Page 51 of Warrior’s Lady

Chapter Fifteen

Camden smelled the smoke before he saw it. "Hurry," he shouted to his men. He dug his heels into his horse's sides, praying for even more speed.

In a surge of motion, both man and beast burst into the clearing. Camden drew his sword and cleaved through the warriors before him without slowing his stride. He had to reach her.

Rhiannon was trapped, flames licking at the wood at her feet. Yet her face was serene, accepting of her fate.

Damn her for not believing she deserved more. Camden charged forward, sword flashing. He knew his men were near, but he only had eyes for Rhiannon.

He did not let fear enter his thoughts, for it would slow him down. He had to reach Rhiannon before the flames consumed her. The world around him slowed. He lashed out, and the men who charged him fell.

He called her name, his throat raw with fury.

Her head snapped toward the sound of his voice. "Camden?"

Hope blossomed in that one simple word. She was still alive. For now.

Through a haze of smoke, he focused on his goal. He guided his horse behind her, away from the others, and dismounted. With a single swipe of his blade, he sliced through the bindings at her waist, wrists and ankles. Free of her bonds, she sagged, her knees failing her. The bottom of her dress caught fire.

The stench of burning cloth filled the air as he yanked her from the flames and smothered the fire. He scooped her up with one arm and held her against his chest. The scent of blood assaulted his senses. He forced the realities of battle aside and with a gentle hand loosened the binding over her eyes. The fabric slipped over her cheeks to settle at her neck.

"You came for me." Her faint voice held a touch of awe and gratitude. Her fingers wrapped around his bloodied sleeve. "Thank you."

"We are survivors, you and me." He reveled in the softness he saw in her eyes, grateful that she did not know the truth.

Camden's warriors emerged on the scene. All around them, the battle raged with the screech and clangor of steel, the grunts of men. Two warriors charged him, swords raised to strike. Camden quickly set Rhiannon on her feet and tucked her behind him. "Get behind the horse."

He hefted his sword.

At the sight of his long curved blade, the men paused, frightened momentarily by the unknown.

Camden took advantage of their confusion and charged. He lunged left, right, using his curved scimitar like a saber. A sharp cry told him he'd hit a target. A body thumped to the ground. The other man, a big one, snarled and made for him. Camden thrust forward, upward, sideways, blocking every blow.

The man heaved his weapon over his head and charged like a giant, ready to cleave Camden in two. But Camden easily spun away as the force of the man's blade came down to plow through the snow and earth instead.

Camden brought his boot down against the back of a leg, crumpling a man to the ground. Suffocating in the heavy smoke, the man hacked and coughed, then gained his feet.

Camden readied his sword. The hook of his blade sliced clean through the warriors arm, followed by an upswing of his weapon that sliced the man's throat, ending his agony.

In the next heartbeat, Camden turned to block the thrust of yet another warrior's blade, coming face to face with the assassin he'd hired. The world seemed to freeze as they stared at each other, swords locked at the hilt.

"You killed the blacksmith," Camden said past the ache in his sword arm. He blocked out the pain, fixing on his enemy.

"I'll kill whoever I please tae get what I want," the assassin said through his brown and pungent teeth.

"I released you from your obligation." Camden pulled his blade away.

The man's gaze shot to Rhiannon. "I work fer another."

Rhiannon's face appeared pale in the glow of the red, flickering light. Growing flames climbed the pole where she'd been staked.

Camden turned back to his newest enemy and raised his sword. "For Rhiannon," he said as fury propelled him forward. Kill him, kill him, his blood commanded for all the innocents he'd been unable to save. He would save Rhiannon. He would save Violet. He would save himself.

His blade plunged deep, straight through the killer's chest, delivering a death blow. The assassin's sword fell from his hand and he dropped to the ground, clutching the gaping wound.

Camden sheathed his sword and bent down beside the man. "God be with you—"

A hand groped his arm, dug nails into Camden's flesh. "Beware …" He tried to breath, only to choke on his own blood. "The bishop," the man warned before his body went limp and his eyes drifted back in his head.