Time and Space (15 page)

The cold November wind chilled Cadence to her soul.  She was standing on top of the castle wall, her bow in her hand, her quiver strapped to her back. Islynn and Fianna were stationed further down the line.

It was a good thing she hadn’t eaten much this morning. Her stomach was tossing and turning and threatening to revolt. A roar went up further down the line. Cadence squinted and thought she could make out spots of red approaching the castle.

The moment felt surreal. She’d seen paintings and drawings of Redcoats in history books. Her father had taken her and Carter to Lexington, Massachusetts on Patriots Day for the re-enactment of the “shot heard ‘round the world,” which started the Revolutionary War. These Redcoats weren’t here because tea was dumped in a harbor or to play fight. They were here to sack Moone Castle.

Pulling her focus from the approaching army, Cadence looked down into the bailey of the castle where Fionn and his men were gathered. Thanks to Carter’s research, they knew the English originally knocked down the gate with a battering ram and Fionn planned to counter the attack by riding out to meet his enemy on horseback rather than trying to defend the castle from within.

Donnall was sitting astride Atlas. His long dark hair was pulled back and tied with a piece of leather and his hands rested calmly on the reins, hands, which only a few hours ago were stroking her body into a frenzy. She should have told him she loved him even if the words scared her to death.

“We’re in deep now, Lady Cadence,” James said from behind her.

She stared out at the formation of advancing soldiers. “We have to stop them, James. Is your lover with Fionn’s men?”

“He is. After seeing Fionn and Carter handfast, I asked him if he would marry me. He said yes.”

“Kelley is a very lucky man. Save me a dance at your wedding.”

“Only if you save me a dance at yours. I know Donnall is a man of few words, but it is plain to see he cares a great deal for you.”

Cadence nodded, tears pricking her eyes, and stared back out at the approaching army.

“Archers at the ready!” James bellowed, the call echoing down the line.

Cadence wiped her sweaty palms against the back of her breeches and took a deep breath. Islynn and Fianna smiled brightly at her, excitement bubbling in their eyes. She was the reason her friends were standing on the castle wall, bows in hand. It would be her fault if something happened to either of them.

“Take aim!” James pulled back his bowstring, watching as the other women followed his lead.

Cadence focused on the sea of red advancing at breakneck pace toward the castle. She was scared to death and could hear Donnall’s voice in her head urging her to let her training take over.

“FIRE!” James cried.

Releasing her bowstring, she watched the volley of arrows fly toward the English soldiers. Screams of men and horses floated up to her. Under other circumstances she would have felt badly for the injured men. Not today. She notched another arrow and waited for James’ command to fire again.

Wave after wave of arrows flew from the women’s bows, sending men spilling off their horses, but there were still plenty of men riding on toward the castle unscathed.

One rider at the back of the advancing army caught her attention. With his more fancy regalia and sandy blond hair, there was no doubt in her mind he was Donnall’s brother, William. Looking down at Fionn’s men, she could see how tense the men and horses were becoming. Donnall, however, looked peaceful sitting astride Atlas.

“Bows down!” James called.

This was it. She knew James was calling for the firing to stop because the gate was about to go up. The riders of Moone would soon be on the attack. None of the archers on the wall was a good enough shot to keep firing at the British soldiers without risking hitting their own men.

“Now what, James?”

“We wait and we watch. If the soldiers get close enough, we start throwing the rocks the children gathered. If they start scaling the walls, we call for the boiling water.”

Cadence shivered, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth. It was one thing killing a man from afar with her bow and arrows. It would be another thing altogether to kill a man up close and personal but she would do it to save the people she loved.

“FOR MOONE!” Fionn shouted, signaling for the gate to open.

From his spot in the bailey, Donnall had watched Cadence and the other women firing volley after volley of arrows. He couldn’t help but admire her smooth and fluid motion. She had been a quick study and he couldn’t help feel proud of her for defending her home and her people.

As much as he’d been against it in the beginning, Donnall was glad now for the cover the women were providing. It was likely the English were not going to expect all of Moone’s riders to go on the offensive.

Preparing to ride, he couldn’t help but think of William. He’d learned long ago memories of his brothers in England only upset him. Now he was about to face his brother on the battlefield. He wished they could have reunited under different circumstances. Donnall pushed those feelings down as far as they would go. Fionn and the Ò Ciardhas were his family and it had always felt disloyal to think fondly of his English family.

Being the second son, Will, would inherit nothing from the Longhurst’s vast holdings. Their father’s lands and title would go to their oldest brother, Charles. It made sense he would have joined the army and made his own way in the world.

William was four years older than Donnall. When it was time for Donnall to leave for Ireland, his usually stoic brother had broken down and hugged him close, telling him again and again it shouldn’t have to be like this. The last thing William said before their father ripped them apart was that William would find him. It seemed he had kept his promise. Would they see each other this day? Would they be forced to face each other as enemies rather than reuniting as brothers?

All thoughts of a tender reunion with William fled the moment Fionn raised the battle cry. Donnall looked up to see Cadence watching him. She pressed her closed fist against her heart. He returned her gesture and made ready to ride. He would do whatever it took to come back to Cadence, even if it meant raising his sword against his own flesh and blood.

Cadence fought back tears when Fionn’s men rode out through the gate.

James slipped an arm around her shoulders. “You promised not to cry if Fionn let the women fight.”

Cadence snorted. James’ clear, blue eyes were shimmering with unshed tears. “Where does that leave you?”

“This is the first time Kelley and I have fought apart. Over our years together, he has saved my arse more times than I can count. Now, he’s out there alone.”

“He’s not alone, James. Kelley is surrounded by his brothers-in-arms.” She knew what he was going through. Standing on the castle wall with a birds-eye-view of the action while Donnall fought for his life was terrifying.

“Thank you for trying to make me feel better, Lady Cadence.” James dashed the sleeve of his tunic against his watery eyes.

“Call me Cadence. We’re family now.” She reached out and linked their hands. The clang of metal on metal pulled her attention toward the battlefield. Being the largest man in the fight, Fionn stood out among Moone’s riders. Her eyes scanned the warriors for Donnall.

“He is there, Cadence.” Fianna pointed into the center of the crush of soldiers.

Donnall was battling an English soldier. His sword reined blow after blow that were met by his opponent’s sword. Cadence didn’t know how it was possible for Donnall to keep swinging his sword like that without tiring.

“Just remember the Gloine will keep him safe.” Islynn took Cadence’s free hand.

“But we’re not sure what power the stone holds.” Cadence’s voice shook with fear.

“My lady-Cadence, why did you not take Carter’s moonstone and return to your home until the battle has ended?”

She remembered Donnall suggesting that very thing and how angry she’d gotten at him. She wished she could take it back now. “Could you have left Kelley behind?”

“Never!” James said, his blue eyes blazing.

“Neither can I.” She turned back to the battle in time to see the British soldier kick out at Donnall and send him tumbling from Atlas’ back to land in a heap on the ground. Two other dismounted soldiers quickly took up the fight.

“Sweet Jesus,” Cadence gasped, holding James’ hand tighter. “We need to get out there to help him, to help all of them.” The women’s arrows had taken down about a quarter of the British soldiers, leaving about two hundred twenty men to fight against the seventy-something Moone warriors. With James on the wall and Carter guarding the children, that put them down two sword arms. Cadence couldn’t make up for the lost sword, but she had her dagger.

“I’ll ride out. You and the rest of the women stay here. I’m leaving you in charge.” James ran off.

“Have you been in charge of an army of women before?” Islynn grinned.

“No and I don’t believe I’ll be very good at taking orders either.”

“Why do you say that?” Fianna asked.

“As soon as James is out of sight, I’m going out there too.”

“You can’t,” Islynn protested.

“I’m in charge. What I say goes.” Cadence fisted her hands on her hips.

“I meant you can’t go without us.” Islynn smiled brightly.

“No, you need to stay here. Stay safe.” Her friends had made it through the battle so far without a scratch. She planned to keep it that way.

“Like hell,” Fianna yelled. “I’ll not stay here and wait for some English bastard to make me his unwilling bride.”

“I’m coming too.” Islynn grabbed two sheaves of arrows and stuck half in Fianna’s quiver and the other half in her own.

“Neither of you are any good at taking orders.” They were apparently all in this together. She couldn’t tell her friends tales of how independent women are in the future and expect them not to want that for themselves.

“We get it from our fearless leader.” Fianna’s smile was brilliant.

They did get it from their leader, but Cadence was far from fearless.

Donnall was in the thick of the battle. Two soldiers were attacking at once and he was quickly tiring. He hadn’t seen Fionn since they’d ridden into the fray and he had seen no sign of William. Kicking out at one soldier, he sent the man falling to the ground. Two short strokes later, the other man joined him, grabbing his bleeding leg and calling Donnall an Irish cocksucker. “You’re confusing me with your mother.” Donnall grinned cheekily and looked around for his next opponent when a series of shrill yells pulled his attention back toward the castle. He blinked not believing what he was seeing. The women, led by Cadence, were holding their weapons high and running into the fray.

“Oh, no. No, no, no.” This couldn’t be happening. Fionn had instructed James to stay on the wall and keep the women safe. Now, here they were running head-long into the fight. All of the women, with the exception of Cadence, were holding their bows and started firing at the British soldiers. If the enemy hadn’t expected Moone’s guard to come out of the gate fighting on horseback, they certainly wouldn’t have been expecting an army of women archers each dressed in breeches firing off arrows like a modern day Artemis.

His initial terror at seeing Cadence running toward the fight was tempered by knowing she was wearing his lucky charm. Even though it had always kept him safe, that was no guarantee it would work for Cadence.

A yell from his right grabbed his attention. Fianna was flat on her back and scrambling backward to get away from an angry Redcoat with an arrow sticking in his left shoulder. Her corn silk blond hair had tumbled loose from its tie and was fanned out on the ground. Her dagger was clutched in her right hand.

“Stupid little bitch. As soon as all of your men are dead, you are mine. But before we get to that, I’ll leave you with a reminder of your mistake.” The soldier slashed out at her arm, drawing blood.

It was like a dream. He was running full-out, but he wasn’t going to get to Fianna before the soldier went at her a second time. Fionn would never forgive him if anything happened to his sister. A mounted Redcoat flew past him with the soldier dismounting and tackling his own comrade from behind and knocking the sword out of his hand.

“Fee, grab his sword,” Donnall yelled breathlessly. He was relieved when his shout broke her out of her shocked trance. 

Fianna moved to grab the sword, the right sleeve of her tunic in bloody tatters.

“Thank the gods you’re safe. Fianna, what in hell were you thinking coming out here into the middle of a battlefield like this?”

“Two men were on you. Cadence needed to help you, so we told her she wasn’t coming out here without us.”

Looking to his right, the Redcoat who had saved Cadence was kneeling over the soldier who hurt Fianna, his sword at the ready. “I think you’ve stopped him,” Donnall deadpanned. The other soldier was out cold, his face a bloody mess.

“I did not train him to attack defenseless women!” the Redcoat seethed.

“Who are you calling defenseless?” Fianna was still struggling to move the other man’s heavy sword.