Part 2 (2/2)

”No,” said Da. ”We'll not take that route. We'll not walk into their spears and arrows without a struggle. If they want my blood and the blood of my fine wife and children, then they will pay for it. You're feeling battle dread; hold your course until it pa.s.ses. You have a chance, Purity. A slim one. Don't throw it away.”

”I'm not talking of giving up,” said Mother. ”We do have a chance, but not in this way. They'll cut you down before those out back even know what's happening. You're a mighty man, Master Sparrow, but even you cannot stand against fifty spears.”

Da's face was full of confusion. ”What better plan is there?”

”I will face them.”

Da's face softened. ”That, Love, is my task. Now ready yourself.”

He turned, but Mother grasped him by the shoulder and held him back. ”I will face them,” she said calmly.

Had she gone mad with panic and grief?

”Purity,” Da said. ”Love.” He removed her hand and tried to stride to the door, but Mother grasped him again.

”No,” he said and removed her hand. But she took him by the rim of his breastplate with both hands, and, like a man heaving a sack of meal, threw him across the room. He stumbled over a chair and slammed into the far wall.

Many men came far and wide to wrestle Da. Few had thrown him. None had handled him with such force.

Da looked at Mother, his face full of shock. Then he righted himself and strode for the door. Mother planted herself in his path. He tried to push her out of the way, but could not budge her. He renewed his efforts, his arms and neck straining. But it was to no avail.

His expression turned from shock to angry determination.

He took a step back and lunged at her, but Mother simply stepped out of his way and, with one sweep of her foot, took his legs out from underneath him.

Mother reached down and grabbed the haft of his war maul. ”I will face them,” she said calmly. ”Take off your armor so you can ride more easily.”

Da grasped the head of the maul. ”Purity,” he said.

”I will draw them to me,” she said. ”And you will ride with the children. It will be best that way. They will not be orphaned or caught and sold as chattel. You can provide for and protect them as I never could.”

”I don't understand,” Da said.

”Yes, you do,” she said, and then she tugged the maul out of his grip.

Sugar was confused, alarmed. Where did Mother get such strength?

Mother turned to her. ”The way to the woods will be clear. Be ready to fly.”

Then she walked to the front door and put her hand on the crossbar. She paused, taking them all in with her gaze. ”I will be waiting for you in brightness.”

She lifted the bar, and in one fluid motion she flung open the door and raced outside. Clouds of smoke billowed in. The roar of the fire above them surged. Out back, Fancy cried with wild panic.

Luckily, neither Sugar nor Legs were standing anywhere within the line of sight from the doorway, for moments later more than a dozen arrows hissed through the smoke, some sticking into the walls, others glancing off a table or chair.

Da stood to go after her and two arrows struck him. One glanced off his breastplate; the other hit him in the mail over his thigh. He grunted at the second, but it did not have an armor piercing head, and the arrow fell away.

”Purity,” Dad roared and raced after her, but when he got to the door, he stopped in shock. He coughed at the smoke and squatted to get under it. ”Goh,” he said with a look of wonder on his face.

”Da,” said Sugar and rushed to shut the door. But as she reached the door, she saw what Da was looking at.

Mother had already reached the soldiers. Two men lay on the gra.s.s. One was dead. The other screamed out at the wound that had nearly taken his leg.

She moved like a snake, like the wind. She was graceful and absolutely horrible.

She swung into another man's wooden s.h.i.+eld and sent it flying. He cried out and stumbled backward, but before he could reach the ground, she smashed in the side of his head.

Sugar could not believe her eyes. She would not. Such speed and power was unnatural.

”Purity,” said Da, horror and disbelief written in his face.

The great bulk of the men were falling back, some stumbling over each other. In his retreat, one of the bowmen loosed an arrow, but it flew wide of Mother and struck one of his fellows. Another man charged her with a spear, but she swung the maul with blinding speed and cleaved the spear into two.

The Crab yelled for his men to stand and close ranks.

Mother was about to put the whole mob on the run, but two men yelled and rushed her from behind, their javelins held high.

”Mother!” Sugar yelled.

Mother turned just as they cast them. She dodged one, but the other caught her in the shoulder and knocked her back.

”No!” Da roared. He had been in shock, but fury now burned in his eyes.

Mother removed the javelin and defended herself from the sword blows of the man who had thrown it.

A dozen archers came running round the corner from the back of the house. They began to form a line. Mother would not be able to dodge their arrows.

The flames rumbled overhead.

”Get to Fancy,” Da commanded, ”and ride.”

Then he rose and stepped out onto the porch and put his helmet upon his head. Someone shouted out a warning, and the mob turned to look.

Da stood in his dark, s.h.i.+ning armor, the fire raging above his head, the smoke pouring off the roof.

The men in the yard froze.

”You've met the mistress!” Da bellowed. ”Now face the master!”

A man dropped his spear, panic s.h.i.+ning is his wide eyes.

Da roared and charged into the fray.

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