The sky showed no light when Aestrith woke him up.
She spoke a single word. That was enough. He moved at once, already committing to response before he had full information.
He had the coat on before she made it back into the corridor. While pulling on the second boot, he caught the sound through the east window. It was heavier than the percussion from the northeastern face.
Multiple impact points, overlapping. Beneath that, a grinding transmitted up through the floor, reaching him through his feet before his hearing finished sorting it.
They moved through the citadel quickly.
Outside, the militia was already along the road. Godric had mobilized them before most of the city had even woken. They moved at a pace that covered ground efficiently, with no panic.
The sound intensified as they approached the northeastern face. The grinding deepened, and the vibration now came through the street stones, up from his feet into his legs. It was irregular, heavy.
