Page 80 of Wolfehound
“My lord,” Cambria said, reaching out to grab War’s shoulder. “Kyle took a knife to the neck. He’s in the kitchens.”
War looked at her, horrified, and Scott spoke quickly. “Go to him,” he said. “I will tend to Liam. Go to your other son.”
War was absolutely devastated. He stumbled to his feet, rushing off toward the kitchens as Cassius made his way off the wall and came running into the yard. He was still holding the crossbow, but he handed it over to the nearest soldier as he rushed to Liam’s side.
“Uncle Scott?” he said, gravely concerned. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner. I tried!”
Fortunately, Scott was an excellent healer. It was a gift he had and had used many times on the field of battle. He was inspecting the knife and the placement of the blade in Liam’s body.
“Thanks to God that you came when you did,” he said, glancing up at Cassius. “Where have you been?”
“Hiding in the armory,” Cassius said. “But I heard the commotion and armed myself. Tell me what I can do for Liam and I shall do it. What do you need?”
Scott carefully touched the dagger where it was buried in Liam’s torso. “We must get him inside so I can remove this,” he said. “Find men. Tell them to bring something flat to carry him on, like a door. He must be kept flat so the dagger does not do additional damage.”
As the two of them were deciding the best and swiftest way to remove Liam, Cambria crept to Liam’s head and gazed down at him. He was simply lying on his back, gazing up at the sky, but when he caught movement in his periphery, he turned his head to look at her.
“Greetings, sweetheart,” he said softly, smiling at her. “I will heal. Do not be troubled. Are you well? Did he hurt you?”
Cambria burst into tears. “I am sorry,” she wept, trying to put her arms around his neck as she buried her face in the side of his head. “I am so sorry. I did not mean for any of this to happen.”
Liam put his hand up, holding her head against his as she wept. “I told you not to be troubled,” he said. “All will be well. Aslong as you are unharmed, that is all that matters to me. How did he find you?”
Cambria didn’t want to tell him but had no choice. “I disobeyed you,” she said, sniffling. “One of the puppies was injured so I came out to tend it. I am so very sorry.”
Liam’s eyes closed briefly. He was exhausted, and beaten, but he didn’t want to move too much because of the knife in his gut. He didn’t want to create more damage.
“Since it was for your puppies, I forgive you,” he said. “What happened to the dog?”
“A hawk.”
He grunted, a regretful sound. “When we return to Easington, I will have an entire stable built just for the dogs so they are always protected,” he said. “I do not want to chance more hawk attacks. Speaking of dogs, where is Bran?”
Cambria lifted her head, looking around. “I do not see him,” she said. “I will go find him.”
“Nay,” Liam said, gripping her hand. “Do not leave me. Stay.”
Cambria did. She wrapped both hands around his, holding it tightly as Cassius ran off to find men to bring Liam inside. Leaning over, she kissed his forehead, his cheek, trying to give him some comfort.
“Tell me about Easington,” she said, trying to distract him. “You’ve not told me much about it, you know. If I am to live there, I would like to know everything about it.”
He grunted as he shifted a little and the knife caused him pain. “It is a large castle,” he said, his voice faint. “Bran has a lady-friend who lives there.”
Cambria nodded. “Is that so?” she said. “What does she look like?”
“Hairy.”
Cambria chuckled, stroking his forehead. “So you and I will not be the only couple in love at Easington?”
His eyes opened and he looked at her. “Nay,” he said. “But we will be the most important. In the years and centuries to come, long after we’re gone, there will be a legend about the Wolfehound and his mate, and how their love was so strong that it defied death itself. How their love blended into the stars and became one with the beauty of the sky. That’sourlegend, Bria. A legend of love.”
There were tears in Cambria’s eyes. “Wolfehound,” she murmured. “I’ve not heard you call yourself that before.”
He smiled faintly. “That is what the men at Easington call me,” he said. “It started because Bran and I were inseparable, but it’s come to mean more than that. Loyalty and relentlessness when facing adversity. Like today—I was your faithful companion, your protector in the face of danger. Your Wolfehound. And I always will be, Bria.”
Tears popped from Cambria’s eyes as she bent over and kissed his lips, tenderly and sweetly. It was a moment they shared, just the two of them, as the yard was swarmed with soldiers. A group of them carried Tyrus out, followed by men with a wide plank for Liam. Cambria was forced to let him go as they put him on the wood and carefully lifted him, removing him from the yard and heading for the keep.
Cambria followed.
