“Exactly,” Ren said. “When the Skarlans approach the gate to ram it, we simply open it wide, herd the cattle out onto the bridge and push the soldiers into the water. Then all the archers have to worry about is picking them off in the moat.”

“The moat is wide and the attackers will move slowly through the water. However many Skarlan soldiers manage to make it through the gate after the cattle have passed over the bridge, there should be few enough for our soldiers on the inside to handle them,” Anik said.

“Using cows as soldiers,” Jayce said, running his hand through his short, dark curls. “That's a wild plan. Worthy of a Lowlander. No offence.” He glanced from Ren to Anik, a soft flush reaching his cheeks.

Anik simply chuckled. “It'll work.”

They prepared for the attack in the fort armoury. With the equipment in varying states of repair, hardly anyone could be provided with a full set of armour. The soldiers defending the courtyard got most of it, since they'd be bearing the brunt of the fighting. The archers were provided with as many helmets and leather breastplates as they had, and the rest was makeshift. Ren had lined the soldiers up in the courtyard and filled them in on the plan. Ren could hear them murmur nervously to each other. He wondered how many of them had fought a battle before. Most of them looked like seasoned fighters, but there were a few young ones in between, strapping into their armour with pale faces and jaws clenched tight.

Ren strapped a pair of bracers to his forearms. Considering he wasn't planning on engaging the enemy head-on, the amount of armour he wore felt irrelevant. A part of him was glad for it, but another part couldn't help but feel like there were men who needed it more than he did. Despite his own feelings, everyone seemed to have unanimously agreed that their prince – bastard or not – should be well-protected.

The men hadn't been as considerate towards Anik. They had tolerated him walking free, but when Ren declared that Anik would be leading the defence of Stag's Run alongside him, many of them had balked. Ren had silenced them with a strength of conviction he had always thought was reserved for men like King Callun. The soldiers had immediately complied, but they still sent Anik nervous glances whenever they passed.