My Valiant Knight by Hannah Howell Read Free Book Online Page A

as spellstruck by his smile as she felt.
    “ ’Twas worthy of a try,” she finally said, hoping he could not hear the hint of huskiness in her voice.
    “I shall have to watch you closely.”
    Ainslee’s reply died on her tongue when she idly glanced to the side. There was no mistaking the swift yet silent advance of armed men. It was not only their stealthy approach that warned Ainslee of danger. From all she had heard in the last few months, from all the whispered tales of horror in the kitchens and stables, she knew what now approached them was the newest scourge to darken her land.
    “I think you had best watch the men on your right more closely, m’lord,” she said.
    Even as Gabel looked around, the men ceased all attempts to be stealthy, screamed out an ear-splitting mix of war cries, and charged. “Who in Mary’s sweet name are they?”
    “Outlaws, men cast out of their clans, towns, and homes. Men far past due for a good hanging, and a few of the notorious Graemes. Ye had best act soon. They are swift.”
    In a heartbeat Gabel assessed the vulnerability of his men and made his decision. Unprepared for the attack and dragging two wounded men plus one girl, they were left with few choices. He snapped out orders to his men even as he spurred Ainslee’s strong mount into a gallop. While Gabel and the greater part of his force made a loud show of fleeing, the two men dragging the litters carrying Justice and Ronald hurried into the disguising shadows of the forest on their left. Three men slipped after them to guard their backs.
    As he rode, drawing the outlaws after him on their swift mounts, Gabel cursed fluently. He detested fleeing like some coward, but he had to pull the attackers away from the weaker members of their group. He wished he had had the time to send Ainslee off with the wounded. Gabel also cursed the distraction he had allowed to creep into his mind, stealing his usual keen sense of danger. He should have been paying attention to the treacherous country he rode through, not the weather and not the tiny female clinging to him.
    “If ye turn a wee bit westward right now, ye will reach a rocky rise where ye might make a stand against this swine,” Ainslee yelled, trying to be heard above the pounding of the horses’ hooves.
    Gabel did as she suggested and immediately wondered why. Instinct had directed him, but he had to question how good that instinct was. What would a young wellborn woman know of the proper place to try and defend oneself? A moment later he knew his instinct had been right. He did not even have to order his men to make for the rocky knoll. They quickly recognized its worth as a temporary fortress.
    Ainslee cried out softly as she was pushed from the saddle the moment they reached the top of the hill. She barely stopped herself from hitting the ground hard enough to hurt herself. Even as she struggled to steady herself, Gabel shoved her back amongst the horses, then turned with his men to meet the attack.
    As Ainslee huddled amongst the fretting horses, her panting wolfhound collapsing at her side, she watched the outlaw force reign to an abrupt halt at the base of the hill. She prayed that they would decide that an attack would be too dangerous and flee, but doubted that her prayers would be answered. Such men had so little to lose, they would undoubtedly try an attack at least once. She did not want any of Gabel’s men to be hurt, then briefly worried that she might be betraying her family with such sentiments. After a moment’s thought she decided she was no traitor to the MacNairns. It was not wrong to wish no one would be injured or killed and, at this precise moment, the Normans were all that stood between her and the ruthless criminals at the foot of the rocks.
    “M’lady, did you say you know who these men are?” asked Gabel as he waited for the attack he knew was to come.
    “Only through the tales of their many crimes,” she replied. “They are murderers,