darted around the selkies. The blasted guard he'd knocked out first had woken up and alerted the others.
Three warriors from the front of the castle charged toward him, yelling and brandishing swords.
We'll have to kill these bastards!
Most of the selkies were armed with swords, but Brodie wanted to protect them all, as if they were his younger, inexperienced brothers.
Brodie ran one enemy through, sending him sprawling. Another foe attacked immediately.
Wilona MacRae appeared, grinning, behind one of the enemies. "What the hell?"
The tip of the bastard's blade sliced Brodie's chest. He ground his teeth at the sharp sting and fought harder.
Roaring through the intensifying pain, Brodie drove his blade into the man's gut, shoved him down, then turned to slash out at another opponent. He landed a slice to the guard's throat and he went down.
Brodie scanned the area. All their enemies were on the ground, and the damnable witch had vanished.
The severe burning in his chest snagged his attention. The cut was deeper than he'd realized. Sticky hot blood streamed from it, down his body.
He could do naught about it now. They had to leave this place.
Brodie raced toward the cliff behind the selkies, making sure the females were in the center of the group. They descended the rocky steps carefully so no one would fall.
At the shore, they retrieved their sealskins from beneath the stone. Daavar helped Brodie with his, and all of them shifted.
Are you too injured to swim? Daavar asked.
Nay, I'll go back to Farspag and get the wound stitched up.
Harcus swam close to Brodie. You're bleeding badly. We'll go with you to make sure you're nay attacked by a shark.
I appreciate it. The farther Brodie swam, the weaker he became. I've lost a lot of blood.
Aye, we'll take you back quickly. Harcus and Daavar each grasped one of his fore flippers and pulled him along to the shore below Farspag Tower.
Help me remove my sealskin, Brodie said.
The two pulled it down off his head and chest, exposing his bloody wound, and he shifted into human form.
I thank you, my friends.
"Conner!" Brodie yelled toward the guardhouse on shore.
"Chief?" Conner raced forward.
The selkies bid him farewell and wished him to get well soon, then swam away.
"What happened?" Conner asked as he and another guard, Eachan, approached him on shore.
Brodie stood up, dizzy and growing weak. "Injured in battle. I lost a lot of blood."