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only had one and she didn’t want to hurl it and chance missing—nor did she want to give up the only weapon she could use in case someone pounced on her from behind. She did have her bow and arrows though. Perhaps that was the way to go, though it would take time to notch her arrows—and she’d need to leave the safety of her hiding place.
    With that thought, she whipped her head to the side to make certain that no one was sneaking up from the other side. The forest was quiet, save for the three on her right.
    “Come and give me the message, then,” the golden warrior growled with a twirl of his sword.
    The two on horseback circled the warrior, taunting him. Shona had to do something. This warrior was alone, and she couldn’t stomach watching him die. There was something about his eyes, something that compelled her to help him. Told her that he was a good man. She muttered a curse. Why was she so torn? She didn’t know. She should simply take care of herself and not worry over this man she didn’t know. Why should she risk her own neck for a stranger?
    But as the two MacDonalds on horseback took swipes at the warrior on foot, she no longer listened to reason. He was bleeding from several wounds—though he’d been able to draw their blood as well. It wasn’t a fair fight with them on horseback. The two MacDonalds closed in, each stabbing their swords toward the golden warrior. In her heart, she knew she couldn’t sit back. Not when she was able to help. Her conscience wouldn’t allow it. She’d live out the rest of her days with his blood on her hands.
    Shona blew out a deep breath. There was no more time to waste.
    She glanced behind her and saw no one. Quietly backing away from the brush, she edged toward a tree twenty feet to the side of the fight. The men were so involved with their heinous battle that none of them noticed her. Shona nocked her bow with two arrows as Rory had showed her, and took aim. The feathers tickled her cheek. She blew out a deep, slow breath, forcing herself to block out the noise of the forest and the hateful words being tossed back and forth in front of her.
    Her heart pounded so hard in her ears, she prayed the men couldn’t hear it. Prayed she met her mark, for if she missed, she would be the men’s next target. A last draw for breath, she let it out slow once more, closed her eyes, envisioned the men, adjusted her aim, and let the arrows fly.
    They whizzed through the forest. Judging by a loud scream, she’d hit at least one of her targets. Shona opened her eyes in time to see the golden warrior react. He leapt up into the air and grabbed hold of the one man who’d not been hit, hauled him to the ground and shoved his sword deep into the man’s chest.
    Still atop his horse, Shona’s arrow protruding from his chest, the second stubborn enemy warrior gripped tight to his reins. In a last act before he succumbed to his wound, he meant to trample her warrior.
    Her warrior?
    Shona shook her head. She didn’t have time to contemplate such imaginings. She nocked another arrow and let it fly. The sharpened tip burrowed into the man just as he yanked back on his reins. The horse reared back on its hind legs, forelegs pawing at the air. So damn close to the warrior’s head.
    “Look out!” she warned, but it was too late.
    As the warrior looked toward where she stood, attempting to dive out of the way, the horse came down on him.
    The golden warrior crumpled to the ground, unmoving.
    The warhorse then bolted through the trees—his master hanging limply over the side, hopefully dead.
    A scream stayed silent on her lips—the enemy had killed her warrior.

     
Chapter Three

     
    EWAN couldn’t move.
    He couldn’t see, either.
    His head pounded with pain, radiating down his spine. The only good part was that the injuries he’d sustained from those bastards on horseback didn’t hurt as much.
    Was he blinking? He felt like he was blinking, but he couldn’t be certain. Everything