Drew and Trynne exchanged a look. She felt a sliver of doubt at the man’s words.

“Morwenna?” Drew asked.

“Aye, your poisoner. We already knew the truth by the time she arrived, and we’d been working with Lord Amrein in secret. He ordered that we collapse the bridges to separate the palace from the city and the sanctuary. But Gahalatine doesn’t need bridges to move around. We were overrun and everyone fled. Most are heading upriver, to the North. Gahalatine’s ships can’t come this way because of the waterfall, but his army is marching on the other side of the river. And as I was nearing North Cumbria, I had to slip past another army blocking the road.”

“That’s the army from Blackpool,” Trynne said. “How many did you count?”

“Nigh on fifty thousand between the two of them,” the man said, scratching his throat noisily. “Word has it that Duke Fallon withdrew his army from Dundrennan to bring it south. I was told to turn it around and return, but I’ve not seen any sign of it. Have you, my lord?”

The king glanced back at Trynne again, his expression brooding. “No, we have not.”

The Espion bit his lip. “I’ll ride ahead, then, my lord. Mayhap the Espion at the castle will know what’s what.”

“On your way, then,” the king said curtly. He stared at the fortress below, his brow furrowing. “I don’t like this, Trynne,” he said as the man rode away. “We have two armies behind us. And likely one ahead.”

“But whose side is it on?” she murmured softly. She tapped the flanks of her horse with her spurs and they both started down toward Dundrennan.

Cheering greeted them as they rode through the streets leading toward the castle. The people of Dundrennan were hanging out of windows, wagging lanterns, and shouting ebulliently. Everywhere Trynne looked, there were knights wearing the badge of the Pierced Lion, joining in the ruckus and holding aloft their swords as they welcomed King Drew to the North. Trynne and her Oath Maidens surrounded the king and cleared the path for him.

The throngs followed them, offering drink and food, blankets, and warm garments to the weary soldiers of Averanche. There was nothing but pure joy in the air, and they were greeted with respect and courtesy.

Trynne gazed up at the castle on the bluff ahead, wondering what they would find there. The castle was lit with torches and bedecked with banners, but trickery had been used to win many battles.

Haley, who had been sent on ahead, met them on the road. She rode through the crowd, making her way to Trynne.