When it stopped, Fayre asked, ‘What on earth is going on?’
‘English troops are heading this way,’ Roul said. ‘Sounds like they’re closer than I hoped.’
Shapur marched in, not waiting to be announced. ‘Your Majesties.’
Becket clasped his hands behind his back. ‘English troops will soon be arriving. I need you to prepare for a large-scale attack.’ He looked to Roul. ‘Is there any other information you can provide that might be useful?’
If the warden was surprised to see him, he hid it well.
‘They have concealed wagons,’ Roul said. ‘I wasn’t able to see what’s in them, but if I had to guess, I would say weapons of some kind.’
‘Get word out to all the boroughs so people have time to account for family members,’ Fayre said.
Shapur bowed, then turned on his heel and left.
Roul cleared his throat and straightened. ‘I’d like your permission to fight alongside your army, Your Majesty.’
Becket considered the request for a moment. ‘Fine. Take what you need from the armoury.’ When Roul turned to leave, he said, ‘Thornton.’
Roul looked back at him, waiting.
‘Try not to shoot me in the back while you are protecting my people.’
CHAPTER41
‘Oh shit,’ Hadewaye said, eyes north. ‘I see them now.’
Eda stepped up to the embrasure and watched as English soldiers appeared in neat lines below them. They stopped a sensible distance away, out of shooting range. Judging by their numbers, they meant to succeed this time.
A horn sounded again, and a stampede of feet echoed from the turrets at the end of the wall walk. Defenders emerged at a run, carrying weapons, supplies, and open flames. She was one of them now. She was expected to defend that wall with her life. But she had never fought without Roul.
The warden marched into sight, barking orders left and right. ‘Hadewaye, go help distribute the remaining weapons. Move.’
The only person she trusted at her side through this fight had just been sent away.
‘Get those arrows lit,’ Shapur boomed. ‘I do not know what is in those wagons, and I do not want to find out. I want them burned to the ground.’
The problem was the wagons were at least three hundred yards away.
‘Move,’ a defender hissed at her, shoving her back from the embrasure.
Eda righted herself, then set her jaw. ‘The warden said two men to each embrasure.’
‘And when another man arrives, I’ll move aside.’ He spoke without even looking at her, continuing to smear the tips of his arrows with mutton fat.
‘Suttone’ came a familiar voice.
She turned to see Blackmane setting up ten feet away. He moved over to make space for her.
‘Thank you,’ she said quietly, squeezing in beside him.
‘Make sure that fat is on the arrows only,’ Shapur shouted. ‘I do not want sloppy shooting due to slippery hands.’
Eda looked out at their enemy and whispered to Blackmane, ‘I can’t shoot that far.’
He glanced behind him to ensure the warden was not within hearing range, then said, ‘None of us can. Unless they roll those wagons closer, there’s going to be a lot of wasted arrows.’
‘Light those arrows!’ Shapur’s voice boomed along the wall walk.
