"Right!" Ethlyn moved to stand before William. Often, her husband had kept his horse between her and their foes--although that hadn't been possible in Aed--but she had done this often enough for someone she was trying to keep alive when the enemy was looking for an easy target. "I'll keep you safe."

William's vulnerable position attracted their notice. Ethlyn gritted her teeth, clamping down on any verbal challenges or admonitions... those would surely be of no help. Instead she swung her sword in a horizontal arc to ward off the more venturesome ghosts. She wished again for the blade of light that Deirdre had given her, but it was of little consequence. One of the specters garbled a protest as the steel got too close, falling back, and Ethlyn bared her teeth. She would not let William be interrupted.