The Highlander's Lady Knight (Midsummer Knights #2) - Madeline Martin Page 0,46
Again.
“Call off the fight,” she said. “You have already lost.”
Brodie pursed his lips and casually scratched at his neck. “I dinna think so.”
“How can you—?”
“Any child ye bear in the first year of our union, I’ll put to death with my own sword,” Brodie growled. “I willna have another man’s bastard as my bairn.”
“I’m already wed,” Isolde protested through numb lips.
“And ye’ll be a widow soon.” He looked to the taller of the two warriors, most assuredly Edmund the Braw. “This fight will be to the death.”
Cormac tightened his gip on the hilt of his sword as Isolde cried out in protest. He forced her from his mind and instead eyed the taller, larger warrior in front of him. One of them would not live to see midday. And it would not be Cormac.
Edmund charged with his sword arcing down. Cormac ducked right to avoid the blow. Though he missed the worst of the strike, the weapon still glanced off his side, the blade skittering over his chainmail. The force knocked the wind from Cormac’s lungs, and he staggered back to recover.
Even with only a partial hit, the blow had been powerful. The battle would be difficult.
But not impossible.
Cormac had no choice but to win.
Edmund roared with bestial rage and lifted his weapon once more. Cormac leapt back to avoid the swipe of the blade and rushed forward, thrusting his own weapon at his opponent. It struck Edmund in the gut. It wouldn’t slice through his chainmail, of course, but the tip would nick the skin, and the might of the strike would have an impact.
Edmund grunted and turned his sword, so the massive pommel of his hilt hurtled toward Cormac. But Cormac was faster. He ducked and rolled beneath Edmund’s legs, popping up on the other side. Using his own pommel, he delivered several hard strikes to the other man’s lower back.
Edmund stumbled forward and spun around, his blade whistling through the air. If Cormac had only hit Edmund once in the back, he might have been able to avoid the path of the weapon. That second strike had cost him precious seconds.
He would need to be more prudent with his decisions, or he’d pay with his life.
Edmund’s sword slammed into his arm with an impact that sent Cormac flying sideways.
His world spun for a moment before righting itself as he realized he lay on the ground. The entire left side of his body blazed with agony. Mayhap the hit had broken his arm. If so, he was grateful it had not been his dominant side.
Isolde’s scream cut through the fog of pain and left him scrambling to his feet as yet another blow fell upon him. The pommel of Edmund’s sword crashed into Cormac’s helm, making a metallic clang echo in his ears. Cormac stumbled backward and swung his own weapon at his opponent. This time, he struck Edmund in the thigh with full force.
Edmund issued a howl of rage and limped backward. Cormac took advantage of the injury and caught Edmund’s good leg just behind the knee, sending the other man crashing to the ground. Edmund fell hard enough to knock his head back, and his helm tumbled off. The massive warrior blinked in surprise at the brilliant sky above.
Cormac pushed his blade against Edmund’s tender neck. Before Cormac could drive the point of his sword into his opponent, Edmund rolled away and leapt to his feet. He ran forward, and his entire body weight slammed into Cormac, sending them both to the ground.
The hilt in Cormac’s hand was knocked free and sent his blade tumbling out of reach. He was unarmed. But the fight was not yet over. He struck out at Edmund with his metal fists, landing a punch on the other man’s naked face.
Edmund shoved his knee into Cormac’s injured arm. Stars blazed in hot agony before Cormac’s eyes, stunning him momentarily. A powerful hit slammed into Cormac’s chin, and sunlight dazzled his vision.
Without his helm, he would be vulnerable for a death blow. The same as Edmund had been.
Quick as lightning, Cormac rolled away, knowing his opponent would use the opportunity to bring his sword down. No sooner had the thought entered Cormac’s mind, Edmund’s blade came down once more, this time striking Cormac’s chest only an inch away from his exposed neck. Pain exploded in the place Edmund had struck, but Cormac was still alive. Edmund raised his weapon, preparing to strike again until Cormac was dead.