There was a small rise of stone off to one side of the shelter. “My lady, you will take position on that high area,” Humphrey told her and pointed. “I took the liberty of changing out yer target arrows for hunting heads before we left the castle,” he told her. “But with the war points yer shafts will be slightly heavier. Be sure to compensate for that weight, and ye only have ten arrows so pick yer targets well. Aim for the area just behind the shoulder or the throat.” Isabelle nodded, but he could see that she was trembling, ever so slightly. “And try naught to hit one of us,” he said in an effort to lighten her mood somewhat. He was rewarded with a slight smile and he gripped her shoulder for a moment, then turned away and went to Barker. There was nothing else he could say to her—they would either survive this attack or they would not.

Barker had his axe and sword out and ready. “Take the left side if ye would, Master Innkeeper,” Humphrey said as he moved to the right side of the entrance, while Bastion snorted and pawed the ground between the two men. The howls were much closer now, but still they came from many different areas of the wood. He drew Star Born and moonlight from the Little Sister made his sword appear as if it were forged of gold.

“Ware!” Barker shouted. “They come!”

To be continued…