‘Now, here are my terms,’ Blackmane continued. ‘Your guards can either hand the lady over to me, or I can take her from them. For the sake of your men, I suggest the former.’

The heat from Hodge’s glare intensified. ‘You are grossly outnumbered, and you and I both know that if any harm comes to me at your hands, it will spell disaster for that little kingdom hiding behind its walls.’

Blackmane nodded slowly, then looked around at the guards. ‘Sorry, boys. It appears your fierce leader is prepared to sacrifice all of your lives in the name of love.’

A few tense moments passed before Hodge said, ‘Your time is up, defender.’

The guards reached for their weapons, but Blackmane had a knife in hand before any of their swords left their sheaths. He threw it, piercing the sword hand of the man closest him. A beat later, he had his bow loaded and pointed at the same man. ‘Stop now and you can all leave here alive.’

The men looked at the guard clutching his bleeding hand, then at Hodge.

‘Kill him,’ Hodge said, not backing down.

Blackmane fired the first arrow through the neck of a guard. Two others retrieved their bows during that time. He shot one in the stomach and leaned back to avoid an arrow from the other, momentarily flattening himself against the horse’s rump before springing upright again and taking out the shooter. He dropped another arrow into place and took aim at the fourth guard. The man dropped his weapon and raised his hands.

‘Good choice,’ Blackmane said.

Hodge had retrieved his own bow during this time and now had it pointed at Blackmane’s head.

‘Stop,’ Isabel said, walking her horse closer to Hodge’s.

The earl ignored her. ‘Do you give no thought to the people you kill, defender? These men have families waiting at home for them.’

Blackmane was defenceless in that moment, because the only way to prevent himself from being killed was to injure or kill. ‘Every one of these deaths lands squarely on your shoulders. You had a chance to save all of them. Be sure to mention that to their families.’

The string of Hodge’s bow tightened.

Isabel moved her horse closer still. ‘My lord. Look at me. Please.’

Hodge did not look at her. ‘Then perhaps I will see you in hell, defender.’ His lips curled into a snarl as he released the arrow.

Blackmane leapt from his horse, amazed when the arrow did not hit him on the way to the ground. He rolled once and got back on his feet as quickly as possible. The plan was to disarm Hodge—if he could reach him without dying.

He fixed his eyes on the earl, then froze when he saw Hodge’s panicked expression.