Chapter 39

“By order of the Royal House of Stuart, show yourselves or we will open fire!”

Gair rolled his eyes.

“Does that ever actually work?” Isobel asked. Gair almost ginned at the skeptical tone of her voice.

“Not usually,” the soldier admitted.

“I thought not. Wolves would nay understand and a band of thieves would nay be so daft as to believe showing themselves would do anything by giving you a clear shot.”

“The Duke requires we give warning before we open fire. It is cowardliness to do otherwise.”

“I see. Well, they’ve been warned now, aye?”

“Aye.”

The agreement was barely out of the man’s mouth when Izzy loosed her first arrow. The second was ready to fire before the man on the other side of the bush started to squeal.

“Do nay fuss like a wee bairn” she called out, “ye were warned and me arrow but hit yer foot if anything. Hobble on out the lot of ye or the next arrow will be higher. Right about heart level, so like as not I’ll hit yer face since yer all bent low.”

“Did ye have to shoot