to make it appear as if you nervously look about for lurking warriors?”
Aliss dropped her head, gave it a shake, then stuck her chin up. “I am devoid of warrior abilities.”
Fiona laughed. “I do not know about that. You wield a mean bone needle.”
Aliss smiled. “I surely do.”
“We have discussed this before, Aliss,” Fiona said seriously. “Seek cover as quickly as possible and keep safe. Your skills and strength will be needed after the battle ends.”
“I worry about you.”
“And I worry that if you do not keep safe, who then will tend me if necessary? We each have our talents and it is best we use them wisely.”
“I am so glad we remain together—”
“So am I,” Fiona chimed in. “And we will stay together. No one, absolutely no one will separate us.”
A screech like that of a wounded animal pierced the air a mere moment before a horde of warriors descended on the Hellewyk troop.
“The rocks,” Fiona said to her sister as she reached for her sword in its scabbard on the side of her mare.
Aliss grabbed the knife from her boot, slipped off her horse knowing her mare was trained to seek safety during battle, and ran for the cropping of small boulders a few feet away.
Fiona entered the battle first making certain she cleared a path for her sister to get to safety. Once Aliss was behind the rocks she charged full hilt into the thick of clashing swords.
Fiona swung her sword with skill and strength, toppling warriors from their horses as if she swatted them off like pesky insects. She delivered several severe kicks, blooding faces when attempts were made to tear her off her horse, and she felled one man with the butt of her sword handle to his hard head.
She had trained her mare well for battle, and the horse remained calmly aware of her master’s every move and command. Fiona saved one or two of Tarr’s men from the point of a sword. Her strength grew with each kick, thrust and swing, the heat of battle racing her blood.
The skirmish over, Tarr sat looking over the battlefield. A few of his men were hurt while three of Raynor’s men lay bloody and moaning on the ground. He was relieved no graves would be dug this day for his men, and more relieved that one would not be for his future wife.
At first he thought to protect the twin he saw in the thick of battle, but it was soon obvious that she was an accomplished swordswoman. When she assisted him in dispelling his opponents, he knew she possessed the courage he was searching for in a wife. She fought like a true warrior. The other twin however hid behind a rock. Had he found Fiona?
He thought he had the answer when he saw the other twin emerge from her hiding spot supporting one of his warriors whose injured leg was carefully bandaged. She sat him gently on the ground and then rushed to help the wounded.
Bloody lacerations and agonizing moans did not deter her as she was soon stitching torn limbs, head gashes and bandaging less severe abrasions, the hem of her brown skirt being torn again and again for bandages.
“You will find us both courageous,” Fiona said, halting her mare beside him.
“You both fight but in different ways,” Tarr remarked with admiration. “Perhaps I was right about it not mattering which twin I wed.”
Fiona grinned. “Does it not? You requested a specific twin. Will you settle for less than what you bargained for?”
She rode off with a laugh and it brought a smile to his face. She was quick-witted and perceptive. Damned if she had not understood his pride in having the woman he had agreed upon.
“Raynor’s been captured!”
The yell drew everyone’s attention, and Tarr swiftly directed his stallion to converge upon the bloody man sprawled on the ground. He watched one of his warriors shove the twin away as she attempted to help Raynor. She shoved back, causing him to stumble, and dropped down on her knees beside Raynor.
As soon as the warrior had steadied his footing, Fiona had her sword at his throat. “Touch my sister again and it will be you who will need tending.”
“Sheath your sword,” Tarr said sternly as he swifty dismounted, grabbing Aliss’s arm and yanking her to her feet. “You will waste no time on Raynor.”
She jerked her arm free with such force that she stumbled, though hastily righted her footing. “He is severely injured; he