“What can you see?” she asked, dropping her gaze to check the babes and hoping the flush on her cheeks didn’t show. Dalan and Lara were both still sleeping, thank the Harmony. She covered their baskets so the cold wouldn’t reach their faces. They’d need nursing when they woke and she didn’t want them to rouse any sooner than they must.
“Not much yet,” Orval answered. “Roth?”
Roth had his head at an angle. “No banners or flags, and I don’t see anyone on the walls.”
Orval stared out his side. “What walls?”
Roth’s head jerked, but Xydell was leaning on his shoulder so he couldn’t shift to look our the other window. “What do you see?” he demanded.
“There’s a huge breach in the wall on this side,” Orval said.
Yfin stirred then, shifting the capes around and scrambling to his knees between their feet to share Orval’s view. “There’s stone everywhere,” he marveled.
“Old?” Roth asked.
“Hard to say,” Orval replied. “Covered in snow, and quite a jumble.”
“I could get over it,” Yfin said.
“So, no effort to block or repair the hole,” Roth said.
“No smoke, no fires,” Orval noted. “It’s cold enough that there should be fires burning.” He looked at Amari and grimaced.
“If they used catapults to bring down the walls, the gatehouse might still be intact.” Roth peered out his side again. “Our best hope, at least.”
“Why?” Amari asked.
“Smaller rooms, secured access,” Rosalind said. She gave Amari a half-smile as she shrugged at her surprise. “Castles that have been overrun need repairs. Walls are easier than structures.”
“Listen,” Orval commanded.
Amari held her breath as they all obeyed, listening to the thudding of hooves and the creaking of the carriage.
After a moment, Orval shook his head. “No horns, no hails. It’s deserted.”
Roth grunted. “Hopefully.”
Orval put a hand on Yfin’s shoulder. “Yfin, you know the plan?”
Yfin nodded, squatting on his knees. “Run out, quick as I can. Check the main courtyard. Look for wells and buildings, not too far away.” He drew a breath and recited. “Don’t go in anywhere, just look all around and then report to the Captain.”
“Good lad,” Orval grinned at him.
“I’ll take the gatehouse first,” Roth said. “Check it as quick as I can. If it can be secured…” He looked at Rosalind.
“I’ll direct the guards where to put things,” the woman said. “There should be enough room on the upper floors. And don’t forget, there may be a cellar with a well for water in a siege. Check for that too.”
Both Roth and Yfin nodded, but the boy’s face was more serious. “I’ll check the cover too. Make sure the babes can’t crawl in.”
Amari’s heart lifted and she smiled. “It will be a while before that’s a worry,” she said.
“Still and all,” Yfin looked at the baskets with a frown, avoiding Amari’s gaze. Roth caught her eye and shook his head. Amari nodded back and changed the subject.
“I’m to stay with the babes and Xydell,” she said, “until you can get us somewhere safe.”
“I think we’re almost to the gates,” Orval announced; he had been keeping watch.
“Help me fold up the robes and get them out of our way,” Amari said. The adults all helped shift and roll the velvet and furs into a large bundle while ensuring that Xydell remained wrapped well against the cold.
