ROMANCE: Lion Protector (Paranormal Shifter BBW Military Romance) (Shapeshifter Alpha Male Short Stories Book 2) (81 page)

5.

             
Killian stirred in the middle of the night and shook Katherine awake. “Get up, my love. It's time to go.” He was panicked and his voice was hushed and hurried. “Langley! Get up! It's time to leave! They're coming, I can feel it.” Langley roused himself from his slumber and rolled over to see Killian and Katherine standing up and beginning to pack up the campsite supplies. Gathering what he could, he tossed the packs to Langley. Langley was still disoriented. “What's going on?!”

              Killian responded, “The army is near. Go take the supplies and go ahead. Get as far north with Katherine as ye can. I'll catch up.”

              Katherine protested, “But you'll be--”

              “No!” echoed Langley.

              “No time for arguments now! Safe journeys till forever, my friend. Go.”

              Langley took Katherine by the hand and the pair hastily started their trek ahead of Killian. They were attempting to be quick, yet stealthy, in an effort not to disturb any underbrush. They did not want to alert any enemies of their presence. Shortly after they started their passage north, Killian stood at the camp with his eyes narrowed, scanning the wood line, his bow string pulled tight, ready to fire. He could feel the vibration of horse hooves on the ground in the distance and smell the enemy's sweat in the air. He could tell he was going to be outnumbered on a large scale, so his strategy would be just to distract the troops long enough to buy Langley and Katherine some additional travel time, then flee.

              Before the first troop could even get into position, Killian sprang into action. He climbed a nearby knoll and took cover under a shady thicket. The men would be drawn to the smell of the cinder left behind from the fire; it was then he would strike. As he predicted, the English knights rode their stallions straight to the remainder of the campfire. Before they could see him Killian struck the first blow. He positioned his bow to where a target would be then let it loose. It connected, striking one knight against his temple and piercing the thin layer of chain metal separating the helmet from his skull. The knight fell off his horse and thudded on the ground, dead on impact.

              Seeing their fallen comrade, the other troops charged toward the direction the arrow came from. They were playing into Killian's hands as he had planned. He launched a volley of arrows in their direction, several making an impact and landing on their targets as more soldiers fell. In the distance, though, he was surprised to see another squad of infantrymen flanking his right side. They were attempting to surround him.

              Killian knew that he was running out of time before he had to make his escape. He could distract them, but he didn't have enough arrows or stamina to defeat them, especially not on foot. As they approached him he launched another volley of arrows in their general direction before turning and heading back south. He went much deeper into the woods this time. He didn't hesitate before jumping in the small stream, submerging his body underneath the icy waters. He swam against the current for a while until he was convinced he had been underwater long enough for the animals to lose their scent, then he emerged.

              Shivering, he pulled himself up on the riverbank and lay in the grass, catching his breath. He stood up and stripped off his wet clothes, knowing he had to shed them or be subject to his stamina being sapped. He pulled on a fur cloak he had in his bag of supplies and continued his journey. It wasn't the warmest guard against the elements, but at least it was warmer than the cold, wet garments he had discarded. He would visit a shop in the next town they came to and get some new items. Killian had managed to keep hold of his bow while underwater, which he was thankful for. He would not have the time nor the means to craft a new one while under attack. He had a battle axe in his supply kit, but he felt much more comfortable attacking with his weapon of choice, the bow. 

              He continued his trek northward. He only hoped he had created enough time for Langley and Katherine to make it to the mouth of the river, where they would reunite and continue on their path to find the high priest. It was important from here on out there be no delays. War was upon them and they needed to get married soon. Killian wanted to make their marriage official with his people, wanted to get the blessing from the high priest, so even should he die while in battle he could die easily assured that their souls would meet once again in the Summerlands. Killian could only think of Katherine's grace as he trudged onward, cold and tired, climbing up the rocky hillside with an aching body. He would reach her no matter what the cost. If anything was worth fighting for, it wasn't the earth beneath his feet, it wasn't the resources the river could provide to his people, it was her grace.

              Reaching the top of the hill, he looked into the valley on the far west side of the river and his mouth dropped open in shock. He saw the upturned ground where horses and wagons had recently passed through. To his horror he had the realization that he and Langley had miscalculated the amount of time they had until Stefan's army found them. His generals must have already scouted the area before even forming their search parties. Killian ran down the slope into the valley, imagining what fate awaited Katherine and Langley.

6.

              “Well then ye slithly toves ,bring ye best!” Langley snarled and spat at the enemies surrounding him as he placed Katherine behind him protectively. Pulling out his battle axe and shield, he used the shield to partially cover Katherine as the soldiers pressed forward in their attack. They were surrounded on every side by Stefan's army. They had overtaken them coming down the ridge, and now they were in the middle of a wide open field with nowhere to run or hide for cover. Still Langley made the decision to stand and fight. He could have made the choice to throw down his weapons and surrender, but the end result would have been the same. His head would have ended up on a pike outside Stefan's palace anyway. At least if he fought, perhaps Katherine and Killian still had a chance, if Killian was even still alive. He doubted that Killian had met his demise, though. Surely he would have felt his friend's spirit moving had that been the case. They were like brothers. He felt as if Katherine was now his sister and he would fight for her freedom even if it sent him to an early grave. In his opinion, there was no death more honorable than dying as a warrior.

              Standing before Langley, the knight swung his broadsword in an attempt to connect with the man. Anticipating this action, Langley swiftly dodged the attack and swung his battle axe, connecting with the knight's midsection, leaving a gaping wound in his middle as the man fell to his knees, spilling out his blood and entrails on the earth underneath him. “Haha! There ye go! The first has fallen! Where there be the others?! Bring it!”

              The sound of metal clanking against shields and swords colliding with Langley's axe rang throughout the valley. Langley kept on attacking, taking out several of Stefan's men, but as he would defeat one, there would be five to take their place. Katherine assisted in the battle as well, taking a fallen knight's sword and using it to assist Langley in blocking attacks and even dismembering a few of her own countrymen in the skirmish. She didn't feel the least bit bad about the act. She didn't consider herself under any loyalty to her father any longer. Her heart and home was now with Killian and the rogue Scotsmen her father despised so. Her father relegated them into a lower class because their beliefs differed from his own so vastly, but she saw only the good in them. They were honorable men. They had kind hearts and noble intentions; they only wanted to live in harmony with nature and tend to their own wares.

              Killian finally reached the knoll topping the valley in which Langley and Katherine were waiting. The scene looked grim. From his vantage point Killian could see that they were surrounded and the troops showed no sign of diminishing despite Langley's efforts. Narrowing his eyes, Killian knew that he was too far away for his arrows to be effective, so he sped further toward his companions. Finally getting within range he fired several arrows in a widespread pattern, several hitting their mark. Seeing a few of the soldiers fall, Langley smiled broadly and just said, “Aye! There's my Killian. Always late he is. Now, let's finish this!”

              The additional assistance bolstering his morale, Langley felled several more troops, then took Katherine by the arm, moving them further up the battlefield, getting closer to the tree line and cover. Killian continued to follow them, providing them cover as they went with his arrows. He fell into a pattern of launching his arrows, then creeping off into the shadows for cover, then repeating the process again. As they got closer to the wood line, however, Killian realized that it may indeed be a lost cause. Stefan's army numbered in the thousands. As much as they tried to level the playing field to their advantage, they could not defeat them. Not with only three of them fighting.

              He launched one more volley of arrows in their direction as they got to the edge of the wood line, but then watched in horror as one of the troops overtook Langley, striking him from behind with the blunt side of his shield. Langley dropped to his knees, blood spilling onto his shoulders. What followed broke Killian's spirit. The man then speared Langley in the heart with his sword. Killian rushed onto the battlefield, kneeling down by his fallen friend. The blood was already spewing from Langley's mouth, and Killian knew it was too late. He took his friend's hand as the battle raged on with him dodging blows and Katherine fighting off the aggressors with her sword and shield. As he lay dying, Langley asked, “Did we make it, mate?”

              “Aye, ye know we did, my friend. Don't ye see it? It's the rainbow bridge ahead, and those green hills and soft meadows? That be the Summerland. I told ye we'd make it there.”

              “How 'bout that? Who woulda thought...”

              As Langley closed his eyes, he smiled slightly, lips upturned at the corners. He looked relaxed and finally at peace. Killian swallowed the lump in his throat and took Langley's medallion from his neck, a sentimental token to remember his best friend by. Grabbing Katherine's hand he vowed not to let his friend's death be in vain. “Come on, my love, let's make a break for the forest. I've got ye. We've got one in the after realm on our side, at least.”

              The pair ran hand in hand into the dense forest, their footsteps thudding softly on the ground. The cover grew thicker and it became darker as they traveled further into the woods. They paused briefly when they were sure that the soldiers couldn't find them in the wilderness, and embraced. Katherine and Killian clung tightly to each other, breathing heavily and sobbing. They were both sobbing from joy and sorrow. They didn't speak about Langley. Killian merely took Langley's amulet and wrapped it around Katherine's neck, clasping it tightly. He then placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “For protection, my darlin'.”

              They ended their embrace and, as night was falling, walked to a small cave tucked in the depths of the forest that was their original meeting point before being discovered. Killian removed some brush from the opening for Katherine first, then led her inside. It wasn't an ideal campsite, but it was hidden and warm, which both were thankful for. Killian had battle wounds that needed tending do. Katherine also had a few scrapes and bruises that needed mending as well. Killian gathered up some loose sticks and twigs and added what kindling he had in his pack to it, starting a fire to warm the cave, while Katherine began preparing what was left of their supplies that were not lost in the mix of battle.

              The pair ate silently, both staring into the fire, affected by the loss of Langley. There would be no jovial joking tonight, no sordid tales of loose women or victorious battles. Tonight they would mourn their fallen friend. Killian pulled out the remainder of his furs and wordlessly walked over to Katherine, indicating they should rest. He wrapped her in them, then wrapped his body around her completely, his actions a testament to his love. He was trying to keep her warm in the event the fire died out during the night.

              The night grew progressively more quiet and hushed and the cave grew colder. Killian awoke with a start. He looked around but saw nothing, yet it was ice cold despite the fire still burning low. He knew something was off. Before he had the opportunity to wake Katherine, he rolled over to look where she was lying and instead discovered an empty space. Before he could blink, Stefan stood in front of him, holding his daughter by the wrists. “Well, I see your hero is awake now, Daughter. I'm glad he'll be awake for his beheading. It always adds some more drama.”

              “Let her go!”

              “You have no right to talk to me like that! She is my daughter, and you have no blessings on this marriage from me. If you want her, you fight for her like the man you should have been in the beginning, instead of stealing her from the castle in the night.”

              Stefan kicked a sword over to Killian, who stared at it, then stood up. “What is wrong, hero? Are you too weak to pick up a sword now? Or are you just too stupid to know how?”

              Unable to contain the anger in his eyes, he shot Stefan a steely glare, then picked up the broadsword. He was going to end this once and for all. He knew that Katherine would be hurt, but he hoped she would understand his plight and his reasoning for fighting her father. He didn't do it merely for their love. He needed to vanquish the threat Stefan posed to all of his fellow countrymen. Stefan flung Katherine to the side and took up his own weapon.

              The sound of the swords clashing could be heard reverberating off of the cave walls, and both men were equally matched in their skills with the weaponry, yet Killian was obviously the younger and stronger of the two. Stefan, though, had experience in more battles than Killian, so he used every tactic he had learned to his advantage. He tripped Killian, then hit him in the head with the handle of the sword before flipping him to the ground and gaining the upper hand. His blade was inches away from Killian's throat and he was getting ready to slash. The terror in Killian's eyes began to take over. It appeared the aging king still had more fight in him than Killian had anticipated. He couldn't hold him off for any longer, and mentally prepared himself for the slice of the blade across his windpipe, when suddenly Stefan stopped.

              His eyes caught a sheen of metal reflecting in the dim light and he involuntarily turned toward it. In that instant, Killian swept Stefan's knees out from underneath him, leaving him sprawled on the ground. Stefan also lost the grip on his sword and it went skittering across the ground. Unshaken by losing his weapon, he pulled a dagger from his boot, ready to continue combat with Killian. In a swift motion, he arched his arm upward and caught Killian's calf while trying to slice his artery. Killian responded defensively, cutting Stefan's throat. The King fell flat to the ground as his daughter rushed to his side. He looked at her with his eyes still kind toward her, and stilled completely.

              Killian knelt beside Katherine as she sat by her father's body for a moment, completely silent.  She then began to sob softly, and Killian rubbed her shoulders. “I'm sorry, Katherine. Ye know I didn't intend for him to die. I was merely--”

              “Shh. Hush now, my love. I know. It's not his death I mourn. It's his loss of heart during his life. Here.”

              She handed Killian Langley's amulet. which she had used to distract her father from his death, and he placed it again protectively around her neck. Killian helped Katherine to her feet and wrapped his arms around her for comfort and support. “Come on, my love. Let's go see the priest. I know where he is now. We still have a wedding to prepare for.” Together they hobbled toward the back of the cave. “So, where is he? “ Katherine asked dumbfounded.

              “He is here. He's been here the entire time. We will continue to the back of the cave, then underneath the farthest boulder we will find his dwelling below the earth. I doubt you've e'er heard the expression 'as above so below.' He took that literally, knowing that few would look in plain sight.” They walked down the path to the back of the cave and looked under the farthest boulder to find exactly what Killian had predicted. Underneath it was a tiny opening to a well-lit hovel. Inside it was spacious and surprisingly warm. The high priest sat in the corner, patiently awaiting their arrival. He didn't need to be told about their appearance; the universe had already delivered news of their arrival to him months ago. He opened his eyes from his meditative state and motioned them closer.