The Devastation (Unexpected Circumstances #7)(8)

I guided Romero back and forth in front of the army, swallowing hard before I could speak of my missing wife.

“Now he has Alexandra…your queen…my wife”—I had to stop and take a deep breath before continuing—“and the child in her belly is threatened.”

The cries lowered to angry grumblings and snarls from the men in front of me. Again I turned Romero and paced in front of them, my voice heightening in pitch and volume.

“We move against Hadebrand now, this very day. This is the hour of Silverhelm’s revenge. Hadebrand will fall to us because of Edgar’s actions against your queen, and no one—no one—who fights for Hadebrand will survive. We will not stop until every wall, every tower, every single structure in all of Hadebrand has been razed.”

I turned quickly and stared into the eyes of the men.

“Are you with me?” I screamed, and affirmative cries rose from the group. I looked over their faces and cried out again. “I said, ‘Are you with me?’”

Again their voices cried out but much louder this time.

“Then ride with me!” I pulled at the reins and turned myself swiftly around. I brought Romero to a quick trot as I hit the road. The din of boots and hoofbeats behind me blocked out all other sound, but it could not block the thoughts from my head.

Where was she now?

What was happening to her?

Was she in pain?

Was she crying for me?

I felt sick.

The pain in my gut when her face appeared in my mind was overwhelming. I was going to have to be diligent and judicious if I were going to be able to successfully defeat my enemy and save Alexandra from Edgar’s clutches. I could not have the thought of her consuming me and keeping me unable to act. I had no choice if I was to move forward, destroy Hadebrand, and bring my wife and child home safely.

I closed my mind against all feeling.

I breathed deeply, focused my eyes on the horizon, and I thought of arrows and swords and blood. I filled my mind with the remembered sounds of blade hitting blade, the screams of those who had fallen at my hand, and the thought of Edgar’s head displayed on the end of a pike outside the broken walls of Hadebrand’s castle.

Before long the cavalry slowed to keep the horses fresh and allow those on foot to catch up. Once they were back with us, we took up a steady trot with the peasant fighters of Silverhelm trailing behind us. I again closed down my mind to the reason why all this was happening. I simply could not think of it. If I did, I could not lead. If I could not lead, I could not save Alexandra. I could fight, however. That was something I could do without thought. I needed only a weapon and strong men.

I glanced over my shoulder at those behind me and wondered how many would survive. With the serfs at our side, our numbers would be greater than Edgar’s, but the commoners were not trained. They did, however, have passion on their side. I knew well that passion could turn a battle. Still, I wondered if it would be enough, and as we traveled, I thought of the castle walls and the need to breach them as quickly as possible to get inside.

I needed more than men.

I needed machines.

The people of Wynton prided themselves on their inventions, and I could not help but think of the many items they had at their disposal that might help me to bring Alexandra back. They were ready to be used in the previous battle against Hadebrand, but we never advanced close enough to the castle walls to employ them. By the time we realized the war would be lost, we had hidden the weapons built by the engineers of Wynton.

Now I could only hope that Lord William would consider joining with me or at least allowing me to take the siege weapons at his disposal to help me to breach the walls of Edgar’s castle. Battering rams were common enough and used by any army, but it was the strange catapults that could throw giant rocks to smash down stone walls that I needed. And more specifically, I needed the men who knew how to use such equipment.

Even with the support of the peasants and serfs of Silverhelm, I had little hope of bringing down the walls of Edgar’s castle without siege equipment. Edgar’s archers would pick off the men one by one as we tried to get through the gate with a ram or two. We would likely break through eventually, but at what cost? I doubted there would be sufficient men to get far enough inside to save Alexandra.

I had to get to her.

Simply put, I needed the engineers of Wynton. If they did not join me willingly, then I would have to take them by sword. This was my thought as we approached the outskirts of the small town and two dozen men walked out from around the main hall to stand at the side of the road, waiting for us. I could see Lord William’s long, graying hair blowing out behind him in the breeze.

I prayed silently that they were there to offer their help.

“Lord William,” I said with a nod. I looked across the field at the few men he had, and though I knew they would not turn the battle with their numbers, they were well-seasoned men. I dared hope they were there to join my cause and not to hinder it.

“King Branford,” he replied. “Stop your advance. I must speak with you.”

My hand went instinctively to the hilt of my sword as fear gripped my heart. I could not afford to be slowed down by the men of Wynton. A skirmish would only reduce my numbers and give a messenger time to reach Hadebrand. Besides, I needed them—or at least their machines—if I were to have a chance at succeeding.

Lord William raised his hands in front of him and held them palms out toward me.