Not even an hour later Laura saw the glow of torches off in the distance. They couldn’t see just how large the army was that was headed for them but it was enough to get everyone into action.
That extra hour wasn’t nearly enough time for Sheera to find Donovan but it was a head start. She’d scribbled the new note, tying it onto the big wolf, and given Sheera Donovan’s pillow to sniff. The wolf took off running. Laura only hoped that Sheera would be able to find his scent.
The baby had been placed back in the arms of Ellen and Jane had offered to keep watch of the two while they slept and while Laura helped rally the people for a war.
The castle bustled as people scrambled to gather weapons and their armor. The men were much more prepared than the women but she heard more than one couple bickering. The women wanted to stand and fight and their men didn’t want that.
Everyone gathered in the great hall after she’d been been given more arrows. There was no way she could wield a sword but arrows she could do. Jonathan stood by her side through the whole process and helped her issue orders. She had a sneaking suspicion that Donovan’s people didn’t want to take orders from her but they knew he’d been sent for and was on his way. At least, they all hoped.
The army was growing closer and she shouted to grab everyone’s attention. She wasn’t loud enough.
“Silence,” Jonathan boomed and the hall grew quiet.
“They are almost here,” she started. “For now, our best chance of defence is probably to have the women on the roof and the men at the front lines.”
There was some grumbling about the women being involved.
“Listen! We need every available person. The women will probably be safer fighting than being locked inside the castle walls. You don’t want to think about what they will do to your wives and daughters if they get to them. Let them defend themselves…let them defend you.” She didn’t want to think about it either, but as she looked around at their faces, some of them began to nod.
“I don’t know what your individual gifts are, but I am asking you to use all resources necessary to hold them off until Donovan can get here.” Eyes widened and she stopped. What had she said? Donovan.
“Men, follow me,” Jonathan said. “Women follow Laura.”
The two groups hugged their loved ones before splitting up and going their separate directions. The women headed onto the balconies bundled up in order to attack from above where they would have the advantage. No sooner had they gotten there did they see the King’s banners and a group of about 200 men marching toward them.
Laura blew out a cold breath to steady herself. Their odds were bad but they were infinitely better than if the King had brought his entire army. She supposed he didn’t want to expend that many resources to get them all here.
Snow fell in bursts and Laura pulled her cloak tighter. Their only saving grace was that the wind was calm. Laura stacked her arrows down by her feet in their respective quivers. She’d killed so many people in the last few weeks, but the thought of killing more wasn’t easy. The physician hadn’t made it and there wasn’t anything she could have done for him.
They could hear marching now and the Army came into view. How did they know right where to come if the physician was dead? She supposed he could have told him that they were living in the abandoned cathedral and that there was a spell cast on it. The army was now past the barrier and could see what was truly in front of them.
The women shifted nervously and eyed Laura but she could do nothing but give them reassuring nods and keep her own held high. The women who had a power that could do damage to the army in one fashion or another stood at the railings ready. The rest who had more individual powers like mind reading or invisibility were given a bow and instructed to use their gift if it would help their side.
