Page 50 of Darro

“I’m well, healer.” She didn’t want to know what he thought might have attacked her. “Your lady, she’s been enchanted.”

“Aye, we see.” The hunter moved aside some of the torches, and held out his hand. “Come and I’ll pull you over, lass.”

Elspeth suddenly grabbed Una from behind and held a dagger under her chin as she opened her mouth and released a screech like an angry cat.

Una rammed her elbow into the chambermaid’s belly, dropping as soon as her hold loosened and grabbing hold of the hunter’s hand. He dragged her over the makeshift wall, but Elspeth grabbed her by the hair and jerked her head back. To free herself she had to kick back at her friend, and then she was on the other side with the men, while their woman stood holding a handful of Una’s hair.

Another vassal came out of the shadows; a young man Una had never before seen. He touched the chambermaid’s shoulder, and she turned around and walked away.

“You cannot escape them, you know,” the man said in a gloating tone, with an accent like that of the outsiders from the world beyond. As he walked toward them, the stench of spoiled meat made Una choke. “Soon the others will hatch and overrun the castle, and you will serve me like all the others.”

“We love you, darling girl,” Ben called out, peering past the man at Elspeth before she turned the corner. “Fight him and come back to us.”

Looking as if he’d been punched in the gut, Ulf placed Una on her feet and then drew his sword as he started to climb over the wall.

“Dinnae,” Una told him, grabbing his arm. “He’ll slay you, and Elspeth and Ben shall never recover.” She wanted to take his sword and use it to end the stranger, but she had no weapon but her tongue. To the enemy she said, “Using magic to enslave free folk, ’tis shameful and cowardly, especially on McKeran soil. You shall die weeping in fear, you daft bastart.”

The man laughed long and loud before he wiped his eyes.

“I should really visit more often. You simpletons are so entertaining.” His snide grin faded as he looked into her eyes. “When you come to me, I think I’ll use you to feed my lovely spiderlings. They’re so hungry right after they’re hatched. They have such little mouths, though, it will take weeks for you to die.”

As the stranger walked away Una took one of the torches from the wall and threw it after him. It bounced off his back, setting fire to his shirt, but he snapped his fingers and the flames vanished, leaving only some black burn marks on the fabric.

“Dinnae waste them,” Ulf said softly as she reached for another torch. “We’ll find another way to hurt that eejit.”

As the hunter replaced the torch she had thrown, the healer quickly checked her for injuries and then inspected her all over, patting her gown and hair and looking inside her apron pockets.

“What do you seek?” she asked him.

“His spiders.” He patted her arms. “Everyone they bite turns into a zombie—ah, like Elspeth was.”

“No’ slog, then?” she asked the hunter, who shook his head. “Some were searching the maids’ chambers when I saw them. More went toward the garrison hall. I stopped your lass by offering to help find what she sought. She followed me here.”

“The spiders bit most of the vassals and all of the guards before we realized what was happening.” Ben gestured at the torch-topped wall. “We barricaded ourselves in the work room, but I don’t know if anyone else in the stronghold escaped. Who was that guy? I’ve never seen him before tonight.”

“I reckon he’s Bodach, the enemy who cursed the clan,” Una said. “Lady Ava said he’s behind all the insect attacks of late. Only the ladies described him as old and ugly. He did stink of rot like the one they saw.”

“He must be some type of Fae shape-shifter,” the healer said.

“We’ve only a little more torchwood,” Ulf told them. “Come inside, and we’ll build another barricade to keep out the bespelled.”

“When the torches burn out, they’ll come for us anyway,” Ben said. “We need to make three spider-proof suits, and if I have enough vinegar, I think we can make them.” He regarded Una. “Can you sew?”

She almost laughed out loud. “Aye, Healer. Every lass can.”

“Good, because Ulf is terrible at it. He can cut.” He reached over and pulled the hunter into his arms, embracing him tightly. “We’ll find a cure for whatever he did to her, and we’ll get her back. I swear to you.”

Seeing them showing their love for each other strengthened Una’s own resolve. “Aye, so we shall.”