Siege

A single bell tolled from inside the gatehouse, telling the men who manned the gate to raise the massive iron latticework to allow the day’s shift to depart. It slowly rose foot by foot until it was high enough for the men to walk under comfortably. The troop marched through in no particular order. All semblance of military discipline had long since disappeared. So long as they reported to their proper stations, and performed their duties well when they were there, no captains oversaw their daily routine.

Outside the keep, the city was beginning its daily routine as well. The few civilians who had not fled north at the word of the royal army’s approach tried to eke out an existence in the nearly deserted streets. Most houses were boarded up. The tradesmen who could benefit the defenders- fletchers, woodworkers, masons, and smiths- had been required to stay. In fact, many had been conscripted by the Duke’s men and had been ‘stationed’ in the keep "for their protection." In reality, Richard and all the men of the city knew that they were kept there so they did not try to flee.

As they walked down the broad avenue leading from the keep to the city walls, they passed bands of men here and there who were trudging toward the keep from their duties in the city. None appeared bloody this morning. That was a good sign. That mean the enemy without the walls had not tried to take the gate that night. The low-hanging clouds overhead spoke of rain, or perhaps snow if the temperature dropped. That made the prospects of an attack during the day slim as well.

Harry, a tall man with broad shoulders and a heavy black beard that covered his chest, strode ahead of them all. He was an overly loud man, prone to speaking far too often, and usually grim of outlook. But he was a stalwart friend, one who had more times than not saved their company from rout on the walls. James Cooper, or Jimmy, as they called him, rarely spoke at all- even before the siege. But this morning, he and Harry chatted openly.

Richard was about to ask what the topic of conversation was when form the keep behind them, they heard the sounding of another bell.

"They’re early!" Richard exclaimed. "It’s only been a few minutes since the morning bell."

Harry looked annoyed. "They’ll be trying to reprimand us for being late again, and I’ll have none of it!" he growled. "Next thing you know, boys, they’ll be telling us we have to jog from-"

He was cut off when the bell rang out again from the keep. This was most unusual. The men around them all stopped in their tracks, looking over their shoulders to the keep now about a mile behind, but clearly visible atop the hill at the center of the city.

"What’s this bell?" asked Jimmy to no one in particular.

"Old Rory’s probably drunk again, ringing away at that old bell like it’s a Sunday service!" joked Daniel. That one drew a few chuckles. Even Richard almost cracked a true smile.

They were about to turn and continue when the sound of bells ringing wildly echoed from the direction of the main gate. In a few moments, the bells of the keep rang out as well.

"The gate!" shouted Daniel, now without the customary smirk.

The men ran, in earnest now. The alarm bells meant only one thing, attack. Heads began poking out of windows lining the street. Here and there, men rushed out of the buildings with knives, clubs, and hammers- anything that could be used as a weapon.