Free Rescued by the Celtic Warrior (Roman Love ~ Pict Desire Series Book 1) by Amy Jarecki Page A

wall—another fifty paces and the rotting wooden fortress would be in view. The four Picts slowed their horses to a walk and scaled the grassy hill.
    Mounting the crest, Blackie reared. An arrow whizzed within a stone’s-throw of his head. Taran jerked the horse into submission, staring down the loaded bows of Runan and his men.
    With no time to regroup, Taran roared the battle cry. Galloping at full speed, he led the attack.
    With blood curdling bellows, the Picts charged into battle. Arrows soared over their heads. Taran barreled forward, sword drawn. Without fear, Blackie carried him into the fight. Runan waited, glaring, broadsword held high. Taran leapt from his mount and faced the most deadly man in all of Britannia.
    ****
    Taran? Valeria couldn’t believe her eyes when he raced his stallion over the knoll. Teeth bared, he attacked head on with Runan’s men without a sliver of fear. Valeria clung to Pia and trembled.
    Roaring like a lion in the Coliseum, Taran looked as fierce as any gladiator Rome possessed. His huge arms expertly wielded his sword as he jumped down from the shiny black stallion. The two men circled. Taran lunged first. Iron scraped with iron in a deadly fight.
    Taller, Taran wielded the greatest strength, but Runan displayed cunning and skill. Valeria hid her eyes against Pia’s shoulder. She didn’t want to watch—but she must. Cringing, she peeked around Pia’s veil.
    Her eyes shot to Greum as he skewered his man and whipped round to face another. The Picts brandished their heavy broadswords, slashing mortal wounds, cutting down her captors. Blood spewed in every direction. Valeria couldn’t discern who was hurt. She recoiled and clenched her teeth as Greum sliced his sword downward, hacking off the arm of his opponent. Her gaze darted to Taran and Runan, both men still locked in battle.
    Runan’s sword slashed across Taran’s midsection. His grunt and wince didn’t affect his deadly comeback.
    “Taran!” Valeria cried.
    He continued to fight, as if emboldened by his pain. His focus became more determined. His sword crashed against Runan’s with violent ferocity. With every strike, Taran drove the tyrant back.
    Three of Runan’s men had fallen. All were fighting one-on-one. Valeria scrambled up and snatched a sturdy branch. She raced into the frenzy. Pia yanked her back. “You’ll be run through!”
    “I must help.” Valeria twisted her arm out of Pia’s grasp.
    “Valeria, no!”
    She held up the makeshift bat over her head. Ready to strike, she crept forward, watching for her chance.
    Taran’s sword slashed down, grazing Runan’s forearm. The barbarian dropped his shield with a grunt as fresh blood oozed from the wound. The two men circled, chests heaving, both bloodied, murder in their eyes. A savage roar erupted from Taran’s belly as he swung his sword over his head and charged in for another bout.
    Runan hefted his sword up to deflect the blow. Taran sliced Runan’s flank, making the older man stagger. Now! With all her strength, she slammed the branch into Runan’s skull. The thud of wood on bone sickened her as Runan collapsed face down.
    Taran’s eyes met her gaze. Stunned.
    After the three remaining rogues saw their leader fall, they fled into the wood. Greum and another ran after them.
    Taran continued to stare. “Stop! We will not pursue while Fionn suffers in agony. Round up any stray horses ye can find and let’s be on our way.”
    He stepped in and brushed her cheek with his hand. “How are ye, m’lady?”
    She clutched the tree limb against her body, shaking like a sapling in a storm. “I-I think I’m well.”
    Pia snatched up Runan’s sword pushed alongside her. She pointed the sword at Taran’s heart. “You’ll not lay a finger on this child.”
    A deep chuckle resounded from the warrior’s throat.
    Valeria reached out and pressed Pia’s hands, lowering the blade. “This is Taran. He…he is a Pict.”
    Pia narrowed her eyes at him and raised