Three hours later, the moon was completely hidden behind a blanket of dark clouds.
Captain Renard, a seasoned Frankish veteran, crawled on his stomach through the muddy grass.
Behind him, a thousand lightly armed Frankish warriors followed his exact movements.
Every man's heart was pounding wildly in his chest. They had all seen the devastating power of the Iron Kingdom's weapons during the day. The idea of sneaking up to those very same walls was terrifying, but the promise of endless gold from Duke Odo kept them moving forward.
Renard slowly lifted his head, peering through the tall grass.
Just as Duke Odo had predicted, the Northern soldiers had lined the battlements with burning torches and hanging lanterns, creating a bright ring around the city.
But Renard smiled. The Duke had been right about something else, too.
