He smacked his glove across Basilisk’s flank, the move making the destrier increase his speed to a canter. He indicated that Hugues and Anna should follow Evangeline, then granted a jaunty wave to those who watched their departure before taking the rear of the party.
“Ride,” he said through his teeth, but Evangeline needed no such urging. She had already bent over the black steed’s neck and given him her heels. Basilisk and Foudre were much recovered by their sojourn in the smith’s stables, for both destriers ran as if they understood their riders’ lives might depend upon it. Ramsay was hard-pressed to keep Foudre from passing the palfreys, but he was determined to keep his small party together.
“The trees,” Evangeline called back to him. “We will make that small forest.”
Ramsay had no such conviction, not when he heard the commotion at the gates. He looked back and could not mistake the tall blond knight who led a party onto the road. That knight bellowed a warning that Ramsay did not have to hear clearly to understand.
The party erupted onto the road as Ramsay watched and he noticed how two pairs of riders left the road. Each pair circled wide of the road, the riders’ plan clearly to catch Ramsay’s party like a coal in a pair of pincers. Meanwhile, Rufus was in pursuit, whipping his horse to greater speed.
The distance was diminishing between them too quickly. The palfreys slowed their progress too much.
“Hugues!” Ramsay said, even as he loaded a bolt into his crossbow. “Break right with Anna and leave the road. We will meet you on the far side of the next town.”
“You cannot outrun him, sir.”
“You cannot abandon us, sir!” Anna wailed.
“He has no desire for either of you. ’Tis my lady he wishes to capture and I can defend her better if you ride on.”
“My lady!” Anna whispered, looking between the three groups of warriors closing fast and Ramsay.
“Go,” Evangeline said, then reached out to slap Gealaich’s rump hard.
Anna caught her breath, no horsewoman, but Hugues seized the palfrey’s reins.
“You have only to hold on,” he told her and she did as instructed, her eyes wide with fear. Hugues gave his heels to his own palfrey and the two mares lunged from the road, heading to the east.
Those two riders from Rufus’ party would interfere with their escape. Ramsay loosed his bow, aiming at the lead rider in the group closing on that side. The man was not expecting any assault and was so intent on Hugues that he did not see the bolt in time. It caught him in the shoulder, the force of impact casting him from the saddle to the ground. His companion’s horse stumbled but before that rider could regain control of the steed, Ramsay loosed another bolt and felled him as well.
“My thanks, sir!” Hugues called, still compelling Gaelaich to gallop to the east. The fool even waved to him, though Ramsay would chastise him later for not holding fast instead.
“Will they be safe?” Evangeline demanded. The destriers had matched pace to each other, the road passing beneath their hooves with impressive speed.
“Safer than we might be,” Ramsay said and took aim at the leftmost pair of riders, for they were approaching quickly. Evangeline anticipated him and urged Basilisk forward, ensuring that Ramsay had a clear view.
It took him three bolts to fell them, for the leader anticipated his ploy. That first bolt was already loosed when the man ducked and abruptly turned his horse. The bolt passed over him, then Evangeline gave a cry and urged Basilisk to greater speed.
Her move drew the attention of both men, proving that she was the true target of the assault. Ramsay’s next bolt caught the distracted leader in the throat. That man fell from the saddle and was dragged some distance, his boot caught in the stirrup of the frightened horse, but he was dead. The second man took one look at his fallen companion and tried to turn his horse around completely, but soon he shared that man’s fate. The horses fled, but there was no time to savor a victory.
A bolt passed over Ramsay’s shoulder, barely missing Evangeline. “Down!” he roared. “Down as low as you can be!” He did not watch to ensure that she followed instruction, glad that he could rely upon her good sense. He loaded the crossbow and pivoted, loosing the bolt at the party of three riders fast behind them. The bolt seared a line across Rufus’ own shoulder, who rode at the fore, and Ramsay could see the fury in his opponent’s gaze.
He loaded his bow again, determined not to flinch from what had to be done, but Evangeline cried out in that moment. Rufus smiled and Ramsay glanced over his shoulder to the right, his heart sinking that Hugues was held captive by one of Rufus’ men. It was the man whose horse had stumbled. Clearly, he had mounted again, uninjured, and taken advantage of Ramsay’s distraction.
“Do not fear for me, sir!” the boy cried, twisting to kick his captor in the groin. The man grunted, then struck Hugues hard across the face. The boy crumpled to the ground, even as Anna cried out in dismay. She had not ridden onward, so great was the maid’s fear, and Ramsay feared that choice would cost them all.
Even as he considered as much, Evangeline turned Basilisk to ride to her maid’s defense. Basilisk would be slowed when she left the road! Ramsay swore with vigor, then loosed the bolt at Hugues’ assailant who headed toward the frightened Anna with purpose. The missile flew true, catching that man in the back so that he staggered forward. He turned to look back even as the blood flowed down his chest, then dropped to his knees. Anna was screaming with all her might.
Ramsay had a heartbeat to feel triumphant, then his reins were seized from his very hands. He turned to find that Rufus rode alongside him on his immediate left. That man smiled, then raised his fist. “Farewell, Ramsay MacLaren,” he said through his gritted teeth. “You will vex me no more.”
Then he punched Ramsay in the face, his blow so hard that Ramsay was driven from the saddle. He tumbled to the ground, striking his head as he fell, but struggled to rise to his knees before Rufus circled around to attack again.
He had to defend Evangeline!
He could hear Foudre neigh, but could not spy the steed. All spun around him though from the force of the blow. He knew he staggered like a drunkard, though he strove to locate Rufus. He lifted his crossbow, determined to fight to the end.
The man was behind him. Ramsay realized as much just before Rufus struck him hard from the back. Aye, the blow was weighty, perhaps from the pommel of a sword instead of a fist.
This time when Ramsay fell, he could not stand again.
