One More Chance

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

It was over Christian thought as he surveyed the battlefield. Hundreds of his enemies had been slain or had ran for cover. His men were fine, injured at most. They were piling the dead into one corner. Yet, he couldn't shake of the uneasy feeling that something wasn't right. The battle had been too easy. The hair at his nape prickled in awareness and he scouted the surroundings to ensure everything was as it should be. In a distance, he saw Catherine and her four guards making his way to them. He was glad that she was safe and yet, he couldn't shake of the feeling that something wasn't as it should be and his battle instincts had never failed him before. Just then, an arrow flew from out of the blue and lodged itself in Andy's shoulder. Christian whipped his head in shock to see where it was from. Just then, two dozen burly knights rode in from the trees and blocked his path. Christian yelled at his knights to alert them and met the first slash of the enemy's sword with his own.

These men were different. They were trained soldiers, hardened in the battlefield. They fought well and Christian had to concentrate to disarm each one. Nevertheless, he took his chance to look at Catherine and her guards. Now that Andy was injured, she wasn't as well protected. He saw that Fred and Arthur had led her to some trees so as not to be in the sight of the arrows and they were each battling two knights. Christian wasn't sure they'll be able to hold on. A few stones throw away from them, Dick was handling a couple and would possibly be of no help to the other two. He had to get there soon. With a high and mighty blow Christian slashed through the sword arm of his opponent and knocked him off balance. He rode off in the direction of Catherine before the other knights could engage him.

Just then he saw Fred take a blow to his shoulder and drop his sword. The knight swung his sword high to deliver a killing blow. Christian's mind screamed in horror for what he thought might be his friend's last breath. He was too far away to do anything. But the blow on Fred never reached him as he saw Catherine whip out her sword to meet the knight. She held onto the sword with all her being as she forced back the blow and saved Fred. Christian was so proud of her that instant. But Christian knew that she wold not be able to hold on too long. She was too small in stature to the burly knight and she could be run through within minutes. "Hold on a moment more!" Christian screamed to her as he urged his horse faster. Just when he was within range, he took out his bow and shot an arrow aiming for the chest of Catherine's foe. It hit him squarely and he breathed a sigh of relief. Catherine turn to give him a tremulous smile as he urged himself closer. Just then he saw Arthur being knocked of his horse by one knight and the other creeping behind Catherine. She was too focused on him and had not seen the knight. Christian screamed in warning, but it was too late. The knight had his sword around Catherine's throat and held her hands tight with his free hand.

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Catherine cursed her stupidity. How could she have forgotten the two fighting Arthur? How could she have let her guard down? Even now the sword was pressing deep into her neck. A bit more and it could slice her open. Catherine fought a moment of sheer panic. Her heart palpitated vigorously and her skin was turning white with fear. Her eyes connected with Christian's and the shock that she saw written on his face was nearly enough to send her to an early grave. But it was only a momentary expression before he schooled his features to reveal no emotions.

Her captor was huge and held her arms with so much force that any chance of escape was none. His nails were biting into the soft skin of her wrist and posed a clear warning telling her not to move. "All of you stop fighting at once!" he bellowed. "Weapons down! Or I'll slice her open" he ordered Christian's men. They looked hesitantly at Christian and in that split second her captor pressed the sword closer to her throat to emphasize his point. Immediately everyone of them dropped their sword including Christian.

Then he gave a sinister laugh that sent shivers down her spine. "My order was just to capture the woman. But I have a bonus! Imagine what it would be like if I conveyed to my master the news that Sir Ashford and his woman are dead! My master would reward me beyond measure!" He continued dangerously. Catherine felt like sobbing. She didn't want Christian to die and she felt so frustrated with herself that it was because of her that he was going to have to die.

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Christian was battling with his inner demons. His mind was transported to thousands of miles away to another situation where another woman was being held captive with a sword to her throat as he watched helplessly. A man was pleading mercifully for her life.

"Take me! Not my Isabella! Pls!"

The woman screamed in agony as a belt was used to lash the man.

"Leave him! No!"

It was with great difficulty that Christian brought his mind back to the present. He was in a moment of weakness as his arms shivered and he felt helpless as he saw Catherine with her throat pressed to the sword. "No, I'll not let it happen again!" He vowed to himself as he focused his full attention on the present situation and on how to save Catherine, his men and himself. Stephen depended on it. His men depended on him. Catherine depended on him. His country depended on him. He was not going to let them down. Just then an idea took form in his mind.

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Catherine was watching Christian helplessly when she saw a sudden change in him. She didn't think anyone else would have noticed it, but she did. It was there on the way his shoulders stiffened and his fingers clenched. It was as though he had made a decision about something. His blue eyes met hers and a current seemed to pass through them. He looked straight into her eyes and then down at his boots. Catherine didn't understand what he meant. She tried to follow him and saw that he was repeating the same actions. She tried to follow closely and that's when she saw that there was something shining in his left boot behind his foot. It was a dagger!

He was going to throw it at her captor. Catherine nodded her understanding with as much head shake as she could manage. With his left hand in his thigh, his fingers made the number three. Then he bent to make it to two and finally one. "Now!" He screamed as his right hand retrieved the dagger in a flash and he threw it. Catherine swerved to the right with as much energy as she could muster with her captor holding her tightly and avoiding the sword as best as she could so that she could be away from Christian's dagger and her captor would become a more obvious target.

The dagger flew at what felt like the speed of lightning and lodged itself at its destination. There was a moment of silence and then chaos reigned.

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