Page 237 (1/1)

Anna shouted a warning, leaping up as she drew her knife

Lewenhardt’s arrow took the ered and fell forward just as Wolfhere, turning, struck hiroped toward the wall She kicked away his spear, then leaped back as Wolfhere rolled him over and slit his throat

"Wolfhere!" shouted Heribert desperately

Anna turned to see Matto scooting up the narrow stair that led from the lower rooain with his right ar hih to shove away an enemy or to catch a step to propel himself upward

"Damn," said Wolfhere casually He tossed the dead man’s spear to Anna "Do your best, child" He turned back to help Den and Johannes, both of who the other stairs

Heribert set Blessing down and leaped forward to pull Everwin free Aly, the child had fallen asleep Zacharias was nowhere to be seen

Anna ran over to stand beside Matto as he heaved himself up onto the planks Once Everas clear, she thrust the spear into his hands, then pried loose rocks free fro theet hold of new ones Wings shattered Men cursed The angle and ferocity of their attack styive me the baby!" Zacharias’ voice called fro to the side of the tower overlooking the inner ward of the little fort, Anna peered over the side Zacharias had actually climbed over the parapet wall and slid down the outside of the watchtower to the inner ward, where only the ruined square of walls protected him from their attackers

A trio of Quman archers had Lewenhardt pinned down in his redoubt Den ounded, an arrow stuck cockeyedly out of one shoulder, and he had fallen back behind Johannes and Wolfhere, who retreated step by laborious step back up the stairs in the face of superior nulanced off Johannes’ helmet and he stumbled, only to be yanked out of reach of a Quman spear by Wolfhere

"Rocks!" cried Everwin

Two Qu the entrance to the inner ward and pulled up inside Zacharias shrieked in helpless fear and threw hi she could do to help Zacharias, if he’d been so stupid as to leave the only refuge they had But she could still,

As one of the Quritted her teeth and tugged another stone off the wall before staggering back to throw it down right on the hel to push up onto the second floor Matto cheered weakly as the Qus as he sat down hard, face pale, too weak to fight

"They’ll never take her," cried Heribert, grabbing the spear out of Matto’s hands

A horn rang clear and sweet The Quman shouted to each other The attackers below vanished between one breath and the next, and she heard the of swords over by Wolfhere ceased as abruptly Anna ran over to the outer wall, standing on tiptoes and craning her neck just in time to see Wendish soldiers break out of the woods

The lord of Walburg and twenty stout fighting men had arrived, thank God

Good Wendish steel made short work of the last of the Qued out to cover the ground, the lord pulled off his helm and coif to reveal that he was a woman

"Well met, my lady Waltharia," cried Wolfhere fro, an odd expression on that noro down and pay our respects"

Zacharias staggered out of the inner ward, having suffered no worse injuries than scraped knees and hands Only Anna and Heribert had noticed his igno, then Anna decided she would keep herup from the first-floor rubble; he’d taken a hard blow to the head and was only noaking, but otherwise looked unhar, but otherwise victorious

"God save us," said Lady Waltharia as the athered before her "I’ve never seen a more wretched crew than this one Where’s the brat?"

Heribert was carrying Blessing, who yawned sleepily and cracked one eye, twisted up her face in a delightful gri up With another yawn, she snuggled her head against Heribert’s shoulder and promptly went back to sleep