by Pandora Pine
“Donnall, you can’t think to send me off with the enemy!” Even injured as she was, Fionn’s sister was still as feisty as ever.
“Fee, without his coat and weapons, he is just my brother. He will keep you safe.” Donnall didn’t have time to fight with Fianna. He needed to make sure Cadence was safe.
William bent and scooped an uncooperative Fianna into his arm and whistled for his horse. “Do we know each other? I feel like I know you somehow.”
Donnall thought briefly about the old future Fianna lived with his brother and a chill ran down his spine. Was it possible William knew her? He didn’t have time to wonder about mysticism now. He needed to find Islynn and then Cadence.
Searching the battlefield, he saw Fionn for the first time since the fighting began. He was about twenty yards away finishing off his opponent, a smile on his face. Donnall spotted Islynn a way off from Fionn. She was treated Kelley, James’ lover, who didn’t seem too badly hurt. He was running toward them when he heard a sound that froze the blood in his veins. Cadence was screaming.
Cadence couldn’t find Donnall in the fray. She fired arrow after arrow at the British soldiers. Why on earth they would choose to make such an easy target of themselves by wearing red was beyond her. She kept moving and kept firing her arrows her eyes scanning the crowd for Donnall.
Mallory was up ahead. Cadence watched in horror as one of the British soldiers struck her with his fist across the face. Even from her distance, she heard a sickening thud of his fist connecting. Her dagger flew from her hand to land a few feet away. Cadence dropped her bow and reached for her own dagger. She ran toward Mallory’s attacker and started to scream. “Get your hands off her, you dirty bastard!” Raising the blade high above her head, she brought it down and buried it to the hilt in his back.
Roaring in pain, the man arched backward and spun around, his sword whistling through the air. Now weaponless, Cadence backed up and reached back for an arrow, knowing it wouldn’t protect her against a sword and the furious look on the man’s face. “You’ll die slowly, bitch.”
Injured as the man was, Cadence knew he wouldn’t be able to chase her if she started to run. What she was afraid of was him turning around and hurting Mallory again if she abandoned the woman.
The soldier slashed at her with his heavy sword and Cadence easily danced backward to avoid the blade. With her dagger buried in his back, she knew it was only a matter of time before the injury made it impossible for him to wield the sword. All she had to do was wait him out and pray no one came up to attack her from behind.
Seeing the blade slash out at her again, Cadence jumped backward, stumbling over the body of a fallen English soldier. Pain sliced through her body as she fell, and when she looked up, she saw a cut in her right thigh which was bleeding heavily. She tried to scoot backward on her ass, using her arms to pull herself back, but she was quickly losing strength.
Hearing a deafening shout, Cadence looked up to see a sword sticking through the body of her attacker. Donnall was the one screaming. Bracing his foot against the back of the Redcoat, he yanked his sword from the man’s midsection and moved toward Cadence.
“We need to get the bleeding to stop.” He ripped off his tunic and sliced the arm off with his dagger. Wrapping the material around her thigh, he pulled tightly before balling up the rest of his shirt to press against the open wound.
Cadence hissed as pain exploded through her. It helped her stay awake and be able to focus on Donnall. “You’re safe, irritating barbarian. I knew you would be.”
“I gave you the obsidian. How is this possible? The stone should have kept you safe from harm.”
“I don’t have it. I gave it back to you in the great hall. It’s in the back pocket of your breeches.” Lying on the ground bleeding and in more pain than she’d ever felt before, she was glad, Donnall was safe.
Donnall reached back and pulled the stone on its leather strap out of his pocket. “Why would you do this, my beauty?”
“Because I love you.” Cadence reached out for his dirty face and passed out.
“ISLYNN!” Donnall roared when Cadence’s green eyes fluttered shut. He scooped Cadence into his arms and looked around for help. He pursed his lips and whistled for Atlas, not knowing where his giant warhorse had gone after he dismounted.
“Donnall, what has happened?” Fionn was racing toward him.
“She saw me fighting off two soldiers at once and ran out here to help. The other women followed her into battle.”
“She’s quite a leader.” Fionn brushed a hand down the side of her face. “We need to get her back into the castle.”
“Donnall, what happened?” Islynn finally reached their position on the field.
“She has a gash to her thigh. I tied a tourniquet.” His entire body was shaking. What would he do if he lost her? His life would be cold and empty without her fiery temper and passionate nature.
Islynn peeked at the wound. “Let’s get her back to the castle so I can get a closer look at her.”
“You are going to need to look at Fianna as well.”
“Fianna is hurt?” Fionn’s voice was laced with concern.
“She suffered a cut arm. My brother rode her back to the castle.”
“Your brother?” Fionn roared. “The man sent here to kill us? You sent him into Moone Castle?” Fionn’s look was murderous.
“Kill me later, Fionn, but we need to get Cadence back to the castle. I can’t lose her. I’ve only just found her.”
Fionn’s look softened slightly. “Go. We will speak about this later.”
Flashing his oldest friend a grateful smile, Donnall ran toward the gate of the castle, whispering prayers to the gods.
25
Donnall pounded up the stairs and burst into the great hall with Cadence in his arms. Setting her gently down on one of the empty tables he lifted his blood soaked tunic from the wound on her thigh. The blood flow had slowed to a trickle.
Islynn ran into the room a moment later, going immediately for a bucket of water and a bar of soap.
“You do not have time to make yourself pretty, Islynn. Cadence needs you now.” Donnall’s voice shook along with his hands.
“Carter says infection is caused by unclean hands. I will not touch Cadence until I am clean. Is she still bleeding?”
“Only a little bit.” They were wasting precious time chatting. Cadence needed help now.
“Good, keep pressure on the wound.” Islynn grabbed for a clean drying cloth, sliding the material from her elbow down to her hand.
“Donnall, what has happened?” Fianna rushed to her friend’s side with William trailing along behind her.
“Mallory was in trouble and Cadence jumped in to save her. One of the English soldiers cut her with his sword. How is your injury?”
“William kept pressure on it until I stopped bleeding.” She hiccupped. “He made me drink some whiskey so I wouldn’t feel any pain. He’s quite smart for an Englishman.” Fianna giggled and hiccupped again. “Handsome too, but do not tell him I said so.”
Donnall exchanged a half-smile with his brother who was standing behind a tipsy Fianna and turned back to Cadence. “What about Carter? We need to let him know what is going on and that the battle is won.”
“We have won?” Fianna asked in wonder.
“Fee, the commander of the English army is standing next to you. I think that is a good indication of our victory.”
William snorted and took a step closer to Fianna, reaching down to take her hand.
“Hurrah! Those dammed English dogs have another thing coming if they think they can just waltz in here and steal our home.”
“Donnall, I need whiskey to help clean out Cadence’s wound. Also, if we have won, someone will need to alert Carter. He will want to be here. Someone will need to stay with the children. They should not see the wounded being treated. Try to find Aggie.”
Donnall stared down at her blinking. What should he do first?
Islynn grabbed his bare shoulders. “Donnall, go get whiskey, then Carter, then Aggie, then a new tunic. All will be well.”
“I’ll get the whiskey, go and get Cadence’s brother.” William clapped a hand on Donnall’s shoulder and moved off toward the table he’d been sitting at with Fianna.
Donnall ran through the passages of the castle until he reached the door to the war council chamber. He pounded six times on the door and bounced on the balls of his feet waiting for Carter to answer.
“Password!” Carter called from within on a shaky voice.
“Fuck me, what’s the password?” For the life of him, Donnall couldn’t remember what it was. Fionn had announced before they’d ridden out to meet the English army.
“Donnall, is that you?” Carter’s voice sounded stronger.
“Yes. Cadence is hurt and we’ve won. The English commander is with Fianna. You need to come now.”
Carter pulled open the door, his sword in his hand at the ready. “Jesus Christ, it is you. What’s going on, none of what you said makes any sense and why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”
“You need to come with me now. Cadence was injured in the fight. Islynn is seeing to her in the great hall.”
“Maisy, take over watching the children. Don’t let any of them wander up to the great hall until someone comes down to tell you it’s safe.”
“Yes, Carter,” Cardinn’s wet nurse was sitting on the floor with some of the younger children. The baby was cradled in her arms.
“I’m coming too, Daddy.” Jilly ran to the door.
“No little love, you need to stay here and be Maisy’s helper.”
“Auntie Cadence needs me.” Jilly crossed her arms in a perfect imitation of Carter and pouted.
“I’ll come get you in a little while and you can see her when she’s feeling better.”
“I want to kiss her and make it all better like she did for me when I scraped my knee.” Jilly held up her knee and pointed to the crusty scab.
“Give me her kiss and I’ll pass it along.” Carter knelt down and Jilly smacked a wet kiss against his cheek. “Be a good little helper and I’ll be back soon okay?”
Her tiny bottom lip trembled. “Is my Da okay? Uncle Donnall didn’t say.”
Carter turned from his daughter to look up at Donnall.
“Yes, honey, your Da is fine. He’s going to kill me later, but he’s just fine.”
“What? Why?” Carter kissed his daughter and stood to follow Donnall out of the chamber.
“Fianna was fighting with one of the soldiers and William saved her.” Donnall was rambling and he didn’t much care. He needed to get back to Cadence.
“I’m completely lost. Why was Fianna fighting a soldier? Did the English get into the castle? Why would your brother save one of our people?”
Donnall sighed. “Cadence saw me fighting off two Redcoats at the same time and she thought I needed help. So, she decided to leave the castle and come rescue me. The other women joined her.”
“Cadence led the women into the battle?” Carter sounded impressed.
“They ran out of the gate holding their bows in the air and screaming. It was quite a sight, until the English fuckers started going after them. Fianna shot one at close range in the shoulder with an arrow and the man came after her with his sword. He cut her arm and was pulling back to slash at her again when my brother flew off his horse and pulled his own man off her and started beating him bloody.”
“Unbelievable. Is Fee okay?”
“William stopped the bleeding and was giving her whiskey to numb the pain. Someone will need to stitch the wound closed.”
“William is in the castle?” Carter started at Donnall in disbelief.
“I took his red coat and his weapons. He still had his horse. My brother didn’t want to come here and fight us. He was doing what his king ordered him to do.”
“And you believed him? Donnall, I know he’s your brother but you’re putting us all in danger. What if he was lying to you?”
“I know my brother, Carter,” Donnall said defensively.
“A brother you haven’t seen in twenty-three years. This is why Fionn wants to kill you?”
Donnall nodded glumly.
“I might just help him.” Carter took off running toward the great hall, his sword clutched tightly in his fist.
When Donnall burst back into the great hall, after grabbing a clean tunic, Carter was sitting next to Cadence holding her hand. Islynn was hard at work cleaning out the gash on Cadence’s thigh.
Donnall sat on the bench on the other side of Cadence’s head and picked up her other hand. “You will fight, little mouse.” He brushed a kiss against her brow.
“Thank you for saving her.” Carter met Donnall’s eyes with tears glittering in his own.
“Carter, why don’t you sew up Fianna’s injury while I tend to your sister?” Islynn kept her eyes on Cadence’s injury.
“How did you know I could sew?”
Islynn raised an eyebrow. “You will find extra needles and string in my basket of supplies. “You will need someone to hold her down. Introduce yourself to William and seek his help.”
“William is here to slaughter us all!” Carter’s voice was ice-cold.
“He also saved your sister-in-law. Pick up where he left off, Carter. Once Fianna is seen to, feel free to lock him in the dungeon. Although, I very much doubt he will leave Fee’s side without a fight.”
“What can I do to help?” Donnall needed to do something instead of sitting around useless.
“When I start sewing the wound shut, I will need you to hold Cadence down.”
“Hold her down?” A look of horror flashed across his face. He’d seen battle conditions before and knew how wounded men sometimes fought against those trying to help them, but the idea of restraining Cadence made his heart ache.
“The pain may rouse her from her faint. If it does, she will fight me. I will need you to restrain her.”
Donnall nodded mutely. He pulled the Gloine from around his neck and gently placed it around Cadence’s. He was still in shock that she had somehow managed to shove the stone into his pocket without his noticing. It must have been when she kissed him goodbye. “Oh, Cadence.” Donnall kissed her again and picked up her limp hand.
“Get your hands off my sister, English dog!” Fionn shouted, rushing toward Fianna.
“Not until her wound has been seen to,” William gritted out from behind closed teeth.
“Could you tone it down to a dull roar, Fionn?” Carter kept his eyes on Fianna’s injury.
“I am glad to see you too, my heart,” Fionn sneered. “Have you switched sides to root for the English?”
“For fuck’s sake, Fionn. Can this wait until my arm is no longer hanging off?” Fianna hiccupped and giggled.
William tightened his grip on her hand. “Your arm was never hanging off, my pretty. Now hush and let Carter finish his work.”
“My sister isn’t your anything, swine.” Fionn practically spat the last word.
“He thinks me pretty, Fionn.” Fianna sighed and tried to bat her eyelashes at William, but ended up blinking instead.
“It is a world gone fucking mad!” Fionn yelled.
“Fionn! Instead of yelling and upsetting your men-”
“And women!” Fianna added.
“Instead of upsetting your warriors, why don’t you go see if there is anything you can do to help them? Islynn is a few tables back tending to Cadence. She might need some help when it comes time to sew the wound shut. Donnall is pretty broken up about her being injured and might not be able to hold her down when the time comes.”
“Donnall will be the next casualty of this battle for inviting this English bastard into our home.” His hand went for the hilt of his sword.
“I will have you know my and Donnall’s parents were properly wed.” William grinned.
“Fionn, go,” Carter urged before turning back to William. “You shut up or th
e next thing I stitch shut is your lips.”
“But Carter, he has such fine lips, for an Englishman. I should like to taste them.” Fianna puckered up her own lips and shut her eyes.
Carter looked up at Fianna and saw William about to chime in. “Don’t say a word if you value your life.”
William shut his mouth which quirked into an amused smile.
Fionn blew out a frustrated breath and pressed a kiss to his husband’s head before heading toward Donnall and Cadence. “How is she, Islynn?”
“She lost a lot of blood on the battlefield. Donnall managed to get a tourniquet on the wound and got the bleeding to stop. I am just about finished cleaning the gash and will start to stitch her skin back together. I do not have to tell you fever is our greatest worry.”
Fionn nodded and sat at Cadence’s head, directly opposite Donnall. “Now might be a good time to explain why you thought it a good idea to bring the commander of the English army into the castle.”
Donnall could see the anger burning in Fionn’s blue eyes. He expected to face Fionn’s wrath, but his worry for Cadence made his friend’s anger seem small in comparison. “He didn’t want to come here and fight us, Fionn. The king sent him to sack Moone and he was just following orders. When Fee was hurt he still had his horse. I took his uniform and his weapons and sent him back to the castle with your sister.”
“So in addition to being an English bastard, he is also a traitor to king and country?”
Donnall nodded sharply. “For what it is worth, Will fought his own man to save your sister. He got to her before I could. Fionn, he saved her life.”
Fionn grunted and turned to look back at William and Fianna. “He forced her to marry him in the other timeline.”
“Maybe he married her to save her from a worse fate?” Islynn grabbed her needle and began to thread it.
“What could possibly be worse than being married to an Englishman?” Fionn was shouting again.
“Being married to an Irishman!” William called back cheerfully.
