sword. “For I’ve no doubt they mean us harm.”
As the last of the fire died, the night was suddenly alive with creatures, some with hair bristling, others standing upright, as tall as trees. One great shaggy beast rushed forward, and Kylia stared in horrified fascination at its two heads.
“Get behind me.” Grant stepped in front of her, holding his sword aloft.
The creature’s two vicious jaws opened, revealing razor-sharp fangs. Two pair of gleaming red eyes were fixed on Grant with a look meant to freeze the blood in his veins.
Just then a snake more than six feet in length slithered from the forest and began weaving its way toward them. Its body was the thickness of a great hollow log, proving it would have no trouble swallowing them whole.
Joining it were more than a dozen creatures larger than a horse, some snarling, others silent as they formed an uneven ring around the two intruders.
“Now I know why my fellow Highland warriors fear this place.” Grant drew an arm around Kylia, offering her what little comfort he could. “I’ll fight to my last breath, my lady. My only regret is that I’ll not be able to save you, for I know my strength is no match for these creatures.”
He peered through the gloom. As darkness closed in around them, the forest seemed alive with every manner of beast imaginable. “These are the creatures of my worst nightmare.” He pointed with his sword at the two-headed monster creeping closer. “As a child, I used to see the likes of him in the twisted shapes and shadows of the night. I even had a name for the creature. Dubh gall. ”
“Dark stranger?”
Grant shot her a look. “Is that what it means?”
“Aye.” She nodded. “You didn’t recognize the ancient words?”
He shook his head, keeping his gaze fixed on the monster. “The name came to me only in my sleep. Until now.”
Kylia nodded toward the giant snake. “Such a creature was always present in my childhood dreams whenever they were troubled. When I described it to my mum, she told me there were no snakes in our kingdom, but such creatures did exist beyond our shores.”
“That’s true. Though I’ve never seen one as big as that.” Seeing the two-headed beast creeping closer, Grant slashed out with his sword, forcing the creature back. “But such a beast as that one exists nowhere else in our land except here.”
As the circle of light grew smaller and dimmer, more and more creatures crept from their places of concealment, until the forest became a bloodcurdling chorus of high-pitched cries, savage howls and teeth-baring snarls.
Grant turned to face the worst of the creatures. “Stand with your back to mine, my lady.”
Kylia did as he ordered, and swallowed back the fear that threatened to paralyze her.
“Hold your dirk firmly, blade pointed out and slightly upward, so that the creatures know you mean them harm.”
She followed his example, though her heart was drumming so painfully in her chest, she thought he could surely hear.
“Within minutes the last of the coals will burn out, leaving us in complete darkness. When that happens, the beasts will attack.”
“If that be true, how can we defend ourselves?”
“We’ll see their eyes. It will give us something to aim for.”
“Grant.” She knew her voice was trembling. It couldn’t be helped. “I would give anything to save you from this place. But I can’t find it in my heart to harm even these creatures.”
He muttered an oath before turning his head slightly, so that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. “Forgive me for even asking it, my lady, for I’ve witnessed your tender heart. As for me, I intend to fight to the death. When the battle begins, I beg you to run to where my steed is tied and flee this place of horrors.”
She shook her head. “I won’t leave you, my lord.”
“You must. Don’t you see?” He turned his back on the approaching danger and closed his hands on her upper arms in a
As the last of the fire died, the night was suddenly alive with creatures, some with hair bristling, others standing upright, as tall as trees. One great shaggy beast rushed forward, and Kylia stared in horrified fascination at its two heads.
“Get behind me.” Grant stepped in front of her, holding his sword aloft.
The creature’s two vicious jaws opened, revealing razor-sharp fangs. Two pair of gleaming red eyes were fixed on Grant with a look meant to freeze the blood in his veins.
Just then a snake more than six feet in length slithered from the forest and began weaving its way toward them. Its body was the thickness of a great hollow log, proving it would have no trouble swallowing them whole.
Joining it were more than a dozen creatures larger than a horse, some snarling, others silent as they formed an uneven ring around the two intruders.
“Now I know why my fellow Highland warriors fear this place.” Grant drew an arm around Kylia, offering her what little comfort he could. “I’ll fight to my last breath, my lady. My only regret is that I’ll not be able to save you, for I know my strength is no match for these creatures.”
He peered through the gloom. As darkness closed in around them, the forest seemed alive with every manner of beast imaginable. “These are the creatures of my worst nightmare.” He pointed with his sword at the two-headed monster creeping closer. “As a child, I used to see the likes of him in the twisted shapes and shadows of the night. I even had a name for the creature. Dubh gall. ”
“Dark stranger?”
Grant shot her a look. “Is that what it means?”
“Aye.” She nodded. “You didn’t recognize the ancient words?”
He shook his head, keeping his gaze fixed on the monster. “The name came to me only in my sleep. Until now.”
Kylia nodded toward the giant snake. “Such a creature was always present in my childhood dreams whenever they were troubled. When I described it to my mum, she told me there were no snakes in our kingdom, but such creatures did exist beyond our shores.”
“That’s true. Though I’ve never seen one as big as that.” Seeing the two-headed beast creeping closer, Grant slashed out with his sword, forcing the creature back. “But such a beast as that one exists nowhere else in our land except here.”
As the circle of light grew smaller and dimmer, more and more creatures crept from their places of concealment, until the forest became a bloodcurdling chorus of high-pitched cries, savage howls and teeth-baring snarls.
Grant turned to face the worst of the creatures. “Stand with your back to mine, my lady.”
Kylia did as he ordered, and swallowed back the fear that threatened to paralyze her.
“Hold your dirk firmly, blade pointed out and slightly upward, so that the creatures know you mean them harm.”
She followed his example, though her heart was drumming so painfully in her chest, she thought he could surely hear.
“Within minutes the last of the coals will burn out, leaving us in complete darkness. When that happens, the beasts will attack.”
“If that be true, how can we defend ourselves?”
“We’ll see their eyes. It will give us something to aim for.”
“Grant.” She knew her voice was trembling. It couldn’t be helped. “I would give anything to save you from this place. But I can’t find it in my heart to harm even these creatures.”
He muttered an oath before turning his head slightly, so that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. “Forgive me for even asking it, my lady, for I’ve witnessed your tender heart. As for me, I intend to fight to the death. When the battle begins, I beg you to run to where my steed is tied and flee this place of horrors.”
She shook her head. “I won’t leave you, my lord.”
“You must. Don’t you see?” He turned his back on the approaching danger and closed his hands on her upper arms in a
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