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"We’ll need to protect our flanks and rear so we aren’t surprised by Conrad’s areant Adalbert guided thele of scrub brush and coppices of ash grew alongside the watercourse They rode over a tras of the horses

Frolant sent scouts back to get a closer look Their route dipped into a hollow, and they turned and rode west in this cover until one of theone arlant spurred his mount forward, with Captain Fulk, Hathui, and a brace of soldiers behind him

"What news?" he called

But as soon as he suresturing toward Liutgard, and Captain Fulk raised the horn to his lips and sounded the advance

A party of about a hundred riders exploded froalloped away across fields until they reached the ending road They vanished, riding toward Varre It was too far to catch the Conrad on the road where nuard rode up beside Sanglant Her face was flushed and her expression fierce "Kassel is ours!" she cried "Taken without a fight!"

Sanglant frowned "Hathui! Find Rufus--he’s with us, is he not? Send hieant Adalbert will provide guides for each one, in case they must take to the forest trails Give them each a spare horse They’ll ride back to the main army Tell them this: that we are settled into the tower of Kassel and will guard the town against imminent attack They must proceed in haste, and with provisions sufficient for a siege, gathering anything they can along the route It e laid in upon us by Conrad and Sabella Go!"

"Your Majesty!" She rode away, calling for her Eagles

"Fetch Lord Wich, Your Majesty?" asked Fulk

Liutgard stared at the city, straining like a hound against the leash, eager to ride in to her home

"We’ll send Wichman and fifty riders north into the forest It’s fairly open beech wood there, is it not?" The sergeant nodded "Well enough He’s accusto the enemy Let him wait in reserve He can prowl the western road to anal if we need him to attack in force once Conrad and Sabella arrive"

"Yes, Your Majesty"