He dropped the cloak in his grip and drew an arrow, nocked and released in less than a few of their strides. It took the first warrior through the eye, dropping him like a felled tree. The others began to run at him.

Not the effect I’d hoped for.

He drew and released again, the arrow hissing between warriors as they spun out of its way.

Camlin cursed as he released the next arrow, this one punching low, into a man’s belly. He dropped to his knees.

Then a figure crashed into the three still running at him. Baird, sword rising and falling. One of their enemy screamed, his belly open and guts spilling about his feet. Another had grabbed Baird, whose head lunged forward, butting the warrior’s nose even as his sword stabbed into the warrior’s side. Camlin stood and stared a moment, frozen by the ferocity of his companion. Then his eye was drawn to the roundhouse. Three more men burst from the doorway, two running towards Baird, the other sprinting around the edge of the courtyard, making for the stables.

Before Camlin realized it he had another arrow nocked and was sighting at one of those charging at Baird. It slammed into the warrior’s shoulder, spinning and dropping him. The other was too close to Baird for another shot. Camlin glanced between Baird and the warrior sprinting towards the stables, drew his sword and ran to Baird’s help.

He almost didn’t need to. By the time he reached them Baird had put one man down and was trading blows with the other, backing the warrior up. A panicked glance from the warrior at Camlin was all Baird needed, his sword opening the man’s throat.

Hooves thudded and the last warrior burst from the stables, kicking a horse hard into a gallop. Camlin dropped his sword and drew an arrow, tracked the warrior, who was bent low in the saddle, almost hugging the horse’s arched neck. Camlin’s arrow took him in the throat; the warrior sagged, slumping from the saddle to be dragged by the still-galloping horse.

Camlin and Baird just stared at one another, chests rising and falling.

They both turned together to the sound of footsteps approaching from behind.

Edana and a dozen others, including Roisin and Lorcan. Quickly, Camlin moved to intercept them. She doesn’t need to see this.

‘You were supposed to wait for my signal,’ Camlin said, hurrying forward to stop her reaching the square.

Some truths are best not seen.

‘We heard screams, the clash of iron. I was worried for you,’ Edana said with a wave of her hand as she pushed past Camlin into the square.