Silver Flame. Hannah Howell

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      Sine Catriona was confused when she suddenly found herself awake. It was not yet dawn and all appeared quiet. Without moving from Farthing’s light hold, she looked around her. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of a stealthy movement in the shadows at the edge of camp. Struggling to maintain the air of one still asleep, she worked to covertly wake Farthing. With every muscle tensed, she found it difficult to feign the languid motions of one asleep.

      “Thieves creep our way, Farthing,” she whispered.

      “Curse it. I had prayed for a quiet night,” he muttered as he slid his hand toward his sword. “Turn on your side. When I give the cry, rush to the twins and have your dagger at the ready.”

      Still struggling to act like one asleep but restless, she turned again. Seeing the shadows edging toward them, she decided they must have bedded down in a large nest of cutthroats. The treacherous vagabonds had been unable to resist temptation.

      Even though they were creeping up on a sleeping camp, the presence of five men should have deterred them. The thieves were either desperate or numerous enough to feel secure even if a battle developed. Neither circumstance boded well for her or her companions.

      Unable to resist, she stared across the waning fire at Sir Gamel, only to find him staring at her. She carefully mouthed Thieves, praying that the ones creeping toward the camp did not see her. To her intense relief she did not have to repeat the risky gesture. Sir Gamel’s subtle movements told her he had understood. Now there would be at least one other full grown man armed and ready.

      “Now!” Farthing called, and she bolted.

      She was nearly at the twins’ sides as Farthing and Gamel leapt to their feet, their swords readied to greet the rush of the cutthroats. Their cries and those of their foes quickly roused the others. Sine Catriona was amazed at how speedily Sir Gamel’s companions came alert and joined the battle.

      “Up that tree,” she ordered the two drowsy boys.

      “But…” Dane began to protest while he helped Ree onto the lowest branch.

      “Nay. Up the tree. Quickly.”

      The moment the twins were safely out of reach she took up a defensive stance at the base of the trunk, unsheathing her dagger and holding it at the ready. It was not the best of weapons, but it would cause any attacker to hesitate. She fought to keep herself alert for any threat to herself or the twins, struggled against becoming too fascinated by the battle raging around her.

      It was a fierce fight. The thieves had the advantage of larger numbers, but she found some ease for her fears in the display of skill shown by her allies. It far surpassed that of the outlaws. Within moments she detected a definite waning of enthusiasm amongst the band of rogues as their ranks were ruthlessly culled.

      Suddenly there loomed before her the biggest, hairiest man she had ever seen. He was so ugly, so filthy, that he did not need the sword he held to look fearsome, nor the leer that revealed his rotting teeth. Against such a man her dagger was only a toy. Nevertheless, she held her ground, wielding her weapon with every intention of using it if she was forced to do so. She knew from the look on his repulsive face that killing her was not, at the moment, foremost in his mind.

      He drew nearer, backing her up against the tree trunk. Just as she tensed to make a desperate strike, the twins dropped from the tree and landed on the man. She watched in horror as, with a deafening bellow, he flung the two small boys aside. They sprawled upon the ground and did not rise in the brief moment she could spare to look their way.

      “Mine,” he said as he reached for her.

      Sine Catriona barely eluded his large grasp with a move that held as much luck as skill. “Nay, swine. Never yours.”

      “Aye, wench—mine.”

      Unnerved by the stalking giant, Sine Catriona threw her dagger. Her usually excellent aim was off due to her increasing fear. Instead of burying itself deep in his heart as she had intended it to do, the dagger landed in the fleshy part of one massive upper arm. He gave out a thundering cry and lunged for her. She suspected her scream was just as loud when he grabbed her and tucked her beneath one thick arm.