Page 42 of The Trials of Neilina MacKai
Seona bashed Thin Man’s head with the metal plate.
“Ow.”Thin Man dropped Hefty and put a hand to his head where blood already welled.Stunned, he pulled his fingers away to look at them.
Seona struck again, using the sharpened plate to slice open his sword arm from shoulder to wrist.
He staggered and stumbled but did not fall to the floor.
However, he was stooped over enough for Seona to wrap the chain of her manacles around his neck.She pulled with all her might, trying to deprive him of breath.Uncertain she was strong enough to kill him, all she could do was try.She would not give up, simply because of a small doubt.
Thin Man bucked and shook attempting to break her hold.
She continued to pull tighter.
Eventually his movements slowed, and he fell to the floor.Unconscious or dead?Seona didn’t care.She still had much to do before she could search out the abbess.
***
RHUAD WAS AN EXPERIENCEDwarrior.Though he felt the tension of anticipated battle, he had no difficulty sleeping, even on the hard ground beneath the forest trees.He slept so soundly the tavern owner had to jostle him awake.
He rubbed his eyes to clear them of fog, but the mist still curled around Mr.Clyne’s boots.“Think you this fog will vanish before sunrise?”
“It will fade, my lord.However, I cannot say when.Sometimes a fog like this will last until midday.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.Our opponents won’t be able to see us, but we won’t be able to see them either.I was hoping to note the positions of their lookouts and roving sentries before we attacked.”
“I can get you that information.Eat.”He held out a plate and a wineskin.“I’ll be back before you finish.”
Rhuad took the plate but shook his head at the wine.“I do not drink spirits before a battle.”
“’Tis good sense that.This,” Clyne shook the skin.“Is filled with water.Fighting is thirsty work.I’ve made sure every other man has a skin to share with his fellows.”
“Thank you,” Rhuad said standing.“MacFearann will remember all you’ve done to help us and find some way to reward you.”
“Getting rid of that witch what calls herself an abbess is reward aplenty.”
“Perhaps.”Rhuad thought that a more permanent reward would be appropriate.Perhaps something that would benefit the entire village.
The tavern owner disappeared into the rising fog.
Rhuad broke his fast.Finished he stood and went to find Raeb and Dougal.When found, he told them what the tavern owner had said.
“If we know the sentries’ positions, we may be able to take advantage of this fog to confuse them.”
“Mayhap even the entire company of guards.”
They contemplated the possibilities.
“What think you of the tavern owner’s implication that the abbess is not truly what she claims?”Raeb said after a while.
“It is possible she is not a true abbess or a nun,” Rhuad commented.“However, we cannot prove it.”
“Perhaps the tavern keeper will be able to tell us more when he returns.”
While they waited, they gave the men orders to prepare for the coming battle and informed them of a few small changes made on account of the fog.Then they too began to ready their horses, armor and weapons.
The sky was still a pearly gray, and the fog had thickened when Mr.Clyne returned.He dismissed the helpers who had assisted him with the food and drink for the men.Then he turned his attention to Rhuad, Raeb and Dougal.
“I’ve made a rough drawing of the guard’s keep and where each sentry is placed.I’ve also marked the major parts of the building.This square here represents the barracks.That circle is the area where their horses are kept.This line marks the cliffside.The triangle in front of the line indicates the large basket and pulley system they use to send up to the abbey parcels and occasionally one or two people.”
