“Put your sword down, rid yourself of your other weapons, and come over to me and I will see that your wife and bairn do not suffer a painful death,” Jaffee bargained.
Rannick almost laughed at Jaffee’s offer. He was not a man of his word. He would make Bliss suffer no matter what bargain he offered. He took a step toward his wife, saving her and their bairn more important than anything else.
“Stay where you are!” Jaffee called out.
“A final goodbye,” Rannick said, hoping to get closer and saw his wife’s hand that rested on her stomach inch closer to the dagger. He knew her intention and he did not hesitate. He lunged.
Lana did not hesitate either, she went to plunge the blade into Bliss’s stomach and caught her arm instead. By then Rannick had Lana around the neck.
“Get her! He’s mine,” Jaffee screamed, and the four men charged ahead.
Rannick didn’t wait, he snapped Lana’s neck, and released a horrific roar as he drew his sword, grabbed his dagger, and threw it at the one man. It caught him in the stomach, and he went down, blood pouring from him.
“Stay behind me!” Rannick ordered his wife as he pulled another dagger from his boot. Another man rushed to get around him at one side while another went to his other side. Rannick’s sword severed the one man’s arm nearly off and he flung his dagger to catch the other man in the neck just before he reached his wife. Both men fell to the ground, the one dead and the other writhing in pain.
The fourth man stopped, looked upon Rannick and his fellow comrades, and ran off into the woods.
Bliss had seen the fear that had flared in the man’s eyes and understood what had made him flee. Evil had captured her husband’s face as she had seen it do another time and she swore it could frighten the devil himself, but would it frighten Jaffee?
Jaffee let out an equally raging roar and Rannick was relieved to see his roar had gotten the desired results. Lawler and some of his warriors emerged from the woods.
“Protect Bliss!” Rannick shouted and with rapid speed, dropped his sword and swiped two of the daggers from the fallen men and headed straight at Jaffee on a full run, letting loose another ominous roar.
Jaffee held his sword firm and steady, prepared for the first swing, thinking Rannick foolish for fighting only with daggers. Jaffee realized too late he had misjudged Rannick’s skill.
Rannick bent low and slid in the snow with ease beneath the sword Jaffee swung at him and slipped right past him though not before his dagger sliced across Jaffee’s calf. Rannick was up on his feet to his full height quickly as Jaffee stumbled from his wound, giving Rannick enough time to slice his arm quick and deliver a jab to his lower back before swerving around to finish with a plunge of his dagger into Jaffee’s stomach.
Jaffee stood stunned, his sword hanging from his hand, little strength left in it, as blood flowed from his wounds.
He stared at Rannick in disbelief as he wavered on his feet. “I should have paid heed to her warnings.” The sword fell from his hand, and he fought to remain standing. He lost the fight and fell on his back, blood pooling his mouth. He struggled with his words. “It isn’t over.”
“Who? Tell me who wants me dead besides you?” Rannick urged, looking down at him.
Jaffee grinned, blood coating his teeth and spilling from his mouth along with his last words. “Family.”
Rannick walked away from the dead man, his last words disturbing him. It couldn’t possibly be anyone in his family. Or was it that he did not want to believe anyone in his family could do such a heinous thing?
Lawler was helping Bliss bandage her arm when he approached them. Lawler stepped out of the way to leave Rannick to finish helping.
“I will get Lady Bliss a cloak, she shivers with cold, and I let her know that Damia and the bairn are on their way home with Bram,” Lawler said, then hurried off.
“Is it bad?” he asked, crouching down beside her to gently brush her hands aside to finish tying the cloth.
“I believe you stopped her before her blade could do any serious damage, but I will be able to tell more when we return home,” she said and slipped her hand around the side of his neck. “I feared I would lose you when you foolishly took daggers to a sword fight, but I was amazed and relieved at how quickly you conquered the man.”
He took hold of her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss her palm before moving it to rest against his chest. “Defeat was unacceptable since my heart cannot live without you.”