Pyp's ears were ringing. Another volley of musket fire exploded from the line of dragoons tearing apart a group of retreating possessed. For most of the day they had been bogged down fighting small raiding parties of possessed, the dragoons had been reduced down to only twenty men. Garth was watching the musketeers with rapt attention, he was clearly taken with the noisy weapons and the damage they did. The Captain led the halberdiers in charging toward the enemy cutting them down before they could slip away. Exhaustion had begun to set in and they had all began to move slower through the city, the constant hit and run attacks by the possessed had not helped matters. Murdoch hadn't let them slow down; the prospect of a company sized force of outlaws in league with the possessed was not pleasant. Once the smoke had settled and the fighting stopped and Murdoch was immediately shouting orders to his men, the man didn't seem to rest and the labours of the day hadn't seemed to tire him. Pyp and Garth scrabbled forward to keep up with the hard marching dragoons.

Pyp managed to catch up with Murdoch, "Captain we can't keep up this pace for much longer," said Pyp.

"We have to, night will soon fall and we need to be somewhere we can easily defend sire," said Murdoch.

"Soon we will be leaving the upper city, the gate house might make a good place to make camp sire," said Garth appearing by his side.

"How far?" asked Pyp.

Garth consulted his map and looked around. "Maybe a half hour" he said.

"Captain will that suit your needs?" said Pyp.

"We'll see sire, it has to be secure," he replied his gaze sweeping around the streets as he moved.

They emerged on to a large main road, the remains of fleeing peasants were strewn around, abandoned carts and corpses of pack beasts littered the ground. The lack of human corpses relieved and unnerved Pyp at the same time. Where were those bodies? Many of them would have died during the panic but who moved their bodies. And why. Pyp noticed some of the men move off and root around in some of the wagons, he wasn't surprised when Garth moved off to join them. Murdoch halted and allowed his men a moment to loot. Before, Pyp wouldn't have believed things like this would happen in the grand state armies, now he hardly blinked when they descended on the dead's belongings like locusts.

Murdoch had been studying Pyp's face, "It is part of command sire, the men must be paid their due and sometimes their payment is taken from the lost. It disgusts me as well but if I didn't allow them this they wouldn't follow my orders," he said staring off into the distance putting on a sombre face.

Pyp had never felt comfortable looting houses with Garth, it felt like desecration every time he saw an oil painting of the previous residence.

"Lets get moving men," shouted Murdoch, soon he would be able to rest his feet thought Pyp. It was the only thing that kept him going.

The gatehouse loomed high in the distance, its battlements and murder holes intimidated Pyp. He felt like he was storming a castle. They arrived at the closed portcullis.

"How are we going to get in?" asked Pyp, the wall attached to the gate was too high to climb and they wouldn't be able to break through the iron bars.

"Down there sire, houses on the wall," said Murdoch pointing down the street, some small structures had been built right up against the wall. Strange thought Pyp usually no buildings were allowed to be built this close to a city wall.

"What do you think this used to be captain," Pyp asked.

"I'm not sure sire," he said trying to push open the door.

"It's a brothel," said Garth.

Pyp was stunned by the revelation he hadn't believed they would have brothels in the upper city. If the news surprised Murdoch he gave no sign as he kicked the front door open.

"We should be able to get up to the wall from the roof, we can open the gate," he said peering into the house. "I'll get some of my men to climb up sire."

"No need captain, Garth and I will make the climb," said Pyp.

"Sire please I beg you reconsider, my men can do it there's no need for you to put yourself in danger" said Murdoch.

"I need to feel somewhat useful captain," said Pyp moving straight into the house before Murdoch could stop him. Pyp marched through the small building looking for the stairs.

Garth stepped in after him, "The stairs are this way. Sire," he said giving him a mocking bow.

"There's no need for that here Garth," said Pyp catching up to Garth.

"Are you sure sire, the men might be able to hear us from here. Sire" said Garth sardonically.

"Murdoch might have had you killed if you kept that up Garth," said Pyp annoyed with his tone.

"I am sure that was the case. Sire," said Garth not looking back at Pyp as he began to march up the stairs.

"You think I like it Garth? That I enjoy having everyone scrape the ground when I walk by. I hate it." He said stopping at the foot of the stairs.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"I bet you do, ever since those soldiers joined us you've seemed to have a great time bossing them around," spat Garth turning to face him. Don't complain to me about having respect and authority wherever you go, I had to scratch and claw for either," said Garth glaring at Pyp his voice was low and dripping with scorn.

The emotion in Garths outburst silenced Pyp. How could Garth understand, he had never lived with a unspoken responsibility wherever he went. Everyone expected the world of Pyp and nobody cared what he wanted. Why would Garth. After a moment of silence Garth turned and continued up the stairs with Pyp in tow.

The drop seemed like miles when Pyp finally climbed out of the window to stand on the roof. Garth scrambled across the roof over to the wall, the roof didn't reach the battlements of the wall they were stood about a body length away from the top of the wall. "Get over here and help me up" said Garth stood by the wall, Pyp carefully climbed up the roof careful not to slip on the sloping tiles.

"What do I do" asked Pyp leaning against the wall.

"Cup your hands like this," Garth laced his fingers together "And I'll step into your hand and you hoist me up onto the wall" said Garth.

Pyp nodded and cupped his hands like he was shown and Garths heavy boots presses into his palms. With all Pyp's strength he pushed Garth up onto the wall, he grabbed onto the parapet wall and dragged himself over disappearing from Pyp's view. For a moment he was worried Garth had left him to sit on the roof but then he heard him say.

"Stay there I'll find a rope."

Pyp struggled to climb up the wall even with the rope between his hands. He managed to haul himself over the battlements and stand up behind Garth who barely glanced at him before moving into the gatehouse.

"How do we lift the portcullis?" asked Pyp as he glanced around the dusty upper level, small beds stood at three corners of the room and a spiral staircase dominated the fourth.

"What's a portcullis," asked Garth.

"The gate we are trying to lift," he said.

"No need for the fancy names, we have to lift the counter weight there should be a wheel crank around here," said Garth as he shot off down the spiral staircase.

Pyp carefully made his way down the steep stairs and saw Garth inspecting a large wooden wheel which was attached to a bewildering amount of rope.

"Grab that end," ordered Garth taking his place on the wheel.

Pyp pushed hard against the wooden bar, it was course and splintered with heavy use, he heard shouts of encouragement coming from the streets below. The work was hard and the wheel began to feel heavy against his arms.

"Stop hold," said Garth as he reached for a lever grappling with it for a moment before he managed to pull it down and stop the wheel from moving.

"I'll find out if there all inside," said Pyp leaving Garth who had taken an interest in the machinery of the counterweight, Murdoch and his men had piled into the small gap between the gates and began to file up into the gatehouse.

"Is everyone inside captain," asked Pyp.

"Yes sire all the men are accounted for," he bowed slightly as he spoke trying to hide a grimace.

"Garth lower the gate," Pyp shouted up the gatehouse, after the gate failed to fall Pyp marched up to the wheel looking for the reneged.

"What's taking so long," he asked, Garth was engrossed in the counter weight and the ropes. "Garth," said Pyp catching his attention.

"Its fascinating," he said ignoring Pyp's question his fingers brushing along the thick ropes.

"Garth lower the gate," Pyp said snapping him out of his trance.

"Alright," he said reaching over and pulling the lever. The ropes began to writhe around snapping across the room like snakes, a loud bang sounded from below. Pyp and Garth made locked eyes for a moment, both confused, until Murdoch shouted up to them. The gate had fell straight back down quickly and Pyp could see large cracks across the wooden portcullis.

"At least it's still standing," said Pyp cringing at the damage, Murdoch roughly pushed past Garth and stood by Pyp's side.

"The damage isn't too bad, I'll get the men to scrounge up some wood to reinforce it," he said. He bowed to Pyp and turn sharply on his heel glaring at Garth as he stalked off.

Pyp stood at the top of the gatehouse looking out into the lower city, he could see no lights, no signs of life out in the menacing city. Below him he could hear the dragoons grunting and hammering wooden struts into the damaged gate. Captain Murdoch went pale when Pyp suggested he help the men so he retired to the roof trying to enjoy the view it offered. Garth had slinked away when the work began and Pyp hadn't seen him since. He was glad Garth wasn't around, Pyp had never been comfortable being bowed to and called 'sire' but he had admired Garth to an extent. He was bold were Pyp was meek, he was brave were Pyp was cowardly and Pyp didn't like watching him scrape and bow.

He was reminded of Arthur he too would only use Pyp's title when he had to. He wondered if Arthur was out in the city still looking for him. Pyp doubted he was dead, Arthur was a skilled man, perhaps the most skilled Pyp had ever seen. His hiring was something of a controversy among the court. All of the High Prince's guards had to be knighted men but his father insisted that Arthur be in his guard. He had been assigned to Pyp to keep him out of sight. Pyp wasn't brought out of the palace much, his father said it was for his safety but Pyp always knew it was because he was a disappointment.

He heard a noise from behind him, he turned slowly expecting to see Murdoch stood behind him but to Pyp's surprise Garth stepped onto the roof.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked.

"Sure" replied Pyp turning to lean on the battlements again.

"I didn't think you'd want to see right now, I haven't exactly been pleasant," said Garth leaning beside him.

"It is strange having someone be so cold to me," said Pyp.

"My entire life was spent watching my mother bow her head and do her master bidding," he paused for a moment and staring softly out into the city. "And where did she end up, caught a fever which burned through her and she sent me to her master. 'I'm his most treasured servant he will give us the help we need,' she said. I turned up to his fancy manor and he wouldn't even see me. She died days later," Garths eyes had gone glassy with the memory.

Pyp wanted to say something but he didn't want to interrupt Garths memory of his mother.

"I know it was a long time ago but I never managed to forgive his kind, the rich and powerful. When I met you I thought it was a chance to get a small measure of revenge but it was just petty and I'm sorry," he finished.

Pyp was taken aback by Garths heartfelt speech, he never expected the gruff rouge to have such sadness inside him.

"There's nothing to forgive Garth," he said unable to think of anything else to say.

"Good, never thought I'd meet a prince I thought you'd be taller," said Garth grinning at him. Pyp laughed.

"And I bet you'd never expect one to play the flute," he said.

"I suppose not," he said smile dying in his face. "What's that?" Garth said pointing out into the darkness.

Pyp squinted into the distance and saw vague outlines of figures marching toward them.

"There are hundreds of them," said Garth.

"Possessed," said Pyp pushing himself off the wall.

"MEN TO ARMS," he shouted as he made to ran down the stairs.

"Pyp," said Garth the graveness in his voice distracted him from his panic. Garth was stood on the opposite side of the gatehouse.

"What is it," snapped Pyp before his stomach dropped.

Out on the other side of the gatehouse were dozens of lit torches held by Erit's men.