“Back with Norfolk’s army.”
Now Atticus was stunned. “He’sbackwith the army?”
Kenton nodded. “You told him that you would kill du Reims if he returned,” he said. “Evidently, the man does not care about his comrade.”
Atticus’ features hardened, outrage in his eyes. “Surely you jest, Kenton. This is not funny at all.”
Kenton shook his head, the irony of the situation not lost on him. “I do not have a sense of humor; therefore, I do not jest,” he replied. “Summerlin is back with his army and they are preparing to mount an offensive against Wolfe’s Lair.”
Atticus’ outrage turned to pure rage. “Then he will learn the hard way that I do not make threats I do not intend to carry out,” he said. “Summerlin and his men are in for a brutal time of it.”
Kenton understood. A threat, once given, could not be rescinded or Atticus would look like a weakling. “Much is his misfortune, then,” was all he could say.
Atticus’ mind was already whirling with the burden of command. Norfolk’s army was here. His instincts took charge, the training that had been part of his life since a very early age, and he stepped out into the corridor and softly shut the door behind him. The scent of battle was already filling the air and he inhaled of it deeply; he fed off of it. He was in his element with it. The Lion was born for battle.
“Then we prepare,” he said as he began to head towards the inner ward and, subsequently, the gatehouse. He wanted to see what was coming. “Are the men mobilizing?”
Kenton nodded. He was extremely efficient, already anticipating what needed to happen. “They are,” he said. “Warenne has not left yet, you know. He ended up staying the night because it was late by the time he was fully prepared to depart. He is already positioning the men upon the walls.”
“And my father?”
“I have not yet seen him.”
They were now descending the steps that would lead down to the inner ward, which was alive with men and animals. Soldiers were moving all of the animals and supplies they could into the stables because of the sod roof. If Norfolk decided to send flaming projectiles over the wall, at least the roof would not burn and protect those beneath. Atticus passed a practiced eye over the commotion, assessing it, understanding the progress in an instant. Already, much had been done.
“Leave my father in peace for now,” he said. “I will go and speak to him after I have fully assessed the situation. At the moment, I need to see the approach and positioning of Norfolk’s army.”
Kenton gestured to Atticus’ torso. “You should dress for battle first in case they decide to employ the archers. Knowing Norfolk, they will be his initial assault.”
Atticus eyed him. “You know that always comes last with me,” he said. “The restriction of armor makes me feel less than agile.”
Kenton shook his head. He had been fighting with Atticus for many years and he knew that. He didn’t agree with it, but he knew the man’s position. “You are the only knight I know who feels encumbered by protection,” he said. “Someday that is going to cost you. You would fight naked if you could, Atticus.”
Atticus grinned. “If I thought I could get away with it, I would,” he said. “I move much better when I am not covered by great hunks of metal.”
“You are an odd creature.”
Atticus laughed softly as they made their way up the wall to the gatehouse where he could better see the approach of Norfolk’s army. The moment he was in position to gain a view of the eastern moors, he could see the army in the distance, lined up on the crest between Wolfe’s Lair and the small valley that spread out before it.
In the light of dawn, Atticus studied the distant cluster of men and animals. There were trees in the distance, somewhat marring a clear view of the army, but he could see easily enough of it. They were moving forward at a slow pace. He pointed to the incoming tide of men.
“I see at least two siege engines,” he said. “They will have little trouble rolling those to the wall of the castle but they will not be high enough.”
“So they will bring in ladders,” Kenton said. “Ultimately, that is what they will use to try and mount the walls.”
Atticus agreed. “That is true, but they will have to be very tall ladders to reach the top, and ladders that tall are unstable,” he said. His gaze lingered on the distant army a moment longer before turning away. “I will inform my father of what is happening and then I intend to pay a visit to du Reims. The man and I must speak.”
Kenton watched him as he headed down the narrow stairs that led up from the ward. “Do you truly intend to kill him and toss him over the wall?”
“That is what he and I will speak of.”
Kenton didn’t press him and he didn’t offer his opinion. Atticus had a better sense of knightly chivalry and honor than most, but all of this was tied into Titus’ death so he wasn’tentirely sure just how restrained, or how fair, Atticus would be in his judgement. Du Reims was a man who couldn’t really fight back should Atticus go after him and it would be unlike Atticus to go to battle against a man who couldn’t defend himself. He would consider that dishonorable. Still, the situation was different these days. Kenton would keep an eye on Atticus and how he dealt with du Reims because he didn’t want the man to do anything that he would later regret.
Atticus, now at the bottom of the steps, wasn’t oblivious to Kenton’s thoughts. They were close and understood each other well. He knew Kenton didn’t approve of the possible execution of du Reims and, deep down, Atticus wasn’t entirely comfortable with it either. There was the little matter of honor with him, honor that would prevent him from outright murdering a disabled knight. Still, he couldn’t let Summerlin’s defiance go unanswered and they all knew it. Just how he dealt with that defiance would define this battle in particular. He was halfway across the inner ward when he heard Kenton’s bellow.
“Incoming!”
Atticus dashed for the safety of the nearest shelter, which happened to be the stables. He had no sooner entered the smelly, dark confines when a series of arrows pelted the inner ward. Two men who had been scrambling for shelter had been hit but those were the only injuries. As Atticus emerged from the stable, looking at all of the arrows, he realized it could have been much worse, him included. Now he thought that perhaps he should don his armor before he did anything else. With the armory across the ward, he began running.
