It was a pivotal moment. Would the de Shera army listen to the earl? Or had they been too conditioned by his greedy brothers? Very slowly, the fighting began to ease back as the deShera soldiers, confused and even perturbed, ground to a halt only to see Atilius de Shera lying face-down near the door to the tavern, Fabius de Shera lying in a pool of his own blood in the middle of the kitchen yard, and Tatius de Shera actually giving the commands.
The earl was the only one left to give orders.
That seemed to be enough of a factor to bring them to a complete halt.
It was a tense, terrible moment as far as Kress was concerned, but one of relief when he realized the de Shera soldiers were actually listening to Tatius. Kress then dared to look around the yard to see where his comrades were and he could see Achilles over by the stables along with Bric. Both men were beaten and bloodied, but there were more than their fair share of bodies around them. Alexander was near the boiling cauldron of water with his hand around a man’s throat. Even though Tatius had commanded his men to cease, Alexander wasn’t willing to let go, not yet. But it was the sight of the last warrior that had Kress moving.
Susanna was down.
“Christ,” he muttered.
He rushed towards the woman as she lay on the ground near the alleyway to the north, where the first wave of men had entered. When Achilles happened to see what Kress saw, he bolted in that direction, as well.
Around them, the de Shera soldiers were starting to disband because Tatius shouted at them again, all but ignoring the four knights and one lady warrior they’d been battling against. Kress reached Susanna’s side a split-second before Achilles did.
“Susanna,” Kress said, looking her over and seeing a bloom of blood down by her right groin. “We’ll get you inside, lass. We’ll find a physic.”
Susanna was ghostly pale as she looked up at Kress. “Nay,” she insisted hoarsely, reaching up to grab the neck of his tunic. “Find… Cadie. She must be protected at all costs.”
Kress nodded quickly, looking to Achilles and shocked to see that the man was distraught as he looked down at Susanna.
“Oh… Sparks,” Achilles said, deeply grieved. “Come with me, lass. I will make sure you are healed, I swear it. ’Twill be all right.”
Kress could see, in that instant, that the hateful relationship Achilles had with Susanna in the beginning of their association was something that was long gone. It had been replaced by something warm and caring; he could see it in Achilles’ expression. He felt rather stupid for not having realized it sooner, but he’d been preoccupied with his own romantic intentions. He watched as Achilles bent over and scooped Susanna into his arms, holding her tenderly against his chest as he headed back towards the tavern.
As Achilles headed off, Kress turned to Alexander.
“I must go after Cadelyn,” he said. “Can you hold the line here? I have a feeling this peace is tremulous at best, especially with the Welsh involved. They may try to follow.”
Alexander nodded swiftly. “Go,” he commanded quietly. “Get the lady out of here. Send word when you settle.”
“I will,” Kress said. Then, he paused, a flicker of warmth coming to his eyes. “Sherry… there are not words to express what you mean to me or the gratitude I feel. Tell The Marshal… tell him that Cadie is safe and that she is with me, and that I shall love her for the rest of my life. That will not be what he wishes to hear, but when you tell him everything, I know he will understand. He is not unreasonable.”
Alexander put a gloved hand to Kress’ cheek. “You think so, do you?” he said, grinning wearily. “I said send word when you settle, but I did not say tell uswhereyou are. It is better if youdon’t. Be safe, my friend, and take great care. If you ever need me, I shall come.”
Kress squeezed Alexander’s arm, feeling deeply emotional at that moment. He and Alexander had been through a great deal together, for many years. But at this moment, the situation seemed so very final. Perhaps he would see Alexander and Achilles and his other friends again, or perhaps not. But at the moment, it seemed like a small price to pay in order to keep the woman he loved safe. Dropping his hand from Alexander, he reached out to affectionately smack Bric on the shoulder before rushing to the stables and confiscating the first horse he came across.
When Kress disappeared from sight, Alexander and Bric retreated back into the tavern, following Achilles’ trail and leaving Tatius in the kitchen yard with his dead brothers, a confused army, and a renewed sense of control.
Hewasthe earl, after all.
When Nesta and her Welshmen came into the kitchen yard shortly thereafter to see what had transpired, the sight of the bodies of Atilius and Fabius caused her and her cohorts to pause in confusion. But that confusion didn’t last long. Realizing everything they’d hoped for had been compromised with the shocking deaths of Atilius and Fabius, the unexpected sight of Tatius back in control of his army was enough to send the Welsh running.
They didn’t get very far, however.
Reinforcements had arrived.
Christopher de Lohr and the incoming de Lohr light brigade, with Antoninus de Shera riding proudly alongside the earl, were just approaching the south side of town when they stumbled upon a panicked lady astride a muscular charger that was far too much horse for her. When she sobbingly told the tale of five Marshal knights in a life-or-death battle behind The Crownand Anchor Inn, Christopher made haste to send his mounted cavalry into town just as the Welsh were fleeing.
As a result, Nesta and about half of her men were captured. And Kress, chasing after Cadelyn astride an old horse that hadn’t much speed, or much of anything else, was met by Christopher and Antoninus as he exited the city limits. Reunited with Cadelyn in joy and relief, he felt comfortable enough to take the time to tell Christopher what had happened and the situation with Cadelyn’s life.
But he didn’t wait around for de Lohr’s advice or approval. He had no time for such things as the sense of urgency was clawing at him. The sooner he put distance between Cadelyn and the Welsh, the better. Directing Christopher to speak directly to Tatius de Shera, who was still in the kitchen yard behind The Crown and Anchor Inn, Kress mounted Samson and hastily departed.
With the lady holding on tightly behind him, Kress tore off to the south, making way southeast to a main road that would take them north, straight up through Lancashire, up through Cumbria, and on into Scotland. Freedom was up there– freedom from those intent on hurting Cadelyn. But most of all, freedom and safety for Kress and Cadelyn to start their new life together. As far as they were concerned, Scotland was the best possible place they could be.
And Goliath followed them all the way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
