would wait for the victor’s return. By then, she would have put farther distance between them.
She got up to run and caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned, and there in front of a boulder stood a man draped in wolf fur. His large size warned her he would not go down easily.
Her only chance against him was to keep her distance and flee if she could, though she had the dreadful feeling this man would not be easy to outrun.
Another sudden flash of movement caught her attention that for a moment Fiona thought was a giant bat descending on the man. Until she realized it was her sister, her dark green cloak spreading out like wings as she jumped off the top of the boulder, landing directly on the wolf below.
She hit her mark, sending his head flying back against the boulder; he hit the ground with a solid thud.
Fiona helped a dazed Aliss up and as soon as she saw the unconscious man, her eyes turned wide.
“Yes, you did that to him and, no, you are not going to see if he is all right,” Fiona said. “There are more of them and we need to get out of here.”
Aliss nodded, her breath short.
“Are you all right? Is Tarr close by?”
Aliss nodded and pointed in the direction she had left them.
“He could not keep up with you, could he?”
Aliss shook her head.
“I should have warned him that you are light and fast on your feet. I do not suppose you thought to bring a weapon?”
Aliss’s eyes rounded.
“I did not think so.”
Aliss looked around her and pointed to large stones.
“Their weight will slow us down and we need to reach Tarr as fast as we can. Odo plans to kill him.”
Aliss made ready to sprint but Fiona grabbed her arm.
“Do not outrun me; we need to remain together and keep alert. There are more wolves around.”
Aliss nodded and they took off.
They had barely set a pace when suddenly Odo stepped from behind two trees that had entwined and grown into one large one.
“How lucky, I now have both twins.”
Fiona pushed her sister behind her. “You will never get us both.”
“How touching, you give your life for your sister, but you only delay her death. You cannot prevent it.”
Fiona bared her teeth and let out a blood-curdling scream as she charged at Odo full force, lowering her head at the last moment to ram him in the stomach.
Her speed was her ally; he had no time to react and she took him down fast. Her fists pummeled him in rapid succession, and Aliss wasted no time in joining in.
When he regained his breath and wits, he made short work of Aliss, tossing her off him.
“Run, Aliss, run,” Fiona screamed, and took a blow to her chin that sent her flying.
Aliss was about to charge him again when out of nowhere Tarr sprung and charged at Odo like a raging bull, nostrils flaring and teeth gritted.
They locked in battle and Aliss hurried to get Fiona out of the way before the fighting men trampled her.
The two men tore at each other like wild beasts claiming their territory. Fists smashed again and again against flesh and bone, and blood spewed forth, raining down on both of them.
Several of Tarr’s men emerged from the woods and cheered their leader on.
Fiona got to her feet, refusing to let her sister tend her jaw that was deepening in color. She would watch the man she loved fight, for he fought for her.
Cheers sounded every time Tarr landed a blow and there was no doubt who would emerge the victor.
Raynor finally arrived in time to see Tarr deliver the final blow that ended the melee.
Tarr turned, blood pouring from the corner of his mouth, his cheek and eye swelling, blood covering his shirt, and he spread his arms out to Fiona.
She ran into them and hugged him tight.
Chapter 37
Snow fell softly outside as Tarr and Fiona exchanged wedding vows before the roaring fire in the great hall. The room was overflowing with Hellewyk and Blackshaw clan members alike. They came to celebrate, to rejoice, to praise the joining of the two people who would lead their clans.
Fiona made a beautiful bride in her deep purple wool dress, her bruised jaw matching perfectly in color.
Tarr’s bruised eye, swollen lip and jaw did not detract from his handsome features, and he looked every bit the powerful chieftain in his newly stitched shirt and