Delta talked with the guards of the tower for hours. They didn’t have a map, but they knew the local area well, and she tried to glean as much as she could from them. They were in Banbury Tower, which was actually in Metzre not Ancourt. The Count Ancourt’s land started on the other side of the river. It was difficult to cross the river for several miles in either direction with horse or man. It was wide and swampy. The locals (and smugglers, which is what the tower mainly watched for) used small shallow draft boats for the large part when they needed to. They had a collection of them that they had confiscated.

She had guessed right in that this was the narrowest point between the marshy ground of the river and the forest. The land opened up again after this with fields and lanes eventually leading to the village of Crebanne, with its bridge over the river.

They had moved onto the roof to give Gwen some quiet. But also, the light was better, the breeze was fresh, and the guards could keep to their nominal lookout duty. Their names were Gedeon, Leonico, and Josheba, and they worked for the Baronet of Crebanne. It was fairly light duty, but also somewhat isolated, so they were glad of the company.

They greeted tales of invading armies with a lot of skepticism. They had heard about a revolt up north in Monttice but had generally put it down to Orcish exuberance and exaggerated tales of some raid from The Bright Republic. Either that or being too close to Jokamachi and their strange foreign ways. This did not deter them from listening intently and speculating on the implications if these mercenaries were telling the truth rather than just trying to get a free meal out of them. This was, apparently, a lot more interesting than looking after the pigeons they kept in a dovecote on the roof to supplement their food.

When the sun was halfway down the sky Delta called an end to it. If she understood rightly, they should be able to make it to Brinklow Tower, in another stretch, and sleep for the night there. Gedeon gave her some call codes that should assure them of their honesty.

They roused Gwen, had a quick bite to eat, and started getting the animals ready. But there was a large ‘thunk’ and a squawk from Zipper as she was leading the donkey out the door. A large arrow was protruding from it, quivering.

Zipper dropped to the floor, not letting go of the donkey’s rein and pulling it back into the darkness. “Gwen”, called Delta, “Go Gedeon. Go look.” After Zipper was in cover, she reached out with her glaive and used the hook to draw the door back. Zipper dropped the bar into place when it was shut.

“What in Grave Keeper’s domain was that?” asked Zipper.

Delta had moved to the slits next to the door. “There are people under the eaves of the forest”, she said. “We’d better go topside and have a look.”

Zipper checked the bar on the door one final time and followed Delta up the stairs. They passed Gwen on the middle level. She was trying to see what she could from the slits at this height. She motioned them onwards and upward.

At the top, the three guards were watching intently from under cover of the wooden hoardings. “Those aren’t smugglers!” said Gedeon. “Friends of yours?”

“That would be alarming” said Delta. She nodded to Zipper to check the back out. This could be just a distraction. Then she looked out her own slit to see what she could make of it.

A number of figures were emerging from the woods. There were four shields giving cover to a Dwarf with an axe, and a woman with a long bow. Their large, door like shields and archaic armor was a giveaway. “Imperialists”, swore Delta.

“Maybe they were telling the truth”, muttered Leonico to Josheba.

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“All clear on this side”, said Zipper, coming back. “By Water Bearer, how did they find us so fast?”

“Water Bearer, indeed”, said Delta, grimly. “They are certainly in the favor of the goddess of Magic.”

An arrow arched out through the slit in the floor below them and hit the ground in the general area of the advancing people. The woman with the bow, who appeared to be their commander, called a halt. The shields planted themselves, and they hunkered down behind them, forming a visual barrier.

Delta glanced over at the bows the guards had stowed against the wall. They were the same design as Gwen’s bow, and didn’t have the range to be accurate at this distance. “I don’t suppose you have any crossbows?” she asked, hopefully.

“No”, said Gedeon. “I’ve asked, but they just laughed.”

“I’m laughing now”, said Zipper. She looked through a loophole. “What are they doing? They can’t really think they can attack us with only six of them.”

“It depends on what other magic they have”, said Delta. “Or they could just be pinning us down until reinforcements arrive.”

“Yeah, or maybe they’re auditioning to join Wight’s Brigade”, said Zipper. “That kind of gutsy maneuver is our trademark.”

The guards shot a few arrows anyway, just to show some spirit. One got close enough to clatter off of a shield. Their commander didn’t even duck.

“Can any of these pigeons take messages?” asked Delta. Gedeon shook his head. “How about a signal fire? Would anyone come?”

“I don’t think there’s anyone close enough”, said Gedeon.

“They don’t know that”, said Zipper. Delta looked at her questioningly. “If we start acting like we’re sending a signal, they might decide they need to force the issue, and actually get within stabbing range.”

Delta grinned. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard yet.” She turned to Gedeon and the other two. “I know you probably don’t want to get drawn into this. But you’ve got enemy troops marching through your territory. I’m not asking you to go toe-to-toe with them. But are you willing to defend this place?”

The guards exchanged glances. “Sure”, said Gedeon. “It’s probably worth a bonus from his lordship.”

Delta nodded. “Ready your bows but hold your fire till they’re close.” She turned to Zipper. “Go fill in Gwen. Start a big fire and find some wet straw to put on it. That should make some good smoke. And put the largest pot you have on to boil.” She smiled and nodded at the wooden hoardings. “Looks like they’ve got a machicolation here. I’ve never got to use one before.”

She kneeled down and blew the dust off of the boards. Where the wooden planks protruded over the edge of the wall, there was an inset panel. She used her knife to pry open two rings in it and tugged. It was rather stiff so Leonico came over to help. The two of them were able to pop it out and, sure enough, it looked down right over the main door.

“One more thing”, she said to herself. She went down the stairs all the way to where the animals were. She made sure they were secure in their pens, with enough fodder to keep them busy if things got interesting. Then she unpacked their tabards.

She brought them up to the kitchen and passed them out. “One way or another, we should be making our mark”, she said. The others grinned and helped each other pull them over their armor.

Delta went back up to the battlements and stood up on a barrel in full view, the sinking sun shining full on her. She could see the unit’s leader watching her speculatively. After a few minutes, the woman raised her hands, cupping her mouth. “Hello, the tower!” she called out.

Delta cupped her hands, likewise. “Hello, the field.”

“Major Kanni, Ninth Army of the Empire”, she shouted back.

“Captain Delta, Wight’s Company”, Delta replied.

Kanni nodded and spoke to the others. Then she turned back. “We claim this tower as a strategic asset to the reformed Empire. Will you relinquish it to us?”

“You will have to take that up with Baronet Crebanne”, Delta called back. “If he agrees, we will relinquish.”

They conversed for a while. Then Major Kanni replied, “I believe your contract is with Sir Rault of Straslais, not Baronet Crebanne. You are not compelled to defend this tower.”

Delta smiled. “If you are willing to withdraw and promise to offer no obstacle or harm to me and my unit completing our mission for Sir Rault of Straslais, I will quit this tower.” She heard the others stiffening behind her. But she made a placating gesture behind her back.

They discussed that for quite some time. Eventually she called back. “We seem to be at an impasse. We will stay here, and you will stay there, until the situation changes. Should you wish to surrender at any time you may do so. We will treat you honorably.”

“Thank you”, Delta called back. “We offer to you the same terms.” That got a laugh from her guards.

Delta had started to smell wet hay, and guessed without turning, that the chimney was now spouting gouts of smoke. She grinned as the troops in the field noticed it. They watched for a moment, and then an animated discussion started.