The gap Mara had counted twice held for a third time.
From the ridge, Vane watched the western tower's relief climb the ladder while the eastern watch remained untouched. One minute became three. Three became five.
At seven, two of the compound's three towers were effectively blind.
Exactly as Mara had promised.
"Now," Ashe breathed.
They moved.
She and Valerica reached the eastern and western towers within the same handful of heartbeats. There was no clash of steel, no cry cut short halfway through. Ashe caught her watchman from behind, one hand sealing his mouth while the other found the point beneath his jaw. Valerica folded the second man to the floor with equal precision, lowering him carefully enough that even his boots made no sound against the boards.
Vane went over the southern wall alone.
