“Your Highness, the King has already ordered us to shut the gates.”
“Good. I want every guardsman who is not helping at the kirk here, now.
“Yes, Your Highness.” He bowed and ran off. Soon a bell started to peal out through Sona Tuath; Rhiannon figured it called the guardsmen to arms.
By then the war party she had left at the kirk where returning. They looked tired from jogging all the way up the steep road to the castle. Their faces were black with soot and smudged with sweat. They walked over to join the other war party standing in front of Rhiannon. “Were you able to get them out?” Rhiannon asked the War Party Leader, hoping for the best.
“Yes, Empress. Everyone is out of the Kirk including the dukes and the earl.”
Rhiannon took a deep breath, but worry for Kyia clouded her thought
