Slipping through the trees and shadows as silently as his cousins, Brian struggled to firmly leash his fear for Arianna. Cold blood and a clear head were needed to successfully rout an enemy. It was even more important when rescuing someone, for unthinking, blind rage could easily get the captive one was trying to rescue killed instead of freed. Brian silently swore to himself that, even if they did not get Lucette and all his men this time, he would be satisfied by simply freeing Arianna. He could make the ones who hurt her pay dearly later.
Sigimor halted and grabbed Brian by the arm when he stepped up next to him. A heartbeat later Brian understood why his cousin felt there was a need to restrain him. Arianna was on her hands and knees, struggling to stand up. Lucette stood over her, his hands clenched into fists as his men argued with him. Brian did not need to see bruises or blood to know that Arianna was hurt. It was clear in the way she moved. He clutched his sword so tightly the carvings on the hilt dug into his hand as he fought to maintain the cold calm he needed now.
“The lass ought to just stay down,” whispered Sigimor as he signaled his men to begin encircling Lucette and his men. “I think it best if ye and I run straight for her as all the others are verra close to the horses. They see us coming for them and they will try to run. We want to be verra sure that they dinnae take your lass with them.”
Brian forced himself to study Lucette’s men. They were all close to the horses. He wondered if they were thinking of deserting Lucette as Sir Anton had done.
Looking at Arianna again, Brian trembled from the strain of fighting the urge to immediately race toward Lucette and cut the man down. She was conscious. If she knew they were about to rescue her she might be able to do something to help them keep her out of Lucette’s hands until they could free her. Watching her struggle, knowing she was hurting, made waiting to act a pure torture for him.
“If she turns to face us,” Brian whispered to Sigimor, “I will show myself. I believe all eyes will be on her then, too.”
“Ah, and then she might be able to keep herself from being grabbed.” Sigimor nodded and pulled a dagger from the sheath at his hip. “Then we only need to be close enough to hurl one of these at anyone who tries to take her when they all bolt for their horses.”
“Aye, which they will do the moment they see us, curse their eyes. I doubt they will stand and fight.”
“Getting your lass away from them is all that is important now.”
“I ken it. Your men are ready?”
“Aye, they but await my signal.”
Recalling that Sigimor’s signal was a battle cry that could shake the walls of any keep, Brian almost smiled. He crouched beside Sigimor watching Arianna struggle and trying to will her to her feet facing his way. If she did not see him when he stood up, he would not hesitate to yell at her to run. His heart broke when she finally got to her feet and lifted her head. Her pretty face was battered and bleeding.
He stood up, Sigimor rising to his feet at his side. Arianna’s eyes looked swollen and he feared she could not see him. Brian glanced at Sigimor and his cousin nodded.
“Run, Arianna!” he yelled, and a heartbeat later Sigimor bellowed out his war cry.
To Brian’s relief Arianna lurched away from Lucette. Lucette started to go after her but then jerked to a halt when Sigimor’s cry tore through the air. The man stared at Brian and Sigimor in horror and then bolted for the horses his men were already scrambling to mount. Brian started after Lucette but knew he would never catch the man. He drew his knife and hurled it. A scream erupted from Lucette as the blade buried itself deep into the man’s shoulder, but fear gave the man the strength to still mount his horse and gallop away.
Brian turned away from the confusing melee and hurried toward Arianna. She had not gone far before collapsing on the ground. She was just struggling to get up again when he reached her side.
Arianna cursed her weakness as she fought to get back on her feet. All around her she could hear the sound of running feet and then the pounding of horses galloping away. There were only a few cries of pain and a brief moment of the ringing of steel upon steel. The sound of Brian’s voice telling her to run had been the sweetest sound she had ever heard, but that had not been enough to give her the strength to go very far. She could only hope that she had gotten herself far enough not to hinder what sounded like the rescue she had been praying for.
Out of the corner of her swollen eyes she saw hands reaching for her and tried to crawl away.
“Arianna, ’tis I. Brian.”
She stopped and clumsily sat down. “Brian?”
“Aye, love.”
“Are they gone? Did ye kill him?”
“Nay, I fear Lucette escaped but he rode away with my dagger buried deep in his shoulder. Unless he suffers a putrefaction of the wound, however, it wasnae a mortal blow.”
“Ah, weel, at least it will hurt him.”