Chapter 32 #2
Men’s grunts and cries filled the air as steel clashed with steel in the familiar cacophony of battle.
The ruthless need to protect what was his, come what may, surged through him as he moved mercilessly against the intruders, his body falling naturally into a series of precise, lethal movements that saw him cutting down the first line of attackers so fast and with such ferocity, even Ewan faltered for a heartbeat between dispensing their foes.
“With me, lads!” he roared, pressing forward.
Blood sprayed everywhere as bodies fell before him and piled up in front of the broken gate, making it harder for more of Sinclair’s men to get inside.
Malcolm had the fever upon him. The men he killed were not men to him, only threats, obstacles between him and what mattered which had to be removed. .. permanently.
Suddenly, Duncan was next to him, fighting alongside him with the same controlled savagery as always, his blades slicing, hacking, and piercing, sending the enemy men screaming to the ground, more bricks in the wall of flesh that was piling up, helping to keep the enemy at bay.
“About time ye showed yersel’,” Ewan shouted at him, spearing oner of the attackers in the chest with his claymore before planting a boot in the falling man’s belly and shoving him backward to extract his blade.
“I was tryin’ tae find me sister,” Duncan replied, his blade slicing a man’s throat clean across. He flashed a grim glance at Malcom as the man dropped in front of him. “Where the hell is she?”
“She’s safe, hidden away,” Malcom panted, silently praying it was true.
“I hope ye’re right,” Duncan growled, unleashing another fatal attack on an enemy soldier who dared to confront him.
As they fought on, Malcolm became aware of the acrid smell of burning and guessed that the enemy’s fiery arrows were having the desired effect, setting alight any timber they came in contact with.
He had teams ready to deal with any fires, yet the thickening smoke, the screams, and the glimpse of leaping flames near the barrack roofs seemed to indicate they were at the edge of their coping abilities.
Despite the spirited defense and the bodies starting to block the shattered gates, many of Sinclair’s men had already managed to slip into the bailey and past the first line of defense.
Fierce fighting was going on all over the courtyard as Malcolm’s men pushed back against them in a tide of steel and rage.
Nevertheless, shrill screams of panic echoed from within the keep, telling Malcolm that some of the enemy were already inside, spreading chaos, fear, fire and death among his people.
But Catriona’s safe. They’ll never find her.
Taking heart from the knowledge, he redoubled his attacks, fighting on like a beast unchained as he cut down one after the other of any enemy man foolish to come with reach.
He had all but decapitated his opponent when he caught a familiar flash of burgundy in his peripheral vision. His glance snapped towards it, and cold dread flowed through him to see it was Catriona.
“How the hell...” he ground out, fear ballooning in his chest. Instantly, he fell out of line to run to her, watching as she hugged the wall, moving gingerly along it, keeping away from the fighting, clearly trying to make her way unobserved towards the safety of the tower with the hidden chamber.
He raced towards her, cutting down anyone in his path, unable to fathom why she had left it so late to follow his order. How she had gotten out of the keep without being discovered by the intruders was a miracle that surely could not last much longer unless he got to her fast.
“Nay!” Letting out a savage snarl, Malcolm surged forward, killing the man in front of him without looking as he barged past.
“I thought ye said she was safe,” Duncan ground out, suddenly at his side, working with him to carve a path towards Catriona before the enemy noticed her.
“She should be. Somethin’ must have delayed her,” Malcolm replied, tamping down panic as they drew nearer to her, cutting down any attackers who lunged too close.
“Cat, get behind us!” he shouted as they reached her, turned, and formed a protective wall in front of her, fighting furiously against the enemy soldiers who had now clearly noticed her and started to purposefully close in.
One of them broke through and ran towards her.
Malcolm moved without thought, felling the man with a single strike to his neck.
The fellow dropped before him, body still twitching.
Another tried to barge between him and Duncan using his targe as a ram.
With a swift arc of his claymore, Duncan slit his belly open and shoved him aside.
Malcolm was already moving towards Catriona when Duncan bellowed, “Take her tae safety—that’s the best thing ye can dae right now!”
Malcolm reached her in a few steps, taking in her terrible pallor and trembling limbs.
“Stay with me,” he shouted raggedly, grabbing her wrist and pulling her after him towards the tower at a run.