“My daughter was fortunate to—” She paused, frowning as she realized her companion was no longer listening. He had stiffened quite suddenly, his eyes narrowing on the trees beyond the wall. “What is it?” she asked, anxiety rippling down her back.

Angus was silent for a moment, then gave a slight shake of his head. “I thought I saw—” Cursing, he turned abruptly toward the gate. “Close the gate! Lift the bridge!” he roared. “Now! Now! Now!”

Lady Wildwood started to peer toward the gate, then whirled back toward the man at his gasp. Reaching out instinctively, she caught him as he stumbled forward, taking a great deal of his weight and crying out as she saw the arrow protruding from his back. A second arrow whizzed past them then, and she instantly dropped to her knees, taking Angus with her.

“Mother!” Iliana rushed forward at a crouch. She had just stepped onto the battlement when Angus had yelled for the bridge to be raised. His order had surprised and confused her until the man fell beneath an arrow a moment later. A glance over the wall had explained all. Mounted men were charging from the trees, archers following more slowly. The castle was under attack. One glimpse of the tabards of the men on horseback had been enough to tell her that their attackers were English.

For a second, Iliana was paralyzed with fear as she saw that the drawbridge was still in place. Then it slowly began to lift. Still, she feared that at least the first two of the horsemen charging toward it might manage to leap atop the rising bridge, but they were a cautious pair. Instead they slowed and drew in their mounts, watching it rise unhampered. Greenweld, Iliana saw with dismay.

Turning away grimly, she hurried along the wall at a crouch.

Reaching the spot where her mother now knelt worriedly over a prone Angus, she took in his injury and pale face at a glance. There was little blood just yet, but his pain was obvious. Sweat had already formed a film across his brow. His expression as he lay on his side on the stone surface was a grimace of agony.

A glance down into the bailey showed mass chaos reigned there. The cry of attack had rung out even as Angus had fallen beneath the arrow, and now the people, normally so stern and stoic, were rushing willy-nilly, looking for loved ones and children to be sure none had been caught outside of the walls. The noise was thunderous. No one would hear her call for help to move Angus. They were on their own.

Feeling a hand grab her own, Iliana glanced back at Angus to find his eyes open, if a bit glazed. “Can you move under your own power?”

He nodded grimly. “I’m a’right. ’Tis just a scratch.”