Charlie said, “Need you, Alexandria.”
I pulled my gaze away and into the binoculars, taking a second to focus. Regretting that I hadn’t done this first.
Ryan’s voice on the radio: “Max and I are in the courtyard, in position.”
I found Torin and reported, “Torin’s at the?—”
Charlie interrupted, “Check the tower.”
I swept the binoculars and yelled, “East tower — two archers!”
I heard two cracks from a faraway rifle, and in short succession, Ryan’s voice: “Got two,” as men tumbled from the wall.
I turned the glasses to Torin. His blade flashed as he fought. “He’s engaging, near the steps.”
“Alexandria,” Charlie interrupted my report again, “what’s going on — south parapet — crossbowmen?”
I swept the glasses. “Four — no, five. Reloading.”
Charlie relayed it calmly. Drones swooped above the castle walls, magnesium flares burst white inside the courtyard.
Screams rose.
But Torin…
He was a dark figure moving through fire, smoke, and mist. He cut a deliberate path toward the sally port mouth, yawning dark on the far wall.
My heart tried to climb up from my chest to follow —
Charlie interrupted, “Lexi! East wall!”
I swept the binoculars over. “Movement... um...”
“At the sally port, what do you see?”
“There’s a guy, I think… there’s men. Lots of men.”
Ryan’s voice from the radio: “Rannald’s men.”
Charlie was concentrating on his screen. “I can’t see him.”
Ryan’s voice: “You got him?”
Aenghus’s voice: “He’s behind the wall, ye see him? I’m blind.”
Charlie said, “Dammit, can’t…”
Torin’s voice came rumbling through my radio: “Nae trouble, he’s mine.”
Ryan’s voice, low: “Okay then, Torin, go for it, but everyone keep watching, look for your shot. Save Torin the trouble he says isn’t trouble. Aenghus, get that crossbow.”
Torin reachedthe bottom of the steps.
I said,“Hold on… hold on, and… there he is!”
But of course, everyone else could see him too.
Rannald, his black cloak swirling, was looking down on Torin. But as quickly as he was exposed, he stepped behind an arch.
