Page 104 of Fang & Fury

Ailsa considered lying, then didn’t bother. “Everyone’s got somewhere to be. I don’t.” She shrugged. “I’ll fight when the time comes, of course … although I could do with some proper armor before then. Can you help me with that?”

Bree’s mouth curved. “Thought you’d never ask.” Her gaze flicked down to the thin-bladed dagger tucked into Ailsa’s belt. “And you’ll want more than that blade, too.”

“The dagger’s fine.” Ailsa lifted a hand, letting her long nails catch the fading light. “I’ve got these, remember?”

Bree snorted. “Fair. I’m still taking you to the armory to get that dagger sharpened though.” She gestured behind her. “Come on.”

Standing inside the chief-enforcer’s tent, Ailsa shrugged her shoulders.

Leather creaked.

“It’ll feel a little stiff at first.” Bree tightened the last of the laces on Ailsa’s left flank. “But the leather will loosen soon enough. It’ll mold to your shape.”

Ailsa nodded, bending her knees experimentally. She was used to wearing long skirts that swished around her bare legs.

“The leather won’t stop a heavy blow from a broadsword, but it’ll prevent shallow cuts. You’ll be able to move faster than with a skirt hampering your movements too.”

“Really … these leathers feel a bit … restrictive.”

“Only because you’re not used to them.” Bree handed Ailsa back the dagger they’d sharpened earlier. “Here … this should have a nasty bite now.”

Ailsa took it, sheathing the blade at her side. She then met Bree’s eye once more. “I should really loosen off these leathers a little before tomorrow,” she said, her lips curving. “Do you have time to go a round or two?”

Darach heaved a shovelful of earth out of the pit.

The road was now pockmarked with round holes around three feet deep that would be filled with water from a nearby burn and covered with brush and earth. There was a safe lane through the middle of them, where Lara’s warriors would move.

The pits weren’t meant to kill. Just bog the first ranks down long enough for the archers to go to work.

As Darach dug into the wet earth once more, shouting caught his attention.

Casting aside the shovel, he climbed the wooden ladder out of the pit to see a red stag bounding in from the east.

Alar perched upon its withers.

Brushing mud off his hands, Darach moved forward, joining Cailean and Tae, who also walked across to meet Alar. Skaal stalked at Cailean’s side, although Darach made sure to keep his distance from her. At just the sight of the massive fae hound, the clag-doo hissed and snarled. In the wild, these two creatures hated each other, and whenever Skaal’s golden eyes settled upon him, Darach swore they glinted menacingly.

The red stag bounded to a halt, head tossing. Surprisingly, its rider stayed seated. However, Alar’s face was flushed, his hair tangled. He’d clearly ridden fast to reach them.

“How far away are they?” Tae asked, stepping forward to meet him.

“They’re closer than we thought,” Alar panted. “They run like wolves … and will be here by mid-morning tomorrow.”

Darach stiffened at this news. Tomorrow. After all these years, after everything it had cost to get here, he’d finally meet his brother in battle. It hardly seemed real.

He cast a glance over his shoulder at the circular pits on the road behind him. They’d be digging through the night.

“That’s not all.” Alar slid off his stag’s back. He glanced over at Cailean then, his jaw tightening. “I sent word to the wulvers, asking for aid … but they won’t come.”

The chief-enforcer’s gaze narrowed at this news, while around him, some of the warriors exchanged veiled looks. Darach had heard enough over the past days to understand what this meant. Alar had once led the wulvers. If they’d refused him now, the break between them ran deep.

Moving forward, Cailean placed a firm hand on Alar’s shoulder and met his eye. “I know it’s a disappointment,” he said gruffly. “But we’ll manage.”

Alar nodded before giving a bitter huff. “Aye, we have no choice.”

“Right then,” Tae said briskly. “Let’s get back to work.”

Ailsa tore off a piece of bread and dipped it into her vegetable pottage.