Page 93 of Kingdom of Chains

‘Good choice,’ Blackmane said.

Hodge had retrieved his own bow during this time and now had it pointed at Blackmane’s head.

‘Stop,’ Isabel said, walking her horse closer to Hodge’s.

The earl ignored her. ‘Do you give no thought to the people you kill, defender? These men have families waiting at home for them.’

Blackmane was defenceless in that moment, because the only way to prevent himself from being killed was to injure or kill. ‘Every one of these deaths lands squarely on your shoulders. You had a chance to save all of them. Be sure to mention that to their families.’

The string of Hodge’s bow tightened.

Isabel moved her horse closer still. ‘My lord. Look at me. Please.’

Hodge did not look at her. ‘Then perhaps I will see you in hell, defender.’ His lips curled into a snarl as he released the arrow.

Blackmane leapt from his horse, amazed when the arrow did not hit him on the way to the ground. He rolled once and got back on his feet as quickly as possible. The plan was to disarm Hodge—if he could reach him without dying.

He fixed his eyes on the earl, then froze when he saw Hodge’s panicked expression.

His gaze snapped to Isabel. He had not seen her ride forwards. She looked straight at him, and he knew something was very wrong. His eyes travelled down to the arrow lodged in her shoulder, and all the air left his lungs.

She was the reason the arrow never hit him.

For a moment, he could not move. He simply stared at the arrow protruding from her, vaguely aware of Hodge shouting.Maybe words. Or maybe just an anguished cry. Then she began to fall.

That was the moment Blackmane remembered he could move, act, help. Some feeling returned to his limbs, and he took off at a run towards her, catching her on the way down. He lowered her gently to the ground, and she stared up at him with wide, terrified eyes. He was vaguely aware of Hodge leaping from his horse, of him reloading his bow and pointing it at Blackmane. Isabel gripped his cloak, as if to warn him. He did not know if he had it in him to lay her on the ground, to walk away from her, tofight.

Thankfully, he did not have to.

An arrow pierced Hodge’s hand, his scream making Blackmane look up. Tolly appeared through the trees, coming to a stop in front of Hodge. When the remaining guard dismounted and snatched up his weapon, Tolly shot him through the neck.

‘I’m allowed to kill you,’ he said as he looked Hodge over. The earl was clutching his hand, tears spilling down his reddened face. ‘All right. Keep it down. It’s just a small hole through the hand.’ He looked over at Blackmane. ‘Can you get her to the camp?’

Blackmane nodded and gathered Isabel in his arms before rising. ‘We’re going to get you some help. You stay awake, do you hear me?’

There was the snap of wood as Tolly broke off the end of the arrow lodged in Hodge’s hand, then another scream as he pushed it through the appendage and out the other side.

‘See?’ Tolly said. ‘That wasn’t so bad, was it?’ He frowned at the blood. ‘Oh. Let’s see if we can find something to stop that bleeding.’ First, he went to help Blackmane onto one of the guard’s horses, which was far less tired than the one he had arrived on. ‘I’ll deal with Hodge. You go.’

Another nod from Blackmane.

‘Is it bad?’ Isabel asked him, still gripping his cloak.

The question tore at his heart. ‘You’re talking. That’s good. Stay awake now.’

Her eyes closed. ‘All right. I’ll stay awake.’

He glanced at his brother before swinging his horse around and galloping off in the direction of the camp.

CHAPTER 29

‘Please. I do not want to go to Hampstead Keep,’ Isabel pleaded. She could not keep her eyes open when there was a fire burning in her chest, shoulder, and arm.

Blackmane repositioned her against him. ‘No one’s going to Hampstead Keep. I’m taking you somewhere safe. I just need you to stay awake until we get there.’

She could do that. She could stay awake if he asked her to. But a breath later, she was drifting off again.

‘Belle.’

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