Medieval Monday- Conflict theme with Mary Morgan

Welcome Mary Morgan to my blog today with her excerpt from Dragon Knight's Shield.

With a strange, sword-wielding woman at his side, Angus should keep his eyes on the battle before him.

Excerpt:
Hearing a twig snap, Angus held up his fist in warning to Robert and the others. Immediately, shouts erupted as a group of eight men came charging on either side of their group. With a quick blow, he knocked out one man and glanced over his shoulder to see Tynan and Gunn guarding Brogan, all the while fighting several men. As more men advanced toward him, Angus had a tingling sensation of unease as the mists parted.
 
He blinked, caught off guard by the sight before his eyes standing some several feet away. It was the same lass from the previous day. Deflecting a blow, which almost cost him, he instantly maneuvered around the man and took him down. When he glanced back up, he swallowed the fear in his gut and lunged at the woman. Grasping her hand, he immediately pulled her behind him, as the hiss of the enemy’s blade narrowly missed her head by inches.
 
As several men now circled him and the woman, Angus feared it would take all his strength to keep them safe. “Move with me, and when I tell ye to run, go toward the trees.”
 
“I think you need some help, mister,” the woman stated quietly. “Give me one of your dirks.”
 
Angus let out a curse. “Are ye daft? Do as I command…” he got no further before the lass reached for the sword lying near the body of the man he just killed.
 
One of the enemy leered past Angus’s shoulder. “Och, I claim the bonny wench to battle with,” he said, as he licked his lips in a salacious manner that caused Angus to see red.
 
The fire burst forth from his hand, and he flung the flames outward, hitting the man squarely in the chest. “Burn, ye bastard.”
 
“How in the hell did you do that?” she yelled, her eyes wide with fear.
 
Another man charged at his side, bringing Angus to the ground. Struggling to keep the blade from slicing into his throat, he could hear the clang of steel nearby. With his instincts screaming at him to protect the woman, he thrust with all his might, turning the blade back into his enemy. As the man gasped for air, blood gushed out his mouth, and Angus quickly shoved him aside.
 
Instantly standing, he froze. The woman was not only fighting the man, she was actually winning. She had managed to slice through part of his arm, leaving a nasty slash across his face, and now was taunting him. He thought her to be very daft for doing so, but in awe by her actions.
 
As the man took another blow, she stepped back. “Do I need to bleed you any further?” Her voice rang of steel.
 
The man spat out blood. “Bitch. I will take your head.”
 
“I’m waiting,” she sneered.
 
Without warning, the man threw the dagger from behind his back. Yet, the woman was faster and bent to the side as the blade flew past, landing into a fallen tree.
 
Angus stalked forward intending to take the man’s head, when she stepped in front halting his progress.
 
“No need for more bloodshed. I’ve got this covered,” she stated and went over to the stunned man, delivering a knockout punch.
 
“God’s teeth, woman,” hissed Angus taking a glance around and noticing that everyone else had survived. He stormed to where she was standing and grabbed her arm. “What were ye thinking taking up a sword and fighting? Ye could have been killed.”
 
“You could have been killed. You required my help.”
 
She started to mumble, and Angus found it difficult to follow the flow of words. Narrowing his eyes, he understood her to be English. However, this did not explain her outlandish clothing. A woman should never be allowed to wear trews, he thought, as he took in her form.
 
“What? Never seen a woman before?” Her voice wavered. “Do I have to fight with you, too?”
 
He looked down into the most beautiful hazel eyes he had ever seen. “Nae.”
 
 
Blurb:
 
Angus MacKay, leader of the Dragon Knights, failed his brothers and his clan upon the death of his sister. Now he must fight the darkness of despair tempting his soul. Back on Scottish soil, he comes face to face with Deirdre who can wield a sword as mightily as his warriors, and he takes her captive. Yet, with each passing day, the fire dragon inside him roars to claim the one woman fate has destined for him. 

Famed mystery writer, Deirdre Flanagan, is unprepared for the next chapter in her life. On a vacation to Scotland, she steps through the mists and enters into a skirmish alongside a Highlander. However, the fight has only begun, and now she must battle Angus as well as evil in order to claim the love of this Dragon Knight. 

Will their love be powerful enough to shield them from danger, or burn them to ashes? 
 
Buy Links:
 
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Knights-Shield-Order-Book-ebook/dp/B018MESJ12/
 

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