“And be careful. You’re all we’ve got.”
***
They jogged into the still-burning city, exhaustion slowing their steps. The barricades and guards were still there, but the men and women who’d been huddled on the far side were gone. Thomas took it as a good sign. They got directions from one of the guards and headed past the barricades. Thomas found Sir Rowland and the knight had Thomas and the students join the patrols. For two more hours they roamed the streets but saw nothing. At last, Henry’s orders came to have them rest in a nearby inn.
The students found the place quickly enough. The building was open, the innkeeper and his wife passing out steaming dishes of stew and cups of hot mulled wine. Thomas and his men joined the troops already in the crowded building. There were only fiftee
