from his right. His muscles tensed.
âWait,â Salvador said, frowning. âSomethingâs not right.â
A squad of Northerners burst from the road to their left, legs moving in a full trot. They marched in neat lines, wearing chain mail and burnished helmets. The neat lines dissolved as the five riders entered their midst, creating confusion. The astonishment on Northern faces said they were just as surprised.
Everyone reacted swiftly. The Northerners drew weapons. Ramiroâs heart sped as he dropped his reins and pulled his sword. Thereâs wasnât time to don his helmet. Salvador struck right and left, fluid as quicksilver, avoiding blows and showing how heâd earned his pelotón so young. His sword bit into necks, then slashed and parried. Leaving the packhorses, Gomez gave a full-Âthroated shout and simply spurred his caballo de guerra , his mount riding down a Northerner, trampling him into the road. As his horse slowed, Gomez pulled his leg from the stirrup and used his big steel-Âbooted foot to kick another enemy in the face.
A sound between bellow and maniacal laughter emerged from Alvitoâs throat. Heâd distanced himself from the fray so his daggers could bloom from Northerner flesh.
Teresa pulled and twisted on her reins. Her chestnut gelding reared with a scream. She slid off its rump and toppled into the dust, disappearing beneath churning hooves. The gelding raced up the road.
A big bear of a Northerner with unbelievable red hair and brown spots on his pale skin lunged. Ramiro screamed a battle cry. He caught the sword thrust on the hilt of his own sword, only his greater height on horseback allowing him to match strengths with the giant. They strained, trying to overpower the other. The giant Northerner pressed close, pinning Ramiroâs right leg against Sanchaâs side. The man grabbed at Ramiroâs uniform, trying to yank him from the saddle.
Ramiro fumbled for his concealed knife. Left-Âhanded, he plucked it out and slammed it into the Northernerâs chest. The blade penetrated an inch, then caught in a steel ring in the Northernerâs chain mail. Caught in a stalemate, the man roared and fought harder to unhorse him.
Sancha sidled seconds before a sting scraped along Ramiroâs left ribs. A thin Northerner had come up on his blind side and penetrated under his backplate, but the enemy had been deflected from piercing deeply by Sanchaâs actions. Besieged, Ramiro couldnât release his grip on the right to defend his left. Sancha arched her neck to seize the thin Northernerâs arm in her teeth, her normally gentle eyes now narrowed and furious. The man screamed as she shook him and spun him around.
Sanchaâs movement unbalanced the giant, crowding him tight against Ramiro. With the pressure on his left gone, Ramiro stood in his stirrups, using the greater height to slam down on the knife. The steel ring split, allowing the dagger to penetrate deep. The giant stumbled, only to take Salvadorâs blade through the neck before Ramiro could bring his sword around. A throwing knife from Alvito finished off the opponent in Sanchaâs teeth.
Ramiro gasped, trying to slow his racing heart. None of the Northerners remained on their feet. As he watched, Gomez moved among them, making sure theyâd be no more threat. Itâd happened so fast, they hadnât even considered taking a captive for Teresa.
Teresa!
Still wearing his plumed hat, Alvito secured his knives and began rounding up the loose packhorses before they could run off like the chestnut gelding. Gomez hefted a body and headed toward the rocks, intent on removing all the evidence of their skirmish. The wound in his side stung, but Ramiro swung down from Sancha to go to Teresa. Salvador beat him there.
âCousin?â Ramiro called, touching her short hair.
âAre you hurt?â Salvador asked.
The plump woman uncurled from the defensive ball
âWait,â Salvador said, frowning. âSomethingâs not right.â
A squad of Northerners burst from the road to their left, legs moving in a full trot. They marched in neat lines, wearing chain mail and burnished helmets. The neat lines dissolved as the five riders entered their midst, creating confusion. The astonishment on Northern faces said they were just as surprised.
Everyone reacted swiftly. The Northerners drew weapons. Ramiroâs heart sped as he dropped his reins and pulled his sword. Thereâs wasnât time to don his helmet. Salvador struck right and left, fluid as quicksilver, avoiding blows and showing how heâd earned his pelotón so young. His sword bit into necks, then slashed and parried. Leaving the packhorses, Gomez gave a full-Âthroated shout and simply spurred his caballo de guerra , his mount riding down a Northerner, trampling him into the road. As his horse slowed, Gomez pulled his leg from the stirrup and used his big steel-Âbooted foot to kick another enemy in the face.
A sound between bellow and maniacal laughter emerged from Alvitoâs throat. Heâd distanced himself from the fray so his daggers could bloom from Northerner flesh.
Teresa pulled and twisted on her reins. Her chestnut gelding reared with a scream. She slid off its rump and toppled into the dust, disappearing beneath churning hooves. The gelding raced up the road.
A big bear of a Northerner with unbelievable red hair and brown spots on his pale skin lunged. Ramiro screamed a battle cry. He caught the sword thrust on the hilt of his own sword, only his greater height on horseback allowing him to match strengths with the giant. They strained, trying to overpower the other. The giant Northerner pressed close, pinning Ramiroâs right leg against Sanchaâs side. The man grabbed at Ramiroâs uniform, trying to yank him from the saddle.
Ramiro fumbled for his concealed knife. Left-Âhanded, he plucked it out and slammed it into the Northernerâs chest. The blade penetrated an inch, then caught in a steel ring in the Northernerâs chain mail. Caught in a stalemate, the man roared and fought harder to unhorse him.
Sancha sidled seconds before a sting scraped along Ramiroâs left ribs. A thin Northerner had come up on his blind side and penetrated under his backplate, but the enemy had been deflected from piercing deeply by Sanchaâs actions. Besieged, Ramiro couldnât release his grip on the right to defend his left. Sancha arched her neck to seize the thin Northernerâs arm in her teeth, her normally gentle eyes now narrowed and furious. The man screamed as she shook him and spun him around.
Sanchaâs movement unbalanced the giant, crowding him tight against Ramiro. With the pressure on his left gone, Ramiro stood in his stirrups, using the greater height to slam down on the knife. The steel ring split, allowing the dagger to penetrate deep. The giant stumbled, only to take Salvadorâs blade through the neck before Ramiro could bring his sword around. A throwing knife from Alvito finished off the opponent in Sanchaâs teeth.
Ramiro gasped, trying to slow his racing heart. None of the Northerners remained on their feet. As he watched, Gomez moved among them, making sure theyâd be no more threat. Itâd happened so fast, they hadnât even considered taking a captive for Teresa.
Teresa!
Still wearing his plumed hat, Alvito secured his knives and began rounding up the loose packhorses before they could run off like the chestnut gelding. Gomez hefted a body and headed toward the rocks, intent on removing all the evidence of their skirmish. The wound in his side stung, but Ramiro swung down from Sancha to go to Teresa. Salvador beat him there.
âCousin?â Ramiro called, touching her short hair.
âAre you hurt?â Salvador asked.
The plump woman uncurled from the defensive ball
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