The first arrow creased the leader’s horse,sending it rearing and plunging as the man swore and tried to get it under control. The second shot slammed deep into a bandit’s unprotected throat. Bloodspurted, and the sturdy hill pony panicked, half-turned, and threw his dying rider. The man next to him veered around the fallen man and aimed a kick at the riderless animal. A mistake on his part; the frightened beast spun into him, and the dangling reins tangled around his boot. He went flying, lay momentarily dazed, then pawed his sword from the dirt and clambered to his feet.

Jerdren was ready for him. Teeth bared in a savage grin, he ripped the short sword from its sheath and brought it down in a slashing blow. The raider staggered back, folded in half over his torn belly, and fell across his already dead companion, gasping and wheezing.

Other men came from the north now, on foot, swords and javelins ready. Jerdren gritted his teeth. Time those armsmen he’d hired back upnorth earned their pay. He could only hope he’d chosen well, as the remainingriders swept up and joined battle with the two brothers.

Two men converged on him, grinning as they brought their swords down. Jerdren drew his horse to one side and kneed it forward, bringing his blade down hard against the nearest fellow’s unprotected neck. With a gruntof pain, the man fell forward and slid limply to the ground. Jerdren came back around sharply and slashed backhand at the second man-a sinewy fellow with abeard nearly as red as his own. Blades clashed before red-beard drew back, trying to find a way under his opponent’s guard.

Jerdren’s eyes flicked briefly left and right. The hiredguards were keeping the bandits away from the wagons still, and up along the road, the footmen were moving nearer. They wouldn’t risk getting trampled, hethought, and he kneed his mount forward as he thrust. His enemy parried the blow, but the effort left him off-balance, and before he could recover, Jerdren slashed across the man’s face, opening a long, nasty cut just below the eye.Blood ran down his cheek.