Rochester, Kingdom of Kent, 855 AD
Rochester, Kingdom of Kent, 855 ADFaruin and Linveig saw and smelt the city much at the same time. The south-westerly breeze carried the predominant aroma of woodsmoke, mingled with far less pleasant and indefinable odours. The town’s ancient walls coiled like a long, brown snake across the flat landscape of their approach. Off to its right, as they gazed, the Medway shimmered in the sun, intersected by a fortified bridge.
“Faruin?”
“Ay, mother?”
She frowned and bit her lip. Now that they were near enough to see the imposing walls of brownish mortar ragged with pebbles and broken flint, the reality of their situation had hit her. She stared at the formidable gate tower and experienced a succession of mixed emotions. She was also racked by uncertainty,
