Her gaze was riveted on the fearsome warrior leading the lightning charge. There was something …
A whisper of awareness slid down her spine. He was virtually unrecognizable, but sheknewhim. Her husband had come for her.
The English didn’t know what to do. The soldiers stood there stunned, as Christina, mindful of the danger, slid out of the way of the charging warriors. She’d barely taken a few steps before pandemonium exploded around them—literally.
A series of loud booms shattered the night, horrible sounds that struck terror in their wake. She’d never heard anything like it. It sounded like thunder and lightning, but the sky was perfectly clear.
She heard the whiz of arrows fired over her head, and the four soldiers guarding the gate fell in quick succession. A moment later a warrior with a bow slung over his back jumped from the stable roof, the gate was opened, the drawbridge was down, and more of her husband’s men were storming into the chaotic bailey.
Men were running everywhere, pouring out of the barracks and tower house above to see what was happening. Tor and his warriors fought like men possessed, cutting down all who stood in their path. The speed and ferocity of the attack was incredible. The stunned Englishmen didn’t stand a chance.
Christina saw the cruel captain who’d killed Tor’s men and captured her nearly cut in two by one powerful slash of her husband’s great sword.
She turned away, having no stomach for death even when it was warranted.
The sky lit up as fires broke out all around them. Animals joined the human menagerie looking for escape. She was very nearly trampled by a horse, but a firm hand plucked her out of harm’s way.
Tor. Before she could throw herself into his arms, he spun her to the side and with one hand hacked down a soldier who’d come up behind her.
But the chaos was dying down. Her husband and his men had already dispatched most of the soldiers in the bailey. A new wave of Englishmen tried to storm down the stairs from the tower house above, but as they crossed the bridge over the ditch, Tor’s men were waiting to cut them down one by one. Realizing what was happening, someone—probably Lord Seagrave—gave the order to retreat to the tower house. The men outside were left to their fate as the door to the peel closed behind them.
Christina threw her arms around her husband, burying her face against his chest, too relieved to care about the mud and grime covering him. “I wasn’t sure you’d come in time.”
He pulled her back, cupped her chin in his gauntleted hand, and gave her a kiss that was so fierce and desperate it left her breathless and momentarily stunned. She dare not allow herself to hope.
Breaking the kiss, he looked into her eyes. “I feared I’d be too late. Are you all right?”
She nodded, and tears sprang to her eyes. One look at him and it was as if all the fear, horror, and despair that she’d bottled up over the past few days broke free in one torrential storm. “It was horrible. Your men,” she choked, “the boat … all … dead.”
His mouth was grim beneath the steel mask. “I know. Shush,” he said, calming her. “You will tell me everything later.” He tilted her face to the light and swore, seeing the bruises around her cheek and eye. “Who did this to you? I’ll kill him.”
“You already did,” she said, pointing to the captain.
“I need to get you out of here. Can you ride?”
She nodded, her throat too hot and tight to speak.
“Good. I have a man gathering horses outside the gate; I will take you to him. You will be safe until we are done here.”
He meant to take the tower house as well. With what the English had done to his men, she knew there would be no mercy. “There isn’t time. You must take me to the Earl of Carrick right away. I only pray that he is at Lochmaben.”
“Bruce? What do you need with him?”
She told him about the documents she’d read, not needing to explain the implications.
“You’re sure about this?”
She nodded. “The messengers must be stopped before they reach Edward.”
“Did you see them leave?”
“I think so. Two men rode out not long after the midday meal.”
“English?”
She nodded. “They will travel easier than Comyn’s men once they reach the border.”
“I’ll take care of the messengers.” He went over to one of the black-clad warriors and said something to him. The man gathered three more warriors, jumped on horses, and left.
