Hate him? She wanted to drag him to a darker part of the alleyway and demand he finish what he started. ‘Of course not. Though I’m still angry that you shot my prisoner.’
He laughed at that, then backed away to the other side of the alleyway. He leaned against the wall, watching her from a safe distance. ‘For what it’s worth, you passed that test with flying colours right up until the end. You were honestly incredible.’
She played with the ends of her plait. ‘Which test is that?’
Light danced in his eyes. ‘Both.’
‘What did I do wrong at the end of the second test?’
He drew a leg up, resting his foot on the wall. ‘You went off course. That’s very dangerous, especially for a new recruit.’
She could not stop her smile. They were all right. The kiss had not broken anything between them.
The light in his eyes faded, his expression turning serious. ‘We can’t do that again.’
The words stung a little. ‘Because of Hildred?’
‘Not because of Hildred.’ His throat bobbed, and he opened his mouth to speak. But before he could say another word, a horn sounded in the distance.
They both straightened and looked south, to the sliver of wall visible at the end of the alleyway. Eda knew all the signals now.
‘Intruders?’ she asked.
Roul walked over to her. ‘Go and tell the merchants to get off the street. They need to go inside and lock their doors.’
‘Where are you going?’
‘To the port. And no, you can’t come.’
She tilted her head in a plea.
He pointed in the direction of the street. ‘I’m not messing around here. Wait with Birtle at the shop. I’ll come find you.’ Then he was jogging away.
With a resigned sigh, Eda turned and ran towards the street.
CHAPTER14
Roul drew his weapon as he neared the port gate. ‘What’s going on?’ he called to a defender running past in the other direction.
‘Sea warriors in the water.’
‘Where’s the warden?’
‘Royal borough, readying an army.’
Roul continued towards the lowering portcullis. ‘Are the taverns cleared out?’
The defender straightened when he saw Roul’s gold cloak pin. ‘Yes, Commander.’
‘Good.’ He knew Hildred had family in the merchant borough and would have gone straight there. ‘No one’s come ashore yet?’
‘Not yet.’
Another horn sounded, prompting both men to look in the direction of the beach. It was abandoned, still, yet the signal told them the warriors were already ashore.
Another horn, the same warning again.
The men took cover, watching the sea through a gap in the latticed wood. Roul listened, but it was difficult to hear anything amid the noise inside the borough.
