They taught the plank technique to defenders early in their training. It was effective for small walls. Anything over fifteen feet would be a challenge. One end of the plank went to the top of the construction, the other to the ground. Two men would follow close, one with pegs and the other with a mallet. These were used to secure the wood in place. The moment they stepped back, two men carrying the second plank would run to the top of the first, securing the other half of the bridge in place. They did not always have the luxury of pegging the other side. In fact, often the second plank would be dragged away by the occupants, forcing the intruder to jump if they wished to enter. Usually, if enough planks landed at the same time, a few would manage to survive. They only needed a few entry points.

So, every fifty feet along the fence line, planks simultaneously hit the ground on the other side. Chaos erupted inside the camp.

The remaining children were the first priority. Two of the wooden bridges landed inside the enclosure, and Tatum and Blackmane were first to cross. They immediately took cover, their job to guard the fence and protect those who followed them in, whose sole purpose was to get the children to the runners waiting on the other side.

But the children were not there.

Tatum watched the fence down his arrow. ‘They knew we were coming.’

‘What now?’ Blackmane asked, gesturing to the others to draw their weapons.

Tatum headed for the open gate. ‘Now we hunt.’

The pair exited the children’s pen and entered what could only be described as a battlefield. Not only had the rebel groups successfully penetrated the camp, but the prisoners, realising what was happening, had joined the fight.

Tatum stopped one of Thorn’s men as he went to run by. ‘Direct all the women to the children’s enclosure,’ Tatum said. ‘The runners will take them to the safe zone.’

A camp guard came for Tatum as they resumed walking, sword raised to strike him. Blackmane shot him through the neck.

‘So much for being discreet,’ Tatum muttered. ‘The warden’s going to have our heads when he finds out about this.’

Blackmane was firing arrows left and right at that point. ‘I’m technically in the shadows due to the angle of the sun.’

Tatum put his bow away and drew his sword. ‘I may as well fight properly if we’re in trouble anyway.’ He looked around. ‘Where would you hide sixty-odd children?’

Blackmane’s eyes kept drifting in the direction of the guest tents at the end, hoping to glimpse Isabel. She would likely be in hiding with Hodge, under heavy guard.

Tatum clicked his fingers in front of Blackmane’s face. ‘Are we focused here?’