“The Pirates are coming!” Screams echoed through the great hall and up the stairs as I put away my short sword. A crash sounded from the solar across the way. Lady Anne had heard the call. I threw open the trunk again and grabbed my bow and quiver full of arrows. I still hadn’t mastered the short sword since we’d started practicing, but I carried my knives at all times. One was strapped to my thigh under my skirt. Jeremiah had helped me secure it there. Another was at my waist.
Valdez strode into my bedchamber. “What are you doing? Lady Anne needs you. Go to her and help her down the stairs. I’ll lock you both in that hidden room before the pirates get here.”
“Oh, no you won’t. I told you, I’m not going to hide.” I stalked past him. “Is Anne still in her solar?”
“Yes, she has that blasted sword and won’t let go. You know she is useless with it. She’s crying and shaking like a dog in a thunderstorm.” Valdez stayed on my heels as I ran to the lady’s room.
Ann had a cloak thrown over her shoulders. She was sobbing and clutching her sword in both hands. She sure wouldn’t cut herself on that. Valdez had given us children’s practice swords, blunt and useless in an attack. It was a wonder she hadn’t cut herself on the glass that lay shattered on the floor.
“Lady Anne, come with me.” I managed to pry the sword out of her hands. “You don’t need this. We will find you another, better, weapon.” I glared at Valdez when he shook his head. “Here, hold onto my knife. I have another one.” I pressed a knife into her shaking hands. “Does that make you feel better?”
She looked at me through wet lashes. “Yes, yes it does. I will fight them, Gloriana. Please don’t let your man lock me in that little room.” She held the knife awkwardly. I stayed well away for I knew it to be razor sharp.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Valdez, but I refuse to be put away this time.” Anne waved the knife at him. “I will stick you if you try to force me, I swear it.”
“I believe you, my lady.” Valdez kept his face serious. I knew, though, that he could disarm her easily if he wanted to do it. “Please come down the stairs with me. The men are gathering in the great hall. I will feel better if I know where everyone is. I’m sure Lord Campbell and the king’s men are fighting on the beach. The pirates will probably not get as far as the castle, but we need to be ready. Don’t you agree?” He gently took her elbow and nodded at me to lead the way.
“Yes, we must be ready to defend against the attack.” Anne sniffed and started walking.
I handed her a handkerchief. “Give me the knife. You don’t want to take a chance on the stairs.” I carefully took the knife. The lady meant well but I didn’t trust her with a real weapon. She was delicate and a demon with a needle, but had yet to prove herself with anything larger. She would do better throwing one of her beautiful pillows at a pirate.
Colin and his men were not in the great hall. They had moved out to the courtyard and were arguing about how to pull up the drawbridge. In fact, that broken thing should have been fixed when we first arrived, weeks ago. Jeremiah had been too busy preparing his ships to attack the pirates to pay heed to what was going on at the castle.
“What exactly is wrong with it?” I hurried over to study the chain and pulleys that should make it rise. After a close inspection of one side and then the other, it was clear to me that a blacksmith could probably fix the broken chain. Why hadn’t one already been summoned? When I asked the question, there was a general pushing and shoving with everyone avoiding my gaze.
I wanted to box a few ears at the delay. At least we’d had heavy rains the past few days. The moat was clear so the air was fresh. Lady Anne had insisted all privy needs be disposed of properly to keep it that way.
“Answer me!” I yelled at the crowd of men. How did I become in charge of things here?
Colin finally spoke. “There’s a man, a smithy, who travels with the king’s soldiers. The captain was supposed to send him to us, mistress. He must have forgot to do it. And now that the pirates are attacking, he won’t be coming, now will he?”
Douglas, who had finally bathed and found a clean shirt, pushed his way to the front.
“The old one who served the village was killed last year. Damned pirates have taken everything from us. We got to stop ’em this time!” He was followed by a crowd of locals who shouted and brandished makeshift weapons. I didn’t doubt their heart, but wondered if they could do much harm with axes, crude spears and the kind of swords that Jeremiah’s soldiers would have discarded as too worn to keep.
“That downed bridge leaves us wide open to attack.” I frowned. “We must set a strong guard here and lads with bows and arrows should be ready on the battlements.” I realized Lady Anne had stopped inside, at the doorway, afraid to come out. I walked up to where she stood under the lintel.
“Lady Anne, we need a lookout. Someone to go up to the tower room and watch for the pirates. If they make it past the king’s soldiers, we will surely need warning. Can you be our lookout? You must have good eyesight. I’ve seen how you can make the tiniest of stitches.”
“Yes, yes, I am blessed with very strong eyesight.” Anne picked up her skirts. “I can’t be heard from up there, but I will see them from far away. Send a boy with me to run down with the word if I see them coming. I will heat water in the kettle there. If they try to sneak close to the walls, I will greet them with boiling water on their heads.”
“Excellent!” I gestured for one of the local boys to follow her. I hoped and prayed we wouldn’t have need for this, but at least she was moving and not still standing there weeping and useless. She’d left me with my knife as well.
“Go with her, Gloriana. You know Jeremiah is not going to stand for you leading the lads like this.” Valdez stood at my elbow, trying to urge me back inside the castle.
“You’re mad. I’m ready to fire on whoever crosses that drawbridge. If I didn’t think I’d distract him, I’d go down to the sea and offer to help Jeremiah there.” I jerked away from Valdez’s hand on my sleeve. I knew every eye in the castle was on us.
“You forget your place, sir.” I said it quietly but I was sure he heard me.
“My place is to protect you. Standing here in the middle of what could be a pitched battle is the last thing Jeremiah would want. He would have my head for allowing it.” Valdez pulled his own sword. “You’d better hope to God no pirates make it this far.”
Just then the boy Anne had taken with her burst through the door. “Pirates are sneakin’ up the path from the beach. “Taint many of ’em but they’re armed. They musta got away from the rest.”
I drew a sharp breath. It was one thing to issue orders to my dozen or so men who were armed with bows and a few knives. Quite another to actually have to face what the locals claimed were fearsome pirates. Claimed? I’d seen the evidence of their raids and knew they’d left behind a trail of dead bodies and stolen girls.
“We’ll fight with ye. No hiding this time. Let them try to take one of my girls and they’ll see what happens.” Holly held her biggest iron skillet and a butcher knife. Her scullery maids were armed with brooms and mops. One had even brought a poker from the fireplace. Mercy waved a rolling pin, her face grim though she kept one hand on her stomach.
I wanted to send my pretty maid into the castle to protect the babe she was carrying, but I saw her resolve. I would keep my eye on her. There was no way I would let a pirate take her anywhere.
“Aye, Holly. No more hiding from ’em, I say as well. Or running like scared sheep. If a lady like yourself can stand up to those bastards, Mistress Gloriana, then so can we.” Douglas held what looked like one of the ancient spears that had come from a display on the wall of the great hall. Stable lads stood behind him, their weapons the tools they used to muck out the horse stalls. They gave rallying cries of agreement and waved their makeshift weapons in the air.
“Then get ready.” Valdez tried to put me behind him. “I hear them coming.” He leaned closer. “Smell them too. You’ve proved you can hit what you aim for, so notch an arrow, Gloriana, and try to shoot the leader. That should send them running back to their ship.”
It was good advice. I did as he said. I wasn’t surprised to find my own hands shaking. How many pirates could there be? I heard Valdez ask the boy who’d come down from the tower.
“Didn’t think to ask, sir. Lady Anne was screaming at the lot, telling me to hurry down to spread the word. She was pouring hot water out the arrow slit. Never saw her like that. No, sir, never did. Was wild with hate, she was. Out of her mind, I’m thinkin’. Wasn’t hittin’ anyone with the water. Just wanted to throw somethin’. Know what I mean?” The boy shifted from foot to foot, tripping and tangling in my skirt.
“Yes. You did well. Run back up to the lady. Tell her we are ready and to stay there. She can look for the king’s men to come to our aid. Bring us word when they are on their way.” Valdez spoke kindly to the lad and even pressed a coin in his hand before swatting him on the backside and sending him back to the tower room.
I noticed all this while I was trying to concentrate on the path to the castle. Valdez with his extra-sharp shape-shifter senses may have heard them and smelled them, but they were not in sight over the swell of land in front of us. The night was gloomy, the moon shrouded by clouds. Would I even be able to see the leader when they appeared? I was full of doubts and questions. It seemed to take them forever to walk the path from the beach. What was taking them so long? But then Anne would have been able to see for miles in her tower.
The pirates would be moving cautiously now after hearing Anne’s screams. They had to know we’d been warned they were coming. They weren’t afraid of her boiling water, of course. Foolish lady. Didn’t she realize the battlements were where soldiers threw such things as boiling oil and water on invaders? But then she had been overcome by her hatred. Who could blame her? We’d only sent her to the tower to keep her out of harm’s way. The fact that she’d been of use was a happy surprise.
“Are you all right, Gloriana?” Valdez had put away his sword and pulled out a pistol. It was unusual to see him with a gun since our kind usually avoided the noise of a gunshot and preferred more silent means when we fought.
“I am finding that talking is easier than doing. I hope we are up to this.” I glanced around at our motley crew. Once again, Colin had taken the lead, sending some of his best archers up to the battlements. I was proud of him. The rest of the men and women looked tense but ready to take on whoever came up to the drawbridge. I could see that they were scared but determined. What had they done before? Hidden behind Lord Ralph’s trained soldiers and expected them to do all the fighting? I was sure that was exactly what they had done and now they regretted it.
If only we could have raised the blasted drawbridge! I was seeing to that as soon as this was over. If I didn’t end up dead or in the hold of a pirate ship.
“Here they come!” A voice from above us shouted from the battlements.
I saw a crowd of men approaching. The light from the full moon as the clouds drifted away suddenly made them easy to see. They were waving swords in the air, a small man in the lead. Or was it a man? Didn’t matter. A flight of arrows came at us and I ducked. Just in time. One hit the man next to me and he screamed when it landed, taking him down to the ground.
I froze. So close. More men screamed in pain and Valdez tried to drag me away from the fight.
“Stop. Let me try…” I took aim. For a moment I wondered if I could shoot a moving target, a human moving target. My hand shook and I wanted to aid the man who’d fallen next to me, the scent of his blood an unwelcome distraction. They were still so far away but not too far for an accurate shot if I could just hold steady. Gunshots rang out and our own arrows flew, taking some of the pirates down with screams of pain. I took a breath, steadied, and finally released my arrow.
“You made a direct hit!” Valdez held his fire. “Let’s see if that sends them running. Fire when ready but hold your places, people. Don’t run after them, no matter how tempting it might be. It could be a trap.”
I put down my bow and watched the pirates surround the fallen person. Valdez must have seen something I hadn’t. I’d been too focused on hitting the target. Was it the woman? The red-haired leader of the pirates? The people surrounding her picked her up and retreated as a barrage of arrows from the battlements let fly. A few more pirates fell and were helped up amid screams and shouting.
They returned fire and, much to my dismay, I found myself shoved behind Valdez out of harm’s way. The pirates’ arrows fell short as they ran, carrying their wounded and heading back toward the sea. Colin and his crew made as if to follow them but Valdez told them to stop.
“Let them go. They should run into Lord Campbell’s men near the beach. Even if they don’t, they are anxious to get home. Desperate men have nothing to lose.” Valdez ignored Colin’s arguments. “No, you are not ready. Trust me on that. Stay here and guard Mistress Gloriana. It is what Lord Campbell told you to do.”
I ignored the grumbles of the men around me. My mind was awhirl. Had I killed the leader? Had it been the pirate queen? Valdez seemed to think so. What could he see that I couldn’t? It was too much to hope that this could be the end of the long battle with the Irish. Without their leader, they might lose heart. It seemed cowardly to finish with an arrow what had been going on for years here. I turned to Valdez.
“Are you sure it was the woman? What did you see?” I’d been so focused on my aim, that black jacket over her heart, I hadn’t looked anywhere else. A sturdy body in britches, yes, I’d noticed that.
“I saw the red hair they’ve been talking about. She had it tied back but it was unmistakable, Gloriana. They are taking her back to the ship.” He leaned down and whispered. “I’m going inside to shift. I’ll follow them to see what I can find out. Stay here and wait for my return.” He hurried into the castle. Moments later a large black bird flew out the door and over the heads of all of us, winging toward the sea.
“That’s Valdez, ain’t it? The bird?” Colin stood next to me. “I know he’s one of those shifters, Lord Jeremiah told me.” He frowned. “Don’t know why he thinks to give orders here.”
“Keep your voice down. That’s our secret, you know. The mortals from the castle wouldn’t understand.” I felt lightheaded. I walked over to the steps and sat. “He’s a seasoned warrior. You’d be wise to listen to him. Now send someone up to tell Lady Anne we won the day.”
“I will.” Colin gestured and whispered to a boy who went running. “Seems like you mighta killed the pirate leader. You think it was her? The one with the red hair?”
“Valdez seems to think so. That’s why he’s following them. To see if I killed her.” I made myself stand and face the gathered men and women who were waiting. They talked quietly among themselves, not sure if it could be true, that they were safe, for today anyway.
“Thank you, all of you, for coming to the aid of the castle. You are a brave lot and we won the day.” I lifted my arms in a kind of salute.
A cheer went up and the people began to talk excitedly. Gradually they began putting away their weapons and returning to their daily chores. It was a letdown, I could see that much.
“Open a keg, Colin. Ale for everyone!” More cheers and I finally picked up my skirts and walked inside.
Lady Anne was coming down the steps from the tower, her cheeks flushed. “Did you really kill the pirate queen?”
“I don’t know. I managed to hit the leader of that group with my arrow. It stopped them, anyway. Let’s go to your solar. I imagine we’ll find out from Jeremiah and the captain what happened once the pirate ships retreated.” I followed her up. “You did well.”
“I was terrified.” Anne went straight to a decanter and poured two glasses. She handed me one. “We should toast. I think we actually won!”
“Yes, it seems so.” I raised my glass and touched the rim to my lips. I inhaled then tasted the fine liquor and wished I dared drink. Instead I walked to the window and managed to spill most of it outside without Anne seeing me do it. “I hope you hit a pirate with your boiling water.”
“I doubt it, but it made me feel useful.” Anne laughed and sat in front of the fire.
I realized it was the first time I’d heard her laugh since I’d met her. She was really very pretty. Now if I could get her out of her blacks, she might learn to live again.
“You were useful. The pirates thought they would catch us by surprise. I’m sure some of them kept the king’s troops busy at the beach while the others came here. This must be how they managed to steal so much from the castle before. It won’t work now that we’re on to them.” I set the goblet on the table.
“That was so much better than cowering in that dark room.” Anne was almost giddy as she downed her drink.
“I admit I was scared. I’m surprised I managed to hit anything with my arrow. Valdez has sent a spy to find out if I killed her or just injured the woman.” I looked out at the night sky where the full moon rode high. It was still early evening. “We will have to wait to find out.”
“I hope she’s dead.” Anne flushed. “That sounds very bloodthirsty of me, doesn’t it? I don’t care. She has taken too much from us here.”
It was much later when Valdez came back with a report. He had managed to land on the pirate ship where he could hear them working over the leader. My arrow had done serious damage to the woman’s shoulder. She had bled quite a bit but they had managed to save her. Once he’d learned that much, Valdez had gone back to where the king’s men were celebrating a win over the pirates at the beach. The troops had fought well. They had no idea there had been another attempt at the castle before the pirate ships had retreated.
Jeremiah came in dirty and elated, ready for a quick bath before he told me about his night. When it came time to hear how mine had gone, he stared at me with new respect.
“You wounded the pirate queen? She brought men with her to attack the castle?”
“Yes, I made a lucky shot.” I had bathed before Jeremiah got home and lay in bed waiting for the dawn. “Valdez shifted and boarded her ship. He confirmed that she didn’t die but was sorely wounded.”
“She was clever, dividing her forces like that. We underestimated her.” He paced in front of the fire wearing only a drying cloth. “We’ll not do that again. The next time she raids, we will leave a force with you here.”
“That would be wise. But it will be a while. Valdez claims she won’t have the use of her arm for a long time, if ever.” I was boasting, but why not? “You should have seen me, Jeremiah. I was trembling, terrified I would miss. But I stood there, the drawbridge between us, and took aim. It’s a wonder that I managed to hit the mark.”
“Amazing.” He threw off the cloth and climbed into bed.
I couldn’t tell what he really thought of that. His face was serious. Was he angry that I hadn’t hidden away as he’d asked me to? Had disobeyed his order to Valdez? Surely Jeremiah knew by now that I wasn’t a meek woman to be stuffed in a little room and locked away.
“Are you proud of me?” I hated that my voice had become coaxing.
“You could have been killed. Who is to say she didn’t have an archer of her own, his arrow trained on your heart?” He ran a fingertip over my breast to where my heart beat slowly in the vampire way. “I didn’t bring you here with me so you could risk your life, Gloriana. I’ve a good mind to send you straight back to Edinburgh.”
“What?” I sat up straight. Of course, I was naked. I knew he might be upset with me and had prepared to cozen him. Oh, why was I bothering? He should be proud. I was his warrior woman, wasn’t I? Damn him for an overprotective beast.
“I mean it, Gloriana. Are you aiming to become like that pirate bitch, parading around in britches and leading a pack of men on raids?” He sat up, his hands in fists. “I won’t have it. You put yourself in danger. Arrows are made of wood, damn them. The right kind of wood and, if one finds its way into your heart, you are dead, Gloriana, as surely as if you’d been staked. I would lose you. Just. Like. That.” He wouldn’t look at me, just slammed his fists onto the bedcovers.
“No, you wouldn’t lose me, Jeremiah. I promise. Like it or not, you will be stuck with me forever.” I crawled over to kneel in front of him. “Stop this. You know what and who I am. Let me be the woman I chose to be or I will choke from your tight hold.”
“I have to hold you tight.” He drew me to him and buried his face in my hair. “You might get away from me. Others have.”
“I will not.” I kissed his shoulder. “Did you lose someone today?”
“A lad from the village back home. I will have to write to his mother.” He lay back and stared at the ceiling. “It will be a hard loss for his family. I tried to keep him back from the fighting but he wanted to show off his bravery. It was foolish and I took no joy in killing the pirate who took Danny’s life.”
“I’m sorry, Jeremiah.” I lay beside him and held him. “You knew there would be losses. This is war of a kind.”
“It never gets easier.” He rolled me under him and kissed me. “I have seen too many battles, Gloriana, and seen how they can go wrong. I don’t want you in one. You were lucky this time. It is unlikely you will be so lucky a second time.”
“I know.” I stared into his dark eyes. “Write your letter and I will write mine. I’m going to ask Maggie if she will come to serve us again. That should bring Fergus back to your side.” I smoothed the line between his brows. “You need a friend, I think. Fergus was a true one.”
“Yes, and I miss him. I will add my plea to yours. I’m sure the Turnbulls are not being kind to Maggie, a mortal surrounded by that family. Fergus loves her enough to please her by coming here, I’m sure of it. He is bound to be restless there as well. He is not used to a dull domestic life. They will be a fine addition to our household.” Jeremiah finally smiled. “Clever girl. You always know just what I need.”
“Do I?” I ran a hand down his body. “Let’s see if that’s true.”
By the time sunrise hit us, we were both feeling better. Had we resolved our feelings about my efforts to play the warrior? No. But at least we had help coming. A friend for each of us. What could possibly be a problem with that?