CHAPTER ELEVEN
Kate heard the trumpets that sounded the advance, and she crept forward, moving silently through the outer city beyond the old walls. Around her, Lord Cranston’s men and a company of Ishjemme’s soldiers moved too, under the direction of her cousin Hans. Kate could feel the tension rising among them as they tried to stay unseen for as long as possible.
She could make out the others there. Lord Cranston was near the head of his band of mercenaries, directing them with well-rehearsed signals that even Kate followed, fitting into the whole smoothly. Will was with one of the cannon, helping to drag it forward for the moment when they would come up against resistance. Kate could make out Cora, Emeline, and Aidan, who should probably have stayed back with the ships, but were ther
