“Seven,” I moaned, with one hand pressed to my chest to help counter the painful pounding.
Seamus twisted in his seat to look back at the route we’d traveled through town. “Best we find some soldiers to break it up. Your lad may be fined for making a public disturbance, but that’s far better than dead.”
“Oh, he’s not going to die.” I gathered my skirts close to scamper over the side of the cart.
“Don’t you be thinking o’ joining them.” Seamus made a grab for my arm. I scooted out of reach, dropping over the rail with Ailish alongside me. The moment our feet hit the cobbles, we were off running toward the altercation.
“Come back here, the both o’ you!” he hollered. “It’s too dangerous!”
I didn’t even glance back, though there was little chance he would remain in the cart while we ran headfirst into trouble. We weaved through a loose wall of coats, cloaks and tricorn hats. A few feet in, the wall of spectators grew tighter and more difficult to maneuver from those jostling for a better view.
“Pardon me,” I bit out, while attempting to shove between two men. So enraptured with the fight, they didn’t notice my pointed nudges.
Steel clanged loudly. Jerking my eyes forward, I bobbed on my toes in an attempt to catch a glimpse of what was happening. The spectators loomed too high, and I could see nothing but sky and rooftops over their shoulders.
A swordsman shouted an angry curse. Henry retorted, though I failed to capture his words through the din.
Damnation! Frustrated and scared beyond reason, I dug an elbow into one man’s ribs. “Get out of my way!”
He grunted in surprise and stumbled aside. “Watch yourself—” he started, but I was already moving forward, throwing elbows wherever needed to get past. I finally pushed through to the front of the crowd. One look at Henry, and I stopped short from the way his green eyes blazed and the smile that sat upon his mouth. Blast it all, he’s enjoying this!
A sword came crashing down at him. I yelped in fear, but Henry didn’t even look before thrusting his own blade out to block the blow. With the other hand, he fisted the attacker’s waistcoat and yanked him forward until they were nearly nose to nose.
While I had a decent view of Henry’s face, the other man stood with his back to the crowd, leaving me to stare daggers at his black woolen coat and mass of dark hair tied at his nape. The other six fighters fanned out in a semicircle along the perimeter, one stopping directly in front of me to await an opportunity to strike. I edged around him, coming to within yards of the main fight. Brigid’s fire flowed to my fingertips as I gauged the seconds it would take to cover the remaining distance.
Sweat glistened on Henry’s forehead from the physical exertion, but his amused expression didn’t waver a bit as he spoke to his opponent. I strained my ears, and managed to catch a few words for the effort. “...differences aside...make peace...”
The dark-haired man spat on the ground. “That’s for your peace. I’ll kill you first, and then I’ll kill her for meddling with a damned Englishman.”
Several people openly cheered the harsh words. In a heartbeat, Henry’s smile tightened to an angry line and his eyes thinned to narrow slits. Blistering anger rolled off of him. “Lay a hand on her, and it’ll be the last thing you ever do.” With a hard shove, he sent the man stumbling backward into two of his companions.
I stared at Henry, willing him to notice me in the midst of so many other faces. But his furious gaze never strayed from the dark-haired man, who struggled to push away from the tangle of limbs and swords. Righting himself, he gave a savage cry and charged forward in another attack, sword swinging like a madman.
Pure terror tore through me, and I lurched toward Henry when the swordsman behind me grabbed hold of my waist.
“Get back here,” he snarled.
I didn’t even look around before thrusting a hand back to release a small river of fire into the first thing I touched. My captor’s grip slackened and he slumped to the ground.
Ready to move again, I froze mid-step, my eyes widening at the sight of a sword slicing a deadly arc straight for Henry’s neck. I gasped just as he twisted to the side, his own blade swinging in a blur of silver. Nothing stopped the graceful movement, not even the other man’s sword when the blades met between them. Or should have met. Expecting the clash of steel, I blinked in confusion from what appeared to be an impossible miss.
Silence reigned for a single pulse. Then a horrible scream collided with the clang of metal against the cobbles. Henry stood unscathed, and I exhaled in relief as the dark-haired man sank to his knees. His sword was gone, and understanding came to me from the sight of the blood dripping from the stump that now hung limply at his side. He swayed on the verge of collapse when several men rushed to drag him to safety.