A volley of arrows flew from the wall walk, but Cain had his steel-coated targe, his gaze on Ella by the wall under several archers peering down the granite blocks. His shield before him, Cain scooped up his sword, running to pull Hannah from Hew’s twitching body. She sobbed as he shielded her. His brothers ran forward with their swords to stop the two guards running out of the archway. Cain raised his fist, and the silence behind him broke into a roar as their four armies charged forward.

Flat against the wall, Ella held a thin buckler shield over her head. It would be completely ineffective against a crossbow shooting down at her.

“Cover Hannah!” Cain yelled to both of his brothers. As Bàs ran up before them, Cain lunged toward the wall, his boots eating up the distance. He gave three sharp whistles and Seraph ran the other way, out of the line of fire. The full force of the Sinclair armies was hurtling down the slope toward Varrich Castle. Three more Mackays ran out of the gates to swing at Cain.

Ella pierced one with an arrow, and he dropped to the ground as Cain met the downward strike of another guard. He must dispatch them quickly to get to Ella. Meeting the narrowed eyes of the large Mackay warrior, Cain yelled the biblical words his father had quoted daily to him, his lips pulled back in a raving snarl.

“I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” The man’s eyes widened, and his fear cost him strength. Cain pushed him back and impaled him on the end of his mighty sword.

Cain ducked, yanking his sword free to spin in time to slice the arm of the second Mackay clean off. He dropped to the ground, screaming, as Cain ran to Ella. He slid against the wall and angled his own thick targe over them. “What the bloody hell are ye doing here and with a foking puny shield?” he yelled, anger and worry pounding through him.

“It was the only one I could carry with my bow,” she shot back. Arrows flew down to pierce the earth around them as the Mackays took aim straight down the wall.

“Run with me,” Cain ordered, taking her upper arm. But he didn’t have to tug as she hurtled forward from the wall toward his line of seated cavalry. It was easily four hundred against the fifty who could fit along the wall walk. Would other Mackays run in from the village behind? So far none had shown up to defend their chief and castle.