A shallow moat at that. More of a wading pool, really. There were no beasts in there. Maybe minnows. Like Sparrow. He smiled at Kurtz's nickname. What would the love-crazy knight do when he knew Sparrow was female? The idea of Kurtz admiring Sparrow filled Achan's chest with heat. Sparrow had been right about men. Kurtz a prime example. And now Achan had proved her right as well. After all she'd done to hide from men, how could he have let himself take advantage? What if she never forgave him?
Vrell Sparrow.
Oh. Apparently Sparrow was the reason for Achan's pounding skull. She never had gotten the hint how painful this kind of persistence was.
Achan rubbed his temple and opened his mind. Yes, Miss Sparrow? You seem quite determined to get my attention this afternoon. Have you reconsidered hearing me out?
Achan! Are you hurt? Esek is holding me at his camp in Darkness. He said his men have attacked-Sparrow's ragged scream filled his mind.
Achan swung his legs off the bed. Sparrow?
But the connection had vanished. He reached out, looked through her mind and found darkness. Surely she couldn't have fallen asleep in mid-sentence.
Had someone killed her?
A man's scream brought him back from the dark place. He jumped off his bed and ran to the window. The bailey smoldered with grey smoke. Achan could barely make out the shapes of men fighting. His men against black-cloaked New Kingsguard knights.
Sir Gavin! Why didn't you tell me we were under attack?
Shung told me you were sleeping. I felt it best to leave you. Stay in your chambers, Your Highness. We will deal with this rabble.
Unbelievable. If Achan's men heard he had slept through a battle, they might lose any thread of respect he had fought to earn. He ran into Sir Caleb's room and found the trunk containing his new armor. He had no way of securing the breastplate by himself, but he could manage the chain coat. He lifted the heavy chain out of the trunk.
Cole! Ready Dove and Shung's horse to ride.
Your Majesty? Cole sounded confused. Where are you?
In my chambers. Achan carried the chain coat back to his chamber and spread it out on his bed. Cole likely thought he was going mad. Do not fear, Cole. I am speaking to you with bloodvoices. I will meet you at the stables in a moment.
Uh, okay, Your Majesty.
Achan scrunched up the chain and ducked his head through the neck opening. His hair snagged and the chain hung heavy around his neck. He struggled and finally managed to get it on. It hung heavy over his clothing. He should probably put on another shirt, but there was no time. He seized Eagan's Elk from and the knife from the Roxburg family. He threaded the knife's sheath onto the belt and buckled it around his waist.
Achan prayed Sparrow hadn't been hurt. He pulled open the door to find Shung standing outside. "Let's go, Shung. We've a battle to join."
Achan and Shung exited into the castle courtyard. The air was thick with smoke. Cole stood outside the stables between their horses. Achan started toward him.
"Your Highness!" Sir Eagan's head peeked over the top of the inner gatehouse, looking down. "Come up and take a look."
"I've no time for that. Atul has taken Sparrow captive. He's holding her at Esek's camp. Shung and I must ride."
Sir Eagan raised an eyebrow. "Her?"
"Please. She's not answering my bloodvoice calls."
"That is wide of the point, Your Majesty. We cannot open the gate just yet. Come up to the tower and you will understand."
Achan blew out an angry breath. Every second he lingered, Sparrow could be dying. He stormed to the gatehouse, Shung at his heels, and up the narrow, spiral stone staircase to the tower roof above the inner portcullis.
Sir Eagan stood with Sir Gavin looking over the crenellations. From here, Achan could see the entire bailey. Three tents along the southeastern curtain wall were on fire. The outer gate was shut. The forest outside the curtain wall blazed. But the wooden structures within the stone stronghold had not caught fire. Too moist, perhaps. The smoke had faded, leaving only a few pockets coiling up into the sky, burning the shaft of arrows they flew in on.
Dozens of men lay on the ground, some motionless, some writhing, some with arrows protruding from their bodies.
"It is over?" Achan asked.
"Not yet," Sir Gavin said. "We've pushed them down the road and they have retreated somewhat. Yet their cavalry has yet to come. Once our men are ready, we'll take the battle to them."
Achan watched his army readying their horses. "What happened?"
"When we left Tsaftown, we sent scouts ahead. Those who went to Carmine tell Gavin they've seen no sign of Esek's men. Those to Berland have not reported. Without their eyes, we could not know how close Esek's men were."
"Take my hand, Your Highness," Sir Eagan said. "I will show you."
"I don't understand."
"Open your mind and you will."
Achan held out his hand and opened a connection with the knight. He felt Sir Eagan's fingers grip his palm. Images flooded his mind's eye.
Sir Eagan explained what Achan was seeing. "I was returning from TempleArman, paused at the northern tower, and saw men climbing onto the sentry walk. While I notified Gavin, they took out the guards at the outer gatehouse."
Achan saw the scene unfold, felt Sir Eagan's racing heart and sense of urgency.
"I befuddled a few with bloodvoicing, but many of them had shielded their minds. Gifted."
In the recitation of the event in his mind, Achan saw the New Kingsguard knights lower their weapons and look up to the sky in a daze.
"By the time Gavin made it out here, our men had already taken arms against the intruders. We took back the gatehouse before they managed to raise the portcullis."
Achan watched his men sprint across the lawn and enter the gatehouse. He recognized Bazmark at the front of the pack.
"Archers shot fire arrows over the wall. I moved down here with Gavin and searched the minds of the attackers to see what I could learn. A squadron-likely the ninety-plus men Kurtz saw leaving Tsaftown-came upon us unaware from the north. From Darkness."
Sir Eagan released Achan's hand.
Achan shivered as Sir Eagan's memories faded. "How did you do that? Give me your memories?"
"You saw my thoughts, but I chose which to show you."
"I too have looked into the minds of these men," Sir Gavin said. "From what I can tell, Esek is not with them. They answer to a Captain Keuper."
"I know him," Sir Eagan said. "He trained under Sir Kenton. Arrogant fellow."
"He's a fool," Sir Gavin said. "Why does Kenton not point out that shooting fire at Mitspah is a bootless errand?"
"Is Sir Kenton out there?" Achan asked.
"Not that we can sense," Sir Eagan said. "Nor is Lord Nathak. A shame, really. Many good men fight for Esek. I sensed their discord with this mission."
"Why do they fight for him if they are conflicted?"
"It is their job. It feeds their families. A man must think twice before leaving his only source of income and trailing after a rogue king."
"That's me? A rogue king."
"We have no coin to pay soldiers. For a man to leave his job and join you, he would have to believe the cause was worth the sacrifice his family would be making. Esek sabotages himself, though. He asks his men to die for his personal agenda. Killing you. I am surprised Sir Kenton allows this."
"Indeed. Something is amiss. Kenton, at least, would know better than to shoot fire at Mitspah stronghold."