Page 79 of Wolfehound
On her feet, Cambria had the iron rod in her hand again and she swung it as hard as she could at Tyrus’ head. She was fortunate enough to make contact and Tyrus was knocked sideways as stars danced before his eyes. About this time, Nathaniel burst through the gate because he’d been near the stable and heard the noise. But Tyrus was armed and he unsheathed his broadsword just as Nathaniel rushed in. The young knight barely missed being gored.
“Here!” Cambria cried, tossing Nathaniel her rod.
Fortunately, the knight was able to catch it, bringing it up to block a strike that surely would have cut his left arm off. He wasn’t in armor, nor did he have his broadsword with him, so all he was able to do was dodge the sword strikes that were coming at him.
Meanwhile, the entire bailey was running in the direction of the kitchen yard, lured by the shouts. Cambria was trying to get to Kyle, who was in the dirt, bleeding from the knife in his neck. She finally managed to duck around the battling knights and grab Kyle by the arm, pulling him away from the fight. Seeing all of the blood, she grabbed the sleeve of her dress and yanked hard, pulling it free from the bodice.
“I have to take the knife out,” she said to Kyle, looking him in the eye as blood ran from his mouth and the wound. “Do you hear me? I must get this out and then I will apply pressure to stop the bleeding. You will heal, I swear it. Be brave, young sir. I will be swift.”
Kyle simply nodded. Cambria yanked out the dirk, which was about three inches long, and immediately put the torn sleeve to his neck, applying pressure. He tried to lie back, to put his head on the dirt, but she wouldn’t let him.
“Nay,” she said, her voice trembling. “Turn on your side and let the blood run to the ground. Better still, can you sit up?”
Kyle nodded. “Aye,” he said weakly. “I do not think it is too bad, just bloody.”
Cambria helped him into a sitting position, leaning him against the buttery. By this time, the kitchen servants were spilling out, watching the fight in horror, and Cambria had them help Kyle into the kitchen. With his blood on her hands and on the front of her blue dress, she turned to watch Nathaniel hold off Tyrus. The young knight was doing a splendid job of it, but Tyrus was strong. He was gaining ground. Just as she feared shewould have to jump in and assist the young warrior, the entire world seemed to explode with knights.
Liam, followed by Scott and War, burst into the kitchen yard and went after Tyrus. For his part, Tyrus saw his life flash before his eyes, so he disengaged with Nathaniel and began to run toward Cambria. His intent was clear—use her for protection against the onslaught. Seeing this, Cambria made a break for the kitchen door, but Tyrus was fast. He was nearly upon her.
Liam, however, was faster.
He reached Tyrus before Tyrus could reach Cambria and grabbed the man by his tunic. It was all he could get his hands on. He yanked hard, pulling him off balance, but Tyrus came around with his broadsword and nearly stabbed Liam with it. As it was, he caught him in his midsection, tearing his tunic and drawing first blood. As Liam leapt back, out of range of the man’s arcing broadsword, Scott charged in and nearly took off Tyrus’ head.
After that, the fight was on.
The truth was that Tyrus never had a chance against three seasoned knights. Logan and eventually Jeremy tried to join it, but there was no room for them. The veteran knights were having all of the fun as Jeremy and Logan managed to make it over to Cambria to protect her should Tyrus break free.
But the man wasn’t going to break free.
He was on borrowed time.
Truthfully, Scott and War were only involved for the first minute or so. After that, Liam shoved them away. This was his fight and he was going to finish it himself. Therefore, they backed off—far off—and stood by the yard gate, watching Liam thrust and parry, shove and kick, as Tyrus gave nearly as good as he got. It was a brutal fight, with brutal blows being thrown, until Liam managed to disarm Tyrus. The man’s sword wasknocked from his hand when Liam managed to slice the tips off two of the fingers on his right hand.
Tyrus didn’t utter a sound.
The little finger pieces on the ground were stomped on and crushed as they battled across the yard. Mostly, Tyrus was dodging Liam because Liam was coming on like fire, but when they passed by the big iron pot used to boil hides, Tyrus picked up the second iron rod and swung it at Liam. He managed to smash some fingers, knocking the sword out of Liam’s hand. But Liam grabbed the rod and they wrestled over it until it finally ended up on the ground.
Then the punches started to fly.
Carlton eventually showed up, watching in horror alongside Scott and War, at the bloodbath happening in his own kitchen yard. He caught sight of his daughter, with a torn and bloodied dress, and tried to go to her, but Scott held him back. They didn’t want the man crossing the yard and possibly getting hurt. She was well protected by Logan and Jeremy, but all of them were watching Liam and Tyrus throw monstrous punches at one another. That went on for several long and painful minutes. It seemed like forever. Then a punch to the head from Liam sent Tyrus to the ground.
The battle seemed to be waning.
Both Liam and Tyrus were bloodied, beaten, and exhausted. It was a horrible sight. Cambria was trying her hardest not to weep at the sight because, truthfully, she felt as if this entire situation was her fault. Had she not left the solar, none of this would have happened. Kyle would not have been stabbed and Liam would not be covered in blood and bruises. His left eye was already starting to swell. But she kept her mouth shut, standing with two young knights who would have liked nothing better than to charge in and finish it.
But they would never have the chance.
With Tyrus face-down on the ground, Liam staggered over to him and bent down, grabbing him by the hair with the intention of flipping him onto his back. But just as he did that, Tyrus suddenly came alive and rammed one of those daggers from his belt straight into Liam’s torso. It was a big dagger, with a big blade, and Cambria screamed when she saw what he’d done. Life seemed to move in slow motion after that because it seemed as if everything was ending. Time, life, love… everything was ending at the tip of that big knife.
But it wasn’t ending for Liam.
Only for Tyrus.
As Liam staggered back, Tyrus lurched to his feet. That brought Scott and War away from the gate, running toward Tyrus, intending to prevent the man from laying the death blow upon Liam, but they never had the opportunity to prevent anything. They were halfway to the battling pair when Tyrus was suddenly struck in the upper torso by not one, but two big bolts, in quick succession. They were like hammer blows against the man. Startled, everyone looked in the direction they’d come from only to see Cassius standing on the wall walk with a wicked-looking double crossbow in his hand.
Both bolts had been released.
Tyrus saw Cassius but could hardly believe his eyes. Eyes that soon closed as he fell backward, onto his back, and lay there as still as stone. Realizing that the fight was finally over, Cambria, along with everyone else, ran toward Liam. Scott and War were already at his side as Logan and Jeremy went to Tyrus to ensure he didn’t rise up again.
