Grimly, Kel watched the Scanrans set-up their siege. Dom snuck up behind her to view their enemy, face set.
"Word came back from Mastiff," he told her quietly. "They're sending a company of soldiers as fast as they can. I can't figure out why Maggur still wants to attack us, with Blayce dead."
Kel shook her head wearily. "The attack will start any--"
An arrow whistled through the air overhead. In the camp, someone screamed. Kel's head shot up. She swallowed to wet her throat and started calling out names.
"All civilian archers to the walls! Merric, collect your men and meet me at the gates. All squads of the Own spread out along the walls. I want five men to assist Sir Nealan and the other healers! Let's go! Stay alert, and watch that they don't scale the walls!" She used her pitched battlefield voice that could be heard above the yells of the Scanrans and shouted orders of the Tortallans.
The Lady Knight hurried to headquarters to grab her sword and don mail. As she was leaving, Milan stopped her. Milan was the young teenage civilian boy that she had put on lookout of the back entrance, where Lachlan was expected.
"M'--M'Lady," gasped Milan. "The relief forces is just clearing the trees. They've about a mile t' go yet, and under heavy attack from th' Scanrans." He fiddled anxiously with the bow in his hands.
Kel put on her emotionless Yamani mask. "Thank you, Milan. Would you please assemble all of your friends that aren't at the front, and try to cover Sir Lachlan's approach?"
He nodded dumbly and ran away. Kel slid on her helm and riding gloves and went to the front gates. Civilians were enforcing the heavy oak-and-iron gates, piling sandbags and stones in front of them. Merric and his squad were waiting with their horses, fully armed for battle.
"We're going out to assist Lachlan and the reinforcement knights," she explained tersely. Without a word, they all mounted their warhorses.
New Hope was built with an emergency escape that was big enough for a mounted rider to go through. Kel led her soldiers to that now, shouting instructions along the way. As one of the refugees opened the secret tunnel for them, Dom emerged from a different direction.
"Where are you going?" he demanded.
"To play with our friends, mother," drawled Merric dryly. He was sweating with nervousness despite his sarcasm.
Dom gripped Peachblossom's bridle firmly, forgetting the gelding's hostility. Kel's big horse lowered his head and snapped at Dom's elbow. The sergeant barely jumped back in time.
"I'll be back, Dom," Kel reassured him, and disappeared into the tunnel.
(a/n: I KNOW! I havent updated in a couple days, and when I do, its this short short chapter! I'M SORRY! I'll update again tomorrow, AT THE LATEST!)