- God, how can this woman find herself in trouble so fast? - I whispered.
Getting off the horse, I slowly got closer. I soon realized that the group Bree had led won the battle against some men who looked like mercenaries. Keilan was lying on a tree apparently injured and unconscious, but where was Bree? I took the bow I always carried with me and put the hood over my head, and slowly walked towards where Keilan was.
- Alec? - he whispered when he saw me. - What are you doing here? I thought Bree said he left you safe at the camp.
- First, she chained me to her bed. Second, I'm gonna kill her if no one's done it before. - ...I portrayed it in an ironic way as I untied it. - Are you hurt?
Keilan made a face and put his hand over his abdomen.
- Yeah, I got a cut while I was hunting.
I looked at the bleeding wound.
- It doesn't look very serious. Where's Bree?
- I don't know, but I saw her fighting with two men and they went into the clearing. - he responded with difficulty. - Alec, she may be very good, but she'll die if no one goes there to help her.
I looked around and heard a scream coming from not too far away. Taking Keilan's arm, I helped him walk to the horse.
- Can you make it to the camp?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- All right! All right! I'll stay and try to find Bree. - I answered. - Now go!
I helped Keilan ride, and he went off shooting towards the camp. Then Keilan disappeared out of sight. Pulling the sword from the sheath, I went further into the clearing. One of the mercenaries showed up and jumped in front of me. We started a sword crash and soon he was lying on the ground lifeless. I continued the journey and just ahead I heard the sound of the tinkling of swords. Bree fought fiercely against two huge men. Her arm was bleeding and she was at a disadvantage. A third party joined the group and she smiled coldly. I had to admit, she was very brave. Preparing the bow, I aimed an arrow at the back of one of the men who fell with a cry of pain. The others stopped to see where the arrow was coming from and looked at my eyes.
- Alec? - she screamed in amazement. - How did you get here?
- It wasn't hard, but I should warn you that if one of them doesn't kill her, I'll kill her.
- Alec MacCalister! - one of the men said coldly. - Your reputation precedes you.
- That's great! - I smiled, wielding the sword and pointing in your direction. - If you know me, then you'll be the one to help me.
The man laughed by signaling to another and jumped on Bree, seizing the moment of her distraction. He managed to disarm it and they fell to the ground. The man tried to slit her throat with the sword he wielded while she held his fist trying to avoid the worst. I stopped by to help her, but the other one came towards me and there was no time to shoot another arrow. Dodging the blow, I quickly stuck my sword in the man's back. Bree fought with fury trying not to die. At one point she grabbed a rock and hit the man's head. She stood up and picked up a sword that was lying on the man. There was hatred in his green eyes. They both started a crash and soon she was able to disarm it. The man fell to his knees, but before she did anything I stopped her.
- No! - I shouted coming closer. - I want him alive!
- What's that? What's that? No way! - ...she's been poking around. - That idiot tried to kill Keilan. I can't leave him alive.
I snorted in.
- You can and you will! - I replied harshly.
- No! - she did. - I'll kill him!
- Then you'll have to get past me!
She shrugged and smiled.
- I'd be delighted!
With a quick blow she attacked me with her sword. I dodged a laugh and it pissed her off.
- Is that all you got?
Bree tried again and I dodged it again. Her blows were very good, but I didn't want to hurt her any more than I already was. I had to wear her out to get her out of there before other men came.
- Bree, we don't have time for jokes.
- Who says I'm kidding? - she returned it and tried to hit me again. - Are you going to dodge it or are you going to fight?
- It's not in my mind to cross swords with a lady. - I laughed back. - Especially one so beautiful. We better get back and you show me the other pair of those shackles.
- You should have stayed where I left you.
- If I hadn't come, the landlady would be dead by now.
Bree came at me and I noticed she was snitching. At that point she would no longer have the strength to hold the handle of the sword or any control over it. With a dry blow to Bree's sword blade, I threw it away and pointed the tip of mine at his neck at the same time as I threw a dagger at the leg of the man who was trying to escape.
