26
Smoke shrouded the castle, but there was no sign of flames. The guards on duty were singed and bloody and looked exhausted. Knights wearing the duke’s colours reinforced them, marching along the walls. More men—Henry’s town levies, Thomas guessed—walked patrols outside the walls.
Someone on the wall shouted, “It’s Captain Thomas and the students!”
A cheer rose. Thomas nearly fell over in surprise. Half a hundred men came forward as the exhausted students marched into the courtyard. Thomas had his hand shook and was slapped on the back a dozen times before he was halfway across the courtyard. At the door to the great hall, Sir Patrick stood, waiting.
“What took so long?” he demanded. “Henry sent me here an hour ago.” He looked Thomas up and down. “You’re shaking.”
“We were attacked,
