Chapter 27 · Ash Ledger - Chapter 27: The False Flag Night

"They're not coming through the gate."

Mara's voice cut through the smoke before I saw her. She dropped from the battlement ladder, blood on her sleeve, breathing hard.

"What?"

"The ones hitting the wall. Wrong boots. Wrong belt leather." She grabbed my arm. "Rowan, those aren't raiders."

I pulled free. "You're saying—"

"I'm saying someone dressed them up and sent them to die loud." Her eyes locked on mine. "While the real push comes from inside."

The horn blew again. Closer this time. South wall.

Bram ran up, swearing. "Vale, we got fire in the grain store and the south gate's wide open. No ram. No breach. Just open."

"Who opened it?"

"Voss's personal guard. Said they had orders."

Mara's hand went to her knife. "Told you."

I turned to Bram. "How many men on the south wall?"

"Twelve. Maybe less now."

"Get everyone who'll listen. Armory, mess, anywhere. Tell them the enemy's inside the fort already and Voss put them there."

Bram stared. "You're calling the steward a traitor in the middle of a siege."

"I'm calling it what it is. Go."

He went.

Mara was already moving toward the south wall.