CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Through Ember’s eyes, Royce saw the ships approaching the beach, watching them with growing anticipation. Soon, the rest of the enemy’s forces would land, and the Picti would strike, catching them by surprise. He saw the ships growing closer now, great barges with ramps that could lower to disgorge troops.
The first of them reached the beach, and the ramps started to lower. Royce saw Neave and Matilde step out of the woods beyond the beach, swords raised high as they called out the order to charge.
Picti flowed from the woods in a horde, their charge almost perfectly timed to catch whoever came from the boats as they tried to form up in their units. Knights formed up after them, ready to join in the attack.
No soldiers came from the boats though, no archers, no knig
