The House Of Gaian

in this place before, when the nighthunters had first attacked and he’d refused to leave her, refused to let her sacrifice herself to give him a chance to escape. He should have known she would stand with him.
    “You two,” he said, flicking a finger at the two women. “Get the servants out of the house. Have them take whatever food they can put together quickly, and get them out. They aren’t fighters. There’s nothing they can do here.” When Breanna turned, he grabbed her arm. “Fetch my bow while you’re in there.”
    Breanna gave him a cool stare. “Do I look like your valet?”
    He grinned. He couldn’t help it. “My valet never fetches my bow. That’s a loving sister’s duty.”
    Her only response was a grunt as she stepped away from him and ran to catch up to Gwenn, who was dashing up the steps to the front door of the manor.
    “That’s what I like most about Breanna,” Donovan said dryly. “She’s so articulate.”
    “She can say a lot while saying little,” Liam agreed.
    The small banter and Breanna’s presence settled him, grounded him. He would do what he could, protect what he could—and hope they were still together when the sun set on this day.
    Brisk orders now to saddle horses, hitch others to wagons. If they had to retreat and abandon the manor house, which Liam expected they would have to do, it would be easier to escape on horseback and regroup at another spot. The rest of the horses and other livestock—the few cows and chickens—were set free. It would be a headache to round them up again, but he wasn’t going to leave them as easy supplies to feed the enemy.
    It didn’t surprise him that most of the men who worked in his stables left with the younger servants when he gave them the choice. They were, after all, his father’s men and felt no loyalty to him. It didn’t surprise him that Arthur stayed, looking pale and grim as he took up a position near the horses he loved, a pitchfork in his hands.
    What did surprise him was how many of the servants stayed, armed with fireplace pokers and the longest of the kitchen knives.
    Not surprising, Breanna told him. The house servants were Elinore’s people, and he was Elinore’s son.
    To her, it was as simple as that.

    He had a bad moment when he caught movement among the trees close to the manor until he spotted Varden and realized the Fae huntsmen were moving quietly to take up their positions.
    Maybe that would be better. Move up to the low stone wall at the top of the drive and meet the enemy on the road.
    Then it was too late to move. Crows exploded from the trees. A hawk screamed.
    And Liam saw the dust kicked up by hundreds of feet as the gentry leaders on horseback turned into the long drive that led up to the manor. The flood of men behind them ran up the drive, arrows already nocked in their bows.
    He took up a position just inside the manor’s half-open door, hoping the wood was thick enough to give him some protection—especially since Breanna was with him.
    He felt the power of fire flow into him, making his skin hot and his fingers tingle. He felt a light wind and knew Breanna was gathering the branch of air.
    Closer. Closer.
    He nocked an arrow. Drew back the bowstring, taking aim at the first man on horseback. Waited.
    “There’s a Black Coat among them,” Breanna whispered fiercely.
    “You take him,” Liam whispered back.
    She sighted, then shook her head. “Can’t. He moved. I’d have to step out into the open to try for him.”
    The horsemen reined in. The men flowed in a double line to either side of them.
    “Baron Liam!” one of the horsemen yelled. “Surrender now, and your people will not be harmed. You have my word on that.”
    “None of the men, you mean,” Liam muttered. “You don’t consider women to be people. You bastard.”
    “Liam! If you don’t surrender, your people will suffer for it! What is your answer?”
    “This.” Liam let the arrow fly. It hit the horseman high in the chest.
    Horses screamed. Reared as arrows flew from the trees and the barn’s hayloft, answered by the enemy archers. He caught a glimpse of the black-coated Inquisitor. Heard someone shouting to fire the catapult.
    “I can’t see from here,” Breanna said. “I just can’t see.”
    She was out the door, running for the stables before Liam could grab her.
    “Breanna!”
    The wind staggered him. Saved him as he stumbled forward and the arrow that would have pierced his heart suddenly shot