With triumphant roars, the battering ram broke through the gates, and the retreating soldiers turned to defend themselves from the Tridexes that poured through the hole. Janelle panicked, not knowing what to do, but someone grabbed her arm and hauled her towards a group of about ten archers, who were forming a line against the inner wall. She took her place at the leftmost end of the row, and resumed shooting at the Tridexes. They couldn't keep this up for long, though, since the squires were no longer there to run arrows for them. Janelle fought the urge to flee as she saw a Tridex kill three archers who had run out of arrows, before it was brought down by a Tremedardian swordsman.
Jorryn, Darian, and a few other men, fighting on horseback, were being circled by a thick wall of Tridexes. They must recognise Jorryn, she thought. No doubt the enemy commanders had promised hefty rewards to the Tridex who could bring back the Prince's head. For each one that fell, two more pressed in to take its place. The castle guard were trying to hack their way through to get to their prince, but it was slow going as more and more Tridexes entered through the hole in the gates.
Janelle stifled a scream of horror as she suddenly caught sight of Roland, over to her left, being attacked by five Tridexes at once. He still had an empty quiver on his back, but had lost his bow, and was now fighting with a sword in one hand and a shield in another. Without hesitation she changed position, and took aim his attackers. Her first arrow missed as the Tridex ducked to avoid a blow from Roland's sword, but her second one found its mark in its neck. The third arrow hit another Tridex in its leg, and Roland managed to dispatch it with his sword as it fell to its knees.
She heard a cry from her right turned her head, just in time to see a Tridex pulling its sword out of the archer standing next to her. She screamed and backed away as it turned towards her, but before it could swing its sword at her, it was gutted by Tremedardian soldier from behind. Before she could thank him, though, he retrieved his spear and charged back into the midst of the battle.
Turning back towards Roland, she saw that he had managed to kill another Tridex and was now battling the remaining two. She reached for another arrow, and realised with a shock that it was her last one. Carefully, she took aim and fired. One of the two fell, and Roland turned to concentrate on the last one, not noticing another Tridex coming up behind him with a spear.