Editor's Note: If you have not yet read the previous chapters to this story, please go to the Fantasy Archive and read those, first. Thank you, TDS.

Bruce saw the black wolf run around Sir Humphrey as he fell to the ground with another animal on top of him, and the squire braced himself for its attack. Isabelle, too, saw the threat coming toward them and drew back her bow string, taking careful aim at the onrushing beast. The wolf ran directly toward Bruce, who stood with his sword ready, but a few feet in front of him the animal gave a mighty leap, intending to sail over the squire and land at Isabelle’s feet. Bruce side-stepped the leap and brought his sword up and over, attempting to strike the animal as it flew past him. Isabelle let loose her arrow while the creature was in mid air, and her arrow entered the wolf’s exposed chest just as Bruce’s sword cut through the creature’s spine and ribs. It fell at her feet, dead before even hitting the ground.

For several moments no one moved, but merely tried to catch their breath.

Even as Humphrey was battling the last wolf which attacked him, he knew that the pack leader had managed to get past, but there was nothing he could do until his own battle was finished. Once the wolf was dead he climbed to his feet in time to see Isabelle and Bruce together dispatch the leader. Humphrey removed his hat and wiped sweat from his forehead, then retrieved his dagger from the other dead wolf. He wiped the blood off on the wolf’s pelt and slipped it back into its scabbard. Bastion came over to nuzzle Humphrey’s shoulder as the dark knight rubbed the horse’s nose, and then whispered something in one of his ears.

Barker did not see the end of the battle, but saw the results and nodded his head in grim satisfaction. Still in pain from the fangs attached to his wrist, he picked up his sword and pried the wolf’s jaws open, then kicked the head away after it fell from his arm. He cut the hide laces which held his gauntlet in place and removed the leather to better view his injuries. There were several deep puncture wounds and a few more deep scratches on either side of his wrist and forearm, but Barker clenched his fist and rotated the arm with only moderate pain. He grunted and decided that he would most likely live to fight another day.

Humphrey and Barker both climbed the slight rise to stand with Isabelle and Bruce. “Be ye well, my lady?” Humphrey asked.

“Aye, sir knight,” Isabelle replied with a grim smile.

Humphrey smiled back and then clasped Bruce on the shoulder. “Well done, both of ye,” he said, looking from his squire to Isabelle.

“Aye,” Barker added. “And I be well, too, save for a few nicks in me flesh,” he said and held out his left arm.

Isabelle climbed down to look at his injuries more closely. Blood was oozing from the puncture wounds and the deep scratches were swollen and turning a bright red. “These need be cleaned and bound with a poultice,” she told the Innkeeper.

“Aye,” Humphrey agreed as he looked over her shoulder. “And we needs be away from this site, quickly. The smell of death may draw more beasts,” he said. “Down to the river, and then we move on.”

Bastion was near the other horses, all of which had calmed down by now, but the stink of spilled blood was making them anxious. The group gathered up what belongings were not already on their horses and then led the animals from the rock cover to the river’s edge. As the horses drank from the still turbulent waters, Bruce went off the gather spider webs while Isabelle knelt next to Barker. She dipped a cloth in the cool water and began to bath his wounds, but he pulled his hand gently away from her.

“Me lady,” he said, “’tis not yer station to tend me.”

She looked up at him and smiled. “Master Innkeeper, ‘tis my wish to tend ye,” she said, softly.

“Ah, well, then…” he said, flustered that the queen would dine to wash his wounds. “Me thanks, then, yer majesty.”

Isabelle continued to smile as she washed away the blood and dirt from around his injuries. “As it now stands,” she said quietly, “ye three be me entire family, and me kingdom be only where we stand. We must then take good care of each other, be that nae true?” she asked.

“Er…aye, me queen,” Barker said, “that be true.” He did not see the single tear slide down Isabelle’s cheek as she worked on his arm.

As she finished cleansing the wounds, Bruce returned and carried with him a stick wound loosely with spider webs. Isabelle began to unwind the webs and lay them over Barker’s puncture wounds to help slow the flow of blood. When they were well covered, she took up dry moss from the river bank and placed this over the wounds, then bound his entire wrist with a clean cloth.

“Me sincere thanks, yer majesty,” Barker said when she was finished.

“Nay, ye have me own sincere thanks, Master Innkeeper,” Isabelle said as she placed a gentle hand on his arm.