“I will give him an answer,” Alesone seethed. Her hand shook as she sighted her arrow on Comyn. She no longer had a father, but Thomas and his family, whom she would defend with her dying breath!
The duke pushed her bow down. “Nae like this.” He faced Comyn. “The lass doesna wish to speak to you. Go on with you, and none will be harmed.”
“You dare threaten me!”
“If you attack, you will pay the consequence,” the duke warned. “Pray God has mercy on your treacherous soul, because I willna.”
Red mottled the noble’s face. “You will regret your decision!” Comyn whirled his mount, shouted commands as he galloped toward his men.
Tears burned Alesone’s eyes, and her respect for the duke grew tenfold.
A roar from below recaptured her attention.
Comyn’s soldiers charged.
“Release the arrows!” the duke roared.
Archers along the walls let loose their arrows; screams of the enemy filled the air. Horses reared while others, wild-eyed, were caught by footed soldiers.
“Ladders on the north wall!” Thomas yelled above the fray.
“Bring the hot oil!” Donnchadh ordered.
Women hauled over steaming buckets of hot oil strewn with bits of heated steel. They balanced their vessels atop the crenels.
Wood scraped as the advancing horde began to climb the rungs.
Donnchadh nodded. “Pour!”
Buckets were tipped.
Screams echoed from below.
The stench of burned flesh filled the air as a fresh rush of attackers ascended the ladders.
More pails of steaming-hot oil spewed over the side.
Agonized yells rang out.
The woman backed up, then rushed away with their emptied pots.
Another wave of Comyn’s men clambered up the ladders, this time several of the assailants reached the top.
Thomas swung. His blade slammed against the advancing attacker.
“Step back,” Alesone yelled.
Thomas complied.
The arrow hissed from her bow and embedded in the invader’s chest. With a cry, he tumbled back.
“Help me push off their ladders,” Thomas called to several knights nearby.
Alesone joined them.
With a mighty groan they shoved. Scores of men clinging to the structures plunged to the body laden earth.
Amidst the flurry of arrows and the stench of blood, several men on the ground hauled one of the ladders up. Wooden slats slammed against the wall.
