The green, lush lands and softly rolling hills. When the three de Cleveley ships docked with their load of one thousand men, horses, wagons and supplies, Kirk found himself frantic to reach Wicklow. But it was a three hour march by his calculations and the army set forth at a strong pace. Niles and Albert had charge of the advance party, sent ahead of the main army to determine the state of the Castle. Kirk and Corwin remained with the column, Corwin still terribly ill from his day-and-night trip across the Irish Sea. The sway of his charger only seemed to worsen his condition and Kirk ignored the man as he wretched bile over miles of rocky road. Retching and burping that continued until they reached Wicklow. Niles and Albert met the army a mile out, indicating that a sizable rebel force was occupying the estate. Bringing his men to arms, Kirk lowered his visor and, with rage feeding his determination, spread his ranks into a sweeping pattern that marched on Wicklow like a plague of locusts.
