Page 19 (1/2)

Byrne felt the same Whatever their lot as vrykolakas, they were still Scots

Byrne sent most of his men into the forest as the Brus had directed There they would protect their human allies while the trees protected them from the worst of the sun On the other side of the river, Locksley had risen to co that he would use the Edward

All that was left for Byrne was to ride out against the cavalry when they tried to flank the Scots, and let loose his personal derown soft over the years, and had forgotten the lessons their ancient warrior fathers had taught them

Byrne was happy to reacquaint the his affliction bestowed upon him was to wipe away his n And so it hen the thing was done, he found hi alone, his horse and weapons soaked with the blood of the fallen He would have entered the forest, where histhe misled archers, but he spotted his colors left planted but unattended in a pasture He veered toward the to carry the violet-and-white standard with hin of his own victory

The surass, so he did not notice the patches of dead turf fitted together, or what they covered His horse had plunged wildly as his forelegs crashed through the pit trap’s deceptive roof, and Byrne was thrown over his head to smash down onto stout, sharpened stakes tipped with copper

Byrne lay impaled and trampled from the horse’s efforts to escape He had already suffered dozens of wounds during the fray with the cavalry that had healed over, but the blood he lost had sapped his strength Now more blood pumped fro until the stakes were pulled out or Byrne died

Hehis chest That one was stuck fast, and he grew too weak to do more than loosen it

Byrne knew the pasture lay too far from the battlefield for anyone to spot the pit His men had a healthy respect for his affliction, and would not search for hihtfall Whoever laid the trap knehat he was and how to hurt hioing to die here, alone and forgotten He accepted that, and listened for the sound of footsteps He kept one stake curled in his hand If he were to die, perhaps he could take his killer with hihtened Not his killer but a girl, perhaps froh he could not see her for the sun in his eyes, he heard her steps change with her direction, and a prayer lish

He called to her in the saue: "Dinnae leave me alone here, lass"

A cloud passed over the sun even as the narrow shadow appeared above hi over her dark, tangled hair She had washed recently with strong lye soap, but it could not erase her own scent, like kitchen herbs growing tangled a meadoeet in the sun

"I cannot free myself" He held out a hand that shook violently with the effort "Will you help irl would not save a dying Scots his kind slay hers

She reached down and took his hand, but did notto pull him up Instead she used it to cli, silky hair touched his face, tickling his cheek and nose The girl pulled up her skirts and straddled hiht on her knees on either side of hi and stricken, and felt the cautious touch of her hands around the stake protruding froazefrom his tartan to his face

"Aye" Byrne saw heaven in her eyes "Soon, I think" He groaned as she tried to grasp the bloodied shaft, her fingers slipping

Byrne couldn’t feel his lirown so cold, and he put his hand over hers He had no s sighed out his last breath He would go, if only she would hold his hand

She did soripping it and his hand tightly "Father in heaven, too ht for their lives I beg you, spare this onein his head as the lass somehorenched the stake out of his body She cried out at the great gush of blood that soaked both of theainst the wound

Her eyes, dark and filled with tears, were but a whisper froive me, my lord I have killed you"

"I will live," hea bloodstained hand to her hair "What is your name, child?"

"Jayr" She frowned "I aore and filth all over hih scent to seduce her into cooperating Nor did he care to "Jayr, you ain, or I will die"

She reared back "I will fetch a doctor--"