Battle

EMRICK

Kerri and I walked to our tent in silence. For now, she looked to be at peace but I knew better. She was alert. I noticed it in the way she cocked her head this way and that as if listening to something. We entered our tent and I secured the door flap. We removed our armor but not our clothes, just in case. We crashed together onto the makeshift pallet on the floor.

I was a seasoned warrior with Gods knew how many kills under my belt. But with one touch, she soothed the wildest parts of me and enhanced them all at the same time. Making me feel more powerful than I ever imagined I could be.

We made love, slowly and quietly and I felt the bond between us deepen as we loved each other for what hopefully would not turn out to be the last time.

KERRIENNE

The camp came to life in the early hours of dawn. When Emrick and I stepped out of our tent, the men were getting ready, strapping on weapons and whatnots to their person. He was about to walk towards Lars for last minute preparations, when he turned back suddenly, taking my face in his hands, he growled at me. “Use whatever means necessary to stay alive. Do you hear me?”

I pulled his lips down to mine. You do the same. I said through our mate bond. He nodded once and went to gather up the men.

The horses trotted at a brisk pace, making good time. Scota, still the size of a house cat, flew over our heads, keeping out of sight. Now that I knew Alastair was using magic, it explained a few things. Like how he’s been keeping his people in check, most likely by terrifying the living daylights out of them.

As we neared the castle, a tingling sensation of imminent danger worked its way up my spine right before a fissure appeared ahead but before I could sound a warning, we found ourselves back on the beach where we’d first landed, facing Alastair’s men. All hell broke loose as the fighting started.

Blood was flying everywhere and I could feel my men losing, not because they weren’t great fighters but because Alastair was using magic to drain and weaken them.

I switched my sword from my right hand to my left, and knelt in the sand. Laying my right palm flat on the sand I whispered an incantation. “Goddess above hear my plea, return the strength that was stolen from us. Let it remain within our core, and allow no more to be taken again.”

All the men stood straighter as their strength returned, the fighting turning in our favor, but the damage was already done. We’d lost more men than Alastair.

EMRICK

As our men clashed with Alastair’s, I made sure to keep an eye on Kerrienne, but it wasn’t always easy. Alastair had more men then we did. It seemed that for every man I cut down, two more would take his place. My heart pounded as blood rushed to my ears.

I felt a sudden drain in my energy and my eyes lost their red hue. I wobbled, almost losing my footing. My opponent took advantage and attacked with more force. It took every last drop of self control I possessed to keep fighting as I felt my body grow weaker. All my years of training were coming in handy now. From the corner of my eye, I saw Kerrienne kneel and place a hand on the ground. I saw her lips move as she spoke words that were lost in the sound of the battle raging all around me.

Then I felt my strength returning. I smirked as I went after my opponent with renewed vigor. I felt my eyes turn red once again then my body was no longer mine to control. I weaved in and out, moving with lightning speed, cutting off an arm here, a leg there. From my peripheral, I saw Scota breathing fire into some faces and taking bites out of others. I laughed as I continued to zip in out of the men, evening the odds even more in our favor.

LARS

Everything was going fine until unnatural weakness invaded my limbs. One minute I was holding my own then the next I was as weak as a newborn babe, my limbs heavy with fatigue.

I noticed the men around me were looking a bit worn as well, but Alastair’s men seemed to be doing just fine. My thoughts turned to Sarah. If I die here today she’ll never know the extent of my feelings for her. Hell I barely knew how I felt about her. I kept my distance because Emrick was like a brother to me and Sarah by extension, family. But who was I kidding?

I’ve watched her flourish into an amazing young woman and she has wormed her way into my heart. I slipped in the sand and almost lost my head. I blocked another swing from taking my head off. The blow glanced off my blade and bit into my left shoulder.

Good thing I’m right handed. I groaned as the pain in my shoulder stung. Only my years of training by Emrick’s side kept me fighting even as more weakness continued to invade my body, making me slow to react.

The thought of seeing Sarah’s smile kept me from giving up. I felt my strength return and breathed a sigh of relief and fought harder for one more day, one more chance at living a full life. A life with Sarah, if she’ll have me.

MORGAN MCKAY

As I fought alongside my men and my son in law’s men, I couldn’t help but reflect on the last couple of days. My wife told me on her deathbed that our child would grow up to be a force to be reckoned with but who could have predicted this. Then Conmael showed up out of thin air. Literally. Resurrecting a long forgotten memory. I’ve met him before but the circumstances continued to elude me.

Kerrienne was powerful beyond words and seemed only to be getting more powerful by the day. We got to these shores in a matter of hours instead of days. And she was doing and saying things that baffled me.

I’ve kept my strength up throughout the years but fighting alongside Emrick and his men was leaving me a tad breathless. These men fought with brute strength and cunning. They tore through the enemy like a warm knife through butter, they were ruthless in their pursuit to keep their families safe, our families.

And my daughter, my baby girl was not only holding her own alongside these men, she was the glue keeping them together. I was proud to be her father and if I die here, she’ll never know it. I fought harder even as weakness invaded my body.