The wooden doors creaked open. It was dusk now, almost dark in the roundhouse. A weak wash of light filtered a little way into the room, silhouetting the warriors as they strode inside. Camlin let them take a few steps in, out of sight from the square, then leaped forwards, one hand clamping over a mouth, his knife plunging into a back, slicing between ribs, puncturing a lung. The warrior in his grip stiffened, hissed. Camlin stabbed again, and again. The other warrior was turning, sword already half out of its scabbard, his mouth open, drawing breath to yell.

A sword crunched into his neck, cutting deep, blood spurting. The sword swung again, wildly, hit him in the face, taking off half his jaw and spinning him. Teeth, blood and bone sprayed as he collapsed to the floor.

Camlin turned, saw Edana standing with her sword gripped in both hands. She was staring at the fallen warrior. Camlin peered through the shutter.

No one’s noticed. Yet. He swept up his bow and arrow and ran to the back wall, where Baird and Vonn had finally cut a hole in the wall. Pale light seeped through. We’ve about a fast count to thirty, if we’re lucky . . .

‘Out, now,’ he hissed.

Cian was first through, Roisin behind him, another half-dozen shieldmen straight after. Camlin stuck his head through the hole.

‘Don’t wait – head south, to the river. Saw some boats – they’re our best chance.’ He searched the room for the bairn Meg, jumped a little when he saw her standing beside him. ‘Meg, show Cian the way to the river and boats.’

‘You coming?’ she asked.

‘I’ll be along after.’

She chewed at her lip a moment, then nodded, slipped through the hole and sprinted off into the dusk. Cian and the others hurried after her.

Edana was still standing by the door, clutching her sword. Vonn was whispering to her, but to no apparent effect. Camlin strode over, took one look at her and shook her by the shoulders.

‘You’ve killed a man,’ he hissed at Edana. ‘Good. He was your enemy and would have killed you. Now sheathe your sword and get out, ’fore someone else comes and tries to kill you.’

She blinked at him, then nodded, tried to sheathe her sword but her hands were shaking. Baird helped her and hurried her through the hole in the wall, other warriors following.

Morcant’s voice called out and Camlin felt his heart freeze. Hooves, footsteps.

‘Move,’ Camlin hissed, pushing men through the hole. ‘Lorcan, you next.’

‘I shall wait with you and defend Edana’s escape.’

Camlin sighed.

There were only a handful of them left: Camlin and Lorcan, a couple of Roisin’s shieldmen, one of them Brogan – the shieldman with the barrel of herring still strapped to his back – and Vonn.

Camlin calmly pulled a handful of arrows from the quiver at his belt and stabbed them into the ground.