What was my wee wildcat thinking now as she watched my men—beasts, she likely considered them—heading for the smelter?
Deep in my chest, myKteerrumbled, and as Maardok prodded at my wound, my brows raised in speculation. MyKteer, that primitive side of me which kept me alive, had been strangely quiet since my wildcat had attacked. Was it because I’d been in no real danger? That wasn’t true—she knew how to wield a sword as well as some of my warriors.
“There.”
My brother tied off a bandage, too tightly. “Ye’ll no’ bleed to death onmywatch,D’malk. Issa would never forgive me.”
Our sister was a force to be reckoned with, and since she’d been breeding, her temper was even shorter. I pushed Maardok away with a shake of my head.
“I’m fine. I barely felt it.”
Even now, my shoulder merely ached as I pressed my elbow against my side and hefted my ax.
“Take my weapons back to the birlinn, then meet me in the village square.”
Maardok looked at me skeptically.
“Ye’re going totalkto them?”
I wondered if my wee warrior would be among those gathered, and how she would respond to me. I bent to scoop up her dagger—still bloody—which I slid into my boot, and her sword. I jammed her larger blade into my belt and sent my brother a grin.
His worry slowly turned to chuckles, and he shook his head as he hefted my shield.
“Talking? Nay, ye’re going after that wildcat.”
“Ye ken me well.”
Still chuckling, Maardok turned toward the shore.
“Dinnae misjudge her, brother. She is dangerous.”
Aye. My lips twitched.
But what was life without a little danger?
Rowena
My heart thuddedin my chest as I backed away from the scowls—and swords—of the fierce sea raiders. After our defeat, they’d gathered us here in the village center, a loose clump of wounded and terrified humans, as the rest of the orcs tore through our stores and supplies.
Everyone knew what these beasts did to settlements they raided, and for the first time, I wished I’d chosen a village nearer to a defensible castle.
Nay, you wanted to prove your worth.
And I had. Or at least, I would have, had that monster I’d chosen to do battle with not been twice my size and lacked the courtesy to fall back when I’d cut him.
Reminded of that meager victory, I tightened the muscles of my jaw and wrapped my fingers around the leather of my belt, wishing I still had my blade. ‘Twould make me feel better to hold it, but that beast had ripped it from my hands when I’d plunged it into his flesh.
Would he remember ‘twasmewho had wounded him? Would he or his brethren break me for that? Well, I could take pain.
Could I not?
Scowling, I faced our enemy once more.
Aye. Aye, I could.
They would not findmesuch an easy defeat.
Whispering started, though I didn’t understand it. Not until two of the monsters stepped aside to allow a third to step into the firelight.
