The sky showed no light when Aestrith woke him.
She spoke a single word. That was enough. He moved immediately, already reacting before he had the full shape of it.
He had the coat on before she reached the corridor again. While dragging on the second boot, he caught the sound through the east window.
Heavier than the pounding from the northeastern face.
Multiple impacts, overlapping. Beneath it came another noise, deeper. A grinding force that traveled up through the floorstones and into his feet before his hearing properly sorted it.
They moved quickly through the citadel.
Outside, the militia was already on the road. Godric had mobilized them before most of the city had even woken. They covered ground fast, weapons and gear knocking softly in the dark, no shouting, no panic.
The noise thickened as they neared the northeastern wall.
