Now the sound of the rider blew closer and closer.

Kate gestured the men to their positions, one for each of the two inner doors while she herself took the outer one.

There was not a trace of color in her face, but otherwise she was as calm as a stone, and from her an atmosphere pervaded the room, so that men also stood quietly at their posts, without a word, without a sign to each other.

They had their unspoken order from Kate.

She would resist to the death and she expected the same from them.