Take the tower

Turning back you head up the steps into the tower. The defenders may still be dropping rocks from the walls, but with the heavy veil of smoke you can see almost nothing. Your ears are ringing from the explosion so even the crash of boulders that filled your senses when you first leapt from the wagon might go unnoticed as you rush into the dark hall. The room on the far side of the heavy doors is littered with bodies of armored men. At least a dozen well armed men had been waiting for you if somehow you were able to make it through the murderous hail of objects dropped from the tower walls.

Clearly whoever ordered them down to the main hall did not expect the doors to be breached like they were. You wonder if there are still more men waiting for you on the stairs ahead. As you pick your way across the hallway, stepping over torn bodies and scattered weapons and armor you see many of your men join you, heavy clothes drawn across their faces just as they were trained. A prettier sight than the men as they step through the heavy smoke into the room you cannot imagine.

"Up the stairs men!" Your voice croaks barely audibly and you are surprised to see your men imediately respond. They head up flight after flight of the large central stairway, and it is not until you reach the third story that they meet the first resistance. The men trying to fight them are coughing and gagging from the heavy smoke, your men are much better protected from the poor air quality and the fight is one-sided as the climb upward continues.

Finally you reach the last doorway of the stairs, on the far side of the door will be **** men, not dazed and confused like the men downstairs and not sick from breathing the foul air from the explosion.

"This is where you earn your pay men." You grunt out shortly as your leg throbs in time with your heart. Reaching for the handle to the door, you wonder if this would have been any easier if you had not paused to enjoy Lady Sophia's flesh. For that matter would your sergeant still be alive to enjoy the fruits of your success?