“Ladies,” said Sister Elisabeth. She raised an eyebrow.

The left choir began the Credo.

“What is our plan?” Harald Redmede asked the Green Earl. Redmede had a horse now; food was suddenly plentiful, and the army was moving into a camp, a fortified camp, at least with a heavy abattis of felled trees built by the Albinkirk garrison.

They were joined by Lord Gregario, and Duchess Mogon, and then, after some desultory talk and a lot of sausage chewing, by the Grand Squire and the Prior of Harndon and Syr Christos.

Gavin grinned and shook hands with the Morean knight. “Does this mean . . .”

Christos nodded. “Syr Alcaeus is half a day away, south of the inn and marching hard. And I passed Donald Dhu on the road with almost a thousand Hillmen.”

“We cannot defeat Ash with men,” Gregario said.

Gavin glanced at his imperial messenger. “The royal army is at the falls of the Albin this morning,” he said. “Harmodius is with them.” He spread his hands.

“Now you’re talking,” Gregario said.

Gavin made himself smile. “We’re just in time, gentlemen. The first attack on the gate took place an hour ago, in our time. The abbess now has to hold Lissen Carak from within and without. We need to lift some of the pressure off her.”

Every man and woman present frowned, except Mogon.

“I agree,” Mogon said. “I have not seen an opening, but I know what happens. All the armies converge, and fight whatever emerges.”

“We need a lot more sorcerers!” Lord Gregario said. “We can’t stand another day of being pounded by Ash. And the worms!”

Tamsin nodded. “I would wish we were a day later,” she admitted. “I cannot face Ash alone. Even with Miriam and all her choir providing me with power. I am not the channeler that Kerak was. I am not the scientist that Lord Nikos was. My powers lie in other directions.”

“The good news,” Gavin insisted, “is that Ash sent a sizable force after us yesterday, irks, bogglins, and other creatures, and we’ve just left them behind on the south bank.” Gavin scratched his unshaven jaw. “My sense is that we need to put in an attack, a serious attack, and distract Ash.”

The prior nodded. “If you could get me and my knights into the abbey, I think we could guarantee its defence for a long time. And hand Ash a defeat.”

The slim, hooded figure with him nodded.

Tamsin looked at the slim figure, and knew who she was seeing. An idea came to her.

Gregario shrugged. “I will fight where I’m told, but this seems . . . chancy. To me.”

Gavin looked around.

Mogon squinted her eyes and clacked her beak. “We are at a point where all the chances are long,” she said. “We have survived the retreat. Now I wish to get my beak into Ash.” She looked at Tamsin. “Is there anything you can do?”