Cole was modest. “It was not easy, that is for certain,” he said. “None of it would have happened had Julian not raided the entire town for barrels and oil. But the calculations of launching those barrels from the catapults so they could land on the ships was terribly difficult. I missed a few times.”
“But you hit when it mattered,” Addax reminded him, pointing to the burned-out hulls. “Here are the results of your skill. You are brilliant.”
Cole lifted his eyebrows. “Aye, I am,” he said. “And Lady Corisande is a very fortunate woman.”
“Indeed, she is,” Addax agreed. “When is the wedding?”
Cole shrugged. “I told her when this battle was over, so as soon as possible, I should think,” he said. “When the Scots backed away from Berwick two days ago, I was able to break away to see her, but I’ve not seen her since and as much as Ilove the three of you, I love her more, so I am going to find my betrothed and spend some much-needed time with her.”
Julian slapped him on the arm. “Go,” he said. “Meanwhile, we’ll start organizing men to clean up this shoreline, so we need to find some men to help. Everyone has been concentrated at the mouth of the river, but we need to start cleaning up this area, too.”
Cole started to move towards the stumpy tower that led to the stairs up the wall. “You’ll have to ask Sherry where he can spare men,” he said. “He is in command of the clean-up after the battle. He’ll assign some men to help.”
Julian followed him, as did Addax. “And you will not help us?” Julian asked. “When you are done with your lady-love, that is.”
Cole turned to glare at his brother. “Nay,” he said flatly. “I have done enough, making sure these ships were burned to the waterline. The least you can do is clean up my mess while I go on to more relaxing pursuits. Like Cori.”
Julian chuckled. “She will be very glad to see you.”
Cole could only smile. Anything that had to do with Corisande had him smiling. It had indeed been a long seven days, and he’d only been able to see her once for a very short time during that period, so he was anxious to go to her. It was all he’d been dreaming of. He was just heading up the stairs when he noticed that Essien was still down on the shore. He was moving, but not very quickly.
Cole paused.
“Es!” he shouted. “What are you doing? Are you coming with us?”
Essien nodded and ran to catch up with them. But the moment his foot hit the bottom step, he came to a stop.
“Cole, wait,” he said.
Cole came to a halt with Julian and Addax behind him, all of them turning to Essien. “What is it?” Cole asked.
Essien took a deep breath and peered up at him. “I… I need to speak with you.”
“What about?”
“Something I heard when I was running missives for The Marshal earlier today.”
“What did you hear?”
Essien sighed heavily and hung his head for a moment, trying to find the right words. “Come… come down here, please,” he said. “I do not want to shout at you.”
Cole, Julian, and Addax looked at each other, shrugged, and came back down the stairs so they were standing next to Essien at the very bottom.
“I am here,” Cole said. “What is so important?”
Essien scratched his head. “You know I would never lie to you, Cole.”
“I know.”
“And what I am about to tell you is the truth, as I heard it.”
“And?”
“AndI heard something today that I think you must know,” he said. “Even if it is only malicious gossip, it must be addressed.”
“What is it?”
Essien took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. “You know I’d never say something unless I felt it was important,” he said, clearly hesitant. “But… well, the soldiers who were captured along with Lady Corisande and Lady Gaia have been… talking. I have heard that they have been telling others that we did not save the ladies. They said that the English captives were already being returned to England when we ambushed the Scots and killed them.”
