‘The one that runs under the big bridge? The big broken bridge that they can’t currently cross?’ Lemon was beginning to gabble as adrenaline flushed through her. ‘The unbroken aqueduct that runs straight into the bowels of the city where there’s probably chuff-all defences, meaning a torrent of red bastards could come windmilling up our proverbial at any moment? That fucken aqueduct?’

Chel swallowed. ‘Um, yeah. That fucken aqueduct.’

***

They made for the gate, pounding through the ruined, winding streets, skirting debris and broken stone, trying to ignore the savage aches that riddled them. They spotted Rennic from the battered rampart above the third gate, Kosh beside him. They were fussing over something in the ruined courtyard below.

‘Little man.’ Rennic did well to keep the surprise from his voice. ‘Good work out there, the bombardments have stopped. How the fuck did you get back into the city?’

Chel tried not to remember, suppressing a wince as he pressed one hand to his side. ‘Unconventionally.’

Lemon was hopping from foot to foot behind him, still flooded with manic energy. ‘Where’s Fossy? What’s the crack here? Wee bear reckons he saw a tide of red bastards crawling in along the aqueduct.’

Rennic’s eyes widened, their whites thoroughly bloodshot. ‘Fuck. Are you sure, little man?’

Chel struggled to answer, parts of his body now refusing to answer instructions. ‘Maybe not a tide as such …’

‘Well, there’s a quivering shit-pile of the bastards on the bridge right now, and very shortly they are going to be giving our front door a little tap.’ He gestured to the battered second gate before them. It suddenly looked very flimsy.

‘How? The bridge is—’

‘We’re not the only ones who can work great feats of engineering, little man,’ he said with a nod to Kosh. She was still fussing over something, a contraption of wood and wire, large handles on one side. Chel had no idea what it was. ‘They’ve built a tower and laid it on its back. They’re going to roll it over the gap.’

That was what had blocked the bridge. Chel remembered the ranks and ranks of red-clad troops standing ready at the bridge mouth as he and Lemon had fled. ‘They’re coming above and below at the same time.’

Rennic’s nod was grim. ‘Surely looks that way. Lemon, Foss should be in the workshops, keeping an eye on things there. Our friendly mother-lovers may still be around. Find out where that aqueduct kicks out, and what we’ve got to defend ourselves with.’

‘Righto, boss.’ She skedaddled.

‘What about me?’ Chel felt himself shiver, despite the day’s growing heat. ‘Should we tell the prince what’s going on?’

Rennic had turned back to Kosh’s contraption. ‘I’m sure our glorious leader has full command of the situation. You just missed him here, before he scurried off back behind some thick walls.’

‘Oh? How was he?’