<strong>Captain Quinta Jana</strong><br/><br/>An orderly withdrawal.  Well, more orderly than expected.  A bad sign, perhaps.  Using rabble to protect the crossbowman.  Cold, cold thing to do.  But effective.  "Odo, take over here!"  Quinta bit that out, then headed down the wall to the gatehouse.  She didn't really think it took any real damage, but you never knew.  And it made her more visible, got her better known to the cheering troops, many of whom clapped her on the back, credited her for sparking a death or glory charge by the enemy that hand ended in death for the enemy.<em>  Why yes, I'm thinking about my future.  that alderman will be a problem down the road.</em>On officious and avaricous fool, but his efforts weren't personal.  Yet.  That would change rapidly if he ever found out that his young wife had given Quinta  a Thank-The-Gods-You-Came-Back-To-Me welcome after the lost battle outside the walls.<br/><br/>The Plutarchs could get away with bedding who or whatever they wanted, as long as it was kept plausibly deniable.  A savior of the city?  The citizens would shrug and say "Well of course she beds other women, what would you expect?"  Let him fume and fuss, if he was stupid enough to do so.<br/><br/><strong>Astra</strong><br/><br/>the hammering barrage didn't lift, but the mas of people between her command and the wall mounted artillery soaked up the shots.  Literally, blood fountained, screams tore the air, but the massed archers and crossbowmen were safe.  But they couldn't shoot either.<br/><br/><br/><strong>Thane</strong><br/><br/>Retreating wasn't quite the nightmare advancing had been.  Not for those who listened to thane, anyway.  Once those who heeded him had pulled back, the defenders full fury turned to those who remained beating uselessly at stone with fists and steel, and that fury followed them when they broke.  They were closer than the formed troops, after all.  many died.  many many lay still or screaiing on the clered ground before the walls when the disciplined children of Kolyat returned to their camp.<br/><br/>Not much order was in the camp, Astra's and Thane's bands mingled at their edges, it was natural for both leaders to encounter each other as they checked on their troops.