Burchard nodded in understanding. “OK. Is there anything in particular we are supposed to be looking for?”
“The General mentioned that there have been whispers of something happening in the northeast also. I don’t think he believes the whispers, but he wanted to be certain since the king sent an inquiry specifically asking about the northeast,” Sir Peter explained. “But as far as anything in particular, I would just recommend being prepared to encounter bandits. If there is evidence of any movement in that area, make note of it and include it in your report. You need to leave before dawn tomorrow morning.”
“Very well. I will go start packing, then,” Burchard said with a bow.
9
Early the next morning, in the pearly gray light just before dawn in the Alderth Castle courtyard, Burchard tied his last bag onto Chip’s saddle. Running through his list in his head, he was certain he had remembered everything that was important. If it hadn’t made it on the list, then it mustn’t be important enough for this scouting trip.
Ruschmann glanced up at him from tying his last bag as well. “You ready?”
Burchard grinned. “Yep.”
The yard was just beginning to wake up. The cook’s rooster crowed, followed by soft nickers of the horses in the stables and the bleats of the goats. Burchard glanced around and then swung his leg up into the saddle. Guiding Chip with his legs, he urged her into a brisk walk out the side gate.
They rode in companionable silence till the sounds of the waking castle were no longer audible.
“I think we’re chasing ghosts,” Burchard said, starting to relax.
Ruschmann shrugged. “Ghosts or real people, at least we get out of the castle for a few days. Our first assignment on our own. We better not mess it up.”
Burchard chuckled darkly. “I don’t think I’ve ever tried to mess up any of our assignments. The General just doesn’t always appreciate what I do.”
“This should be easy. Take notes if we find any evidence of rebels or bandits in the northeast. We are only supposed to be gone for one night, so we go as far northeast as we can in one day, camp, and then ride back,” Ruschmann said.
“Well…sort of.” Burchard thrust a scroll at Ruschmann.
“What is this?” Ruschmann asked, taking the scroll. He dropped his reins and unrolled it. It was a rough map, showing Alderth Castle and the area surrounding it, plus a blue line that was almost a circle.
“That is the route we’re taking,” Burchard explained.
“I thought we were just going to the northeast,” Ruschmann muttered.
“We are. But Sir Peter thought it would be more thorough if we did a circle and covered more ground than just a straight line there and back. My father was not very specific; therefore, Sir Peter took it upon himself to ensure we would provide as much useful information as we could upon our return. We are not traveling for any longer than before. Just not quite to the same place. Trust me. This is a good plan,” Burchard said.
“I do trust you. But how do you know we are even going the correct direction? This is a circle drawn in the middle of the forest,” Ruschmann questioned.
Burchard sighed. Sometimes his friend was really dense. “If you looked at the drawing at all you would see that we go through Radvall Mill, Leosor Hollows, and then Camp Tooth. There are some marked paths between them. Although I think when we go by the mill and the hollows, we probably want to stay off the path.”
Ruschmann peered at the map again, finally seeming to notice the very tiny words that named the places mentioned. “Aha, whoever made this seems to think everyone expects words to always be that tiny. I didn’t even notice the words when I first looked.”
“OK, now that we have established we both know where we’re going, would you like to get there faster than a walk?” Burchard inquired.
Ruschmann grinned and kicked his horse into a canter, quickly leaving Burchard and Chip behind. Chip didn’t need any encouragement. She eagerly picked up the pace until both squires were riding stride for stride in a ground-covering canter.
When they were within a mile of Radvall Mill, Burchard and Ruschmann slowed their pace and slipped off the well-worn path they had been following. Radvall Mill was a small village, although calling it a village was probably too generous. There were three families that managed the lumber operation. They did business when they had to with Alderth Castle, filling the quarterly orders; otherwise, they discouraged anyone from the castle from visiting.
Burchard was not overly concerned that they would get attacked, but he also didn’t want any complaints to get back to the General that the families at the mill were being harassed by two squires. Giving Radvall Mill a wide berth was in everyone’s best interest. The trees they passed were young, but the older trees had been harvested—several years ago, from the look of it. Burchard knew that much like farming, a strategy was involved in harvesting lumber to ensure that the forest could continue to provide for many years to come. He had seen areas around Wolfensberger Castle that had been completely cleared, and they were not growing back as expected. In theory, it didn’t matter. Since Wolfensberger Castle’s two villages were used primarily for growing crops, including hay for livestock, additional cleared land was useful for expanding the fields.
Burchard let out his breath when they crossed into denser forest and could no longer see Radvall Mill. He glanced over at Ruschmann and saw that his friend was also relaxing now that they had passed the mill. They grinned at each other, when suddenly their horses lurched to a stop. Lucky for them, their practice riding sessions with Sir Peter meant their bodies were better trained to maintain their balance on the horses, even when startled.
A large man with bright red hair and a beard stood before them, carrying an ax on his shoulder. “What is your business at Radvall Mill?” he asked roughly.
Burchard cleared his throat before replying. “Just passing through, sir.”
The man gave both squires a thorough examination before replying. “It looks as though you must be headed somewhere. Squires are not usually sent to the mill.”
Before Burchard could respond, Ruschmann blurted out, “We’re on a scouting assignment.”
Burchard stifled his groan. From the looks of the man in front of him and the questions, he seemed to be one of the mill’s residents, but Burchard couldn’t be sure. He’d never been to the mill before. Which meant they would be obliged to make note of the encounter in their report. Telling everyone they came across they were on a scouting mission was certain to cause them trouble, especially once word got out that they were just two squires traveling alone.
“A scouting assignment?” said the man, although it was clear he was talking to himself. His eyes seemed to be focused on the horses, not on the squires.
Twigs cracked, and another man appeared seemingly from nowhere, although Burchard was sure he just had been too focused on the first one to remember to pay attention to anyone else trying to sneak up on them.
“Sean, what are you doing?” growled the new man, who looked very similar to the other one—in fact, almost identical. With a pointed glance at the squires, he turned his back to them, blocking their view of the first man.
“Seth,” Sean replied. “I was just finishing up with the last tree on this side, and I heard these two squires jabbering. Figured I’d see who was trying to sneak through our forest.”
With Seth’s back to Burchard, it was difficult for him to see how Sean’s explanation had affected him. He spared a peek at Ruschmann, who shrugged. Burchard tried to remain patient, but he was itching to get on their way.
“I see,” replied Seth, before stepping to the side and turning around to face Burchard and Ruschmann. “Is there a particular reason you lot are sneaking around our forest instead of coming through the village?”
Burchard decided he should reply before the encounter escalated. “Sir,” he said with a bow from his saddle. “We were not assigned any business with Radvall Mill and decided it would be…” He paused, searching for the right word. He wasn’t sure saying he thought it would be quicker to avoid the village would be wise. “The most direct route to our destination is going through the edge of your lands, which is what we were doing before we came across Sir Sean.” Burchard decided treating them with respectful formality would likely be the best course of action.
