Callum raised the dagger racing at the final who darted toward Kameron, about to engage the guard who was grappling with withdrawing his sword after losing the hammer.
Crack!Kameron’s hammer flew the air same as a whip, but it was his arm which moved so quickly. The hammer landed on the guard’s hand who had been fumbling with releasing his blade.
Nella. He needed one of these guards alive for her escape. Holger snapped the fourth’s neck whose singed hair stank the air. Brayden’s throat was being choked by the good hand left on the guard whose wrist he had broken.
“Brayden!” Callum called out. The fellow knight met his glance. With a flick from his wrist, the dagger flew the air and Brayden caught it. Before Brayden swiped the blade at his foe.
Holger was battling his sword-swinging foe with the torch he had ripped off the previous enemy as the pair danced in a fight for life. Kameron was trying to lay to waste the broken-handed guard with his hammer as the guard pulled out a dagger with his good hand.
The last guard who had entered, who Callum raced at, spun around after he had tossed the dagger for Brayden’s aid. It was the double dagger guard.
Double Dagger’s eyes narrowed with a twisted grin at finding Callum unarmed. “Sir Callum, you shall never leave this keep, and nor shall your lady.”You dare to threaten Nella?Hisfingers tightened into a heavier fist at his side as the enemy taunted. “I prefer the short blade, more cuts to be had. Will begin upon that pretty face first.”
Brayden and Kameron and Holger battled their enemies behind while Callum’s foe withdrew his dagger then charged. Arrogant. He should have drawn the sword instead. Double Dagger was leading with his left foot. The enemy would swipe the dagger left as well, per the force from natural weight.Steady. Steady. Lean low then shoulder him in the gut when he swipes the blade.
Whizz!The arrogant foe’s arm flew overhead from the left, the blade thrusting forward as anticipated. Why bring daggers to an obvious sword fight? Slamming his shoulder into Double Dagger’s gut, Callum took the guard’s breath at the force he unleashed.Go for his sheathed sword.He tore the long blade from the enemy’s scabbard.Done!
Pushing the guard backward, Callum dodged right at another swipe by the foe then stood. Double Dagger’s eyes bulged when he found a sword pointed at his nose. “Drop your dagger or your nose shall join the rats upon the floor,” Callum growled.Clank.
His eyes remained locked on the enemy as things grew silent with the exception of huffing breaths behind him.Victors?“Sir Brayden?”
“Aye!”
“Lord Kolson?”
“Present.”
“Kameron?”
A hammer covered in blood being twirled by the handle appeared from the corner of his gaze. “Aye, Sir Callum, told you. Best with a hammer in hand.”
Callum kept his stare at Double Dagger. “Then be so good as to remove the third dagger strapped around this one’sankle. Before we take our leave.” The guard’s eyes somehow grew wider by Callum’s find. “You shall show me where they have taken my lady, and perhaps I shall let you live if she is untouched. Move!”
Chapter 30
Where had Keithen’s sound signature emanated from? Nella closed her eyes.Scratch.The guard had taken his leave but Keithen continued to cast quill unto parchment. Three… No, perhaps four doors down from her own. Eastward. That was her old chamber, the one she had been forced to share with the cruel keeper’s sire. Not a single lass nor chamberlain nor torch tender from her times here were present. Keithen must have gotten rid of all of them before enacting this ill scheme.
“Nella?” Her head snapped up. Callum! The voice was a wisp as he summoned her carefully. “Nella, if you are harkening to my voice let your presence be known so I may seek you.”
Her eyes frantically darted about the barren chamber. There wasn’t anything she could shove under the chamber door. Bolting onto her feet, she ran for the secured oak door.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Her fingers began a rhythm in the tiniest way.
“Aye, my lady, I hear you,” Callum assured. She bit her lip to keep from crying out in relief as he advised, “Keep tapping.” Her hand shook by anticipation till feet shuffled directly outside her door. “I have you, my lady, please step away from the door.”
She leapt rearward with her hands clutching her cloak as her heart skipped faster than a stone across the water. “Unlock it.” Callum wasn’t talking to her.Clank. Clank. It had to bekeys by the one who was near Callum. How did her knight get someone to help them?
The hinges groaned as the oak released. That was how. There stood a guard glaring toward her with a dagger at his throat.
“My lady, shall we?” Callum whispered.
She nodded then paused. “Callum,” she murmured, “Keithen is but four chambers away. He has more planned for all ahead; however, it is written.”
“Written?”
“Aye, he must have known I was harkening, so he conversed with the guard upon parchment. Including” – she swallowed hard – “plans for Alec.”
Callum’s sweated brow furrowed. “Show me where, Nella.” She nodded, charging for the doorway. Her knight began dragging the captive guard down the passage.
