She smiled. "We will win, already their forces are failing. Come; let's get the rest of their archers."
The two men beside her grinned.
"As you command, my lady," Edgar said.
In unison, they rose, nocking arrows and preparing to fire. Mere seconds passed before they let loose the quills. All three made contact. Before Gillian could take satisfaction in their success, she spotted her husband.
With sure-footedness, he toyed with his opponent, finally striking with deadly accuracy. The outlaw fell, his howl of agony reaching Gillian's ears over the din. In seconds, the man had been replaced by one of his comrades. Royce easily dispatched him, then turned to face yet another rebel.
With horror, Gillian spotted a second man approaching her husband from behind. She pulled out another arrow, readied it and aimed.
***
With one fluid movement, Royce dispatched his opponent. Some warning sounded in his head. He tried toignore it, ready to face the next rebel. Despite his efforts, his gaze lifted to the ramparts.
A wild cacophony of thoughts exploded. Anger took precedence. Anger that he'd been such a fool. Her longbow aimed right at him.Jesu, she meant to kill him! With a muttered curse, he wished he hadn't foregone his helm.
Before he could blink, she dispatched the arrow. A ripple of air caressed his neck, the arrow flying past on a mere breath. A strangled scream from behind made him turn. He stared in amazement at the Welshman, inches away, sword still raised to strike. The arrow in his throat seemed to hold him upright for a few moments before he collapsed to the ground.
Royce spun back around, gaping at his wife, peering down from the ramparts. For a few moments, he almost forgot the raging battle. She hadn't killed him, she'd saved his life! Unable to fully comprehend her actions, he merely stared, a strange combination of shock and awe coursing through him.
As quickly as surprise and gratitude stole his breath, anger returned, renewing his strength. What the devil was she doing up there? She had disobeyed him yet again. She would get herself killed!
"Get away from there!"
His shout barely carried over the din. He lifted his sword to parry a thrust from an oncoming rebel and dispatched the man before turning his attention briefly back to his wife.
"Had I not been here, my lord, you would now be dead," she called.
He barely heard amid the chaos of the battle. God's bones, she would be the death of him yet. Catching sight of a path to the keep, he ran toward it, pushing himself through the melee. He barely had time to slash out at a few who dared try to stop him. They never attacked a second time.
He paused to see if she still stood up there. She did. An arrow skimmed past her and she ducked behind the wall.His heart seemed to stop beating until she reappeared, another arrow ready and aimed. From the corner of his eye, Royce saw one of the rebels pointing his bow at Gillian. Once more, she disappeared behind the wall as the archer fired, only to get back up and return the volley. Her arrow struck the rebel, and she nocked yet another quill before he hit the ground.
Heart pounding, Royce saw Burke near the castle steps, engaged in combat. He pushed past them at the very moment Burke sent the rebel hurtling down the steps.
"Gillian is atop the ramparts. Keep them from gaining the keep."
Burke nodded. Royce pounded on the doors. At least his wife had the sense to bar them. He barely heard the steward's response, but his shouts had been sufficient. He pushed past the man the moment the door opened wide enough for him to pass through. He wasted no time heading up the stairs, Thomas on his heels. How in the devil had she gotten up there?
"There is a door in her chamber, my lord." Thomas urged him to follow.
When he entered his wife's former chamber, he saw the tapestry pulled away and the door open.
"It leads both to the ramparts and to escape tunnels below," the steward explained.
Royce's head spun. How had he not known this? Why did his wife insist on keeping secrets? What other secrets did she have?
"Thank you. I will be bringing my wife down, and I want her secured in our chamber. Are there any hidden doors or passages I should know of?"
Thomas shook his head. "Nay, my lord. I possess all the keys."
"Lady Gillian?"
"She has most as well, but not all."
"I want her locked in so she cannot get out. Do you understand?"
The gangly man paled and nodded.
