Page 9 of Kingdom of Chains

She watched the earl walk away, then pressed her eyes closed as she waited for her breathing to return to normal. Only then did she dare a glance up at the sky. Not a bird in sight. It was as empty as the feeling in her chest.

Tugging up the hood of her cloak, she headed for the wall.

CHAPTER 4

The approach of horses had Tatum signalling to the others to take cover. The four defenders dispersed into the trees, making good use of the wide trunks and thick brush. Blackmane watched six English soldiers on horseback pass by, two men in irons trailing behind them. They were bloody-faced and looked ready to fall down.

‘Keep them moving,’ shouted the soldier at the front of the group. ‘We don’t have a lot of light left.’

The guards keeping hold of them gave the chains a sharp pull, and the already-struggling prisoners stumbled forwards.

Blackmane exchanged a look with Hadewaye, who was crouched nearby, a silent form of communication crafted over the years they had served together.

The defenders waited until the soldiers were out of sight and could no longer be heard before cautiously emerging from their hiding places.

‘Why are we hiding from the English?’ Alveye asked, brushing debris off his cloak. ‘They invited us here.’

Tatum stared after the soldiers. ‘I suppose you can differentiate between army horses and wastelander horses, can you?’

‘Fair point.’

‘I’m confused,’ Hadewaye said.

‘That’s not unusual,’ Alveye rebutted.

Hadewaye ignored him. ‘These prisoners in irons who we keep passing, are they being brought in for criminal acts, or are they simply criminals by default?’

‘Likely both,’ Tatum replied, nudging his horse forwards. ‘Let’s keep moving. I suggest we go around our English friends if we still plan on reaching Hampstead Keep before dark.’

Hadewaye looked around before following him. ‘This place still has the same feeling it did when we were last here.’

‘You mean that feeling like you might die at any moment?’ Alveye asked, riding up next to him.

‘I mean empty—and sad.’

Tatum led the group off the road. ‘Should we have Blackmane tell you a story to cheer you up?’

Blackmane had moved to the back of the group to keep watch since they were forced to ride single file. ‘I’m busy making sure we don’t die.’

‘I thought we would passsomevillages,’ Hadewaye went on. ‘Where are all the regular, non-violent, “just trying to get by with their one goat and a handful of chickens” people?’

‘Probably killed for their goat and chickens,’ Tatum said over his shoulder.

Alveye looked around. ‘When we were last here, at the end of the famine, I’d have agreed with you. But there’s plenty of game, nuts, and berries in the forests now. Wastelanders can hunt and gather until their heart’s content. There’s no need to steal from families.’

Hadewaye threw his hands up. ‘What families? I haven’t seen one child since we departed Chadora two days ago. Does no one else find that unsettling?’

Blackmane had to agree. A land stripped of its children was disconcerting.

‘Save your questions for someone with answers,’ Tatum said, moving into a trot.

The group fell silent.

It was nearing dusk when Hampstead Keep finally appeared before them. It was a simply designed, sturdy castle, secure with its high walls and generous moat. A handful of guards watched their approach from up high.

‘Everyone happy to proceed?’ Tatum asked.

They were riding side by side now. All it would take was one of them to say no or signal that something felt off, and they would abort.