was still the biggest in the camp, a modest pavilion some fifty feet wide on each side. Will bowed when he came into the Lord Commander’s presence. Lieutenant Stanton sat nearby at a small table. “You asked for me, milord?”
The lord studied him quietly for a long minute, during which Will became increasingly uncomfortable. Eventually he spoke. “Have you had any training as a scout, Mister Cartwright?”
“No, Your Lordship.”
“Then how is it that you have not once, but twice found what none of our scouts could find?” asked Fulstrom.
“My mother always said I had the sharpest ears and the keenest eyesight in the village, milord,” Will prevaricated. “I also spent a lot of time in the forest as a boy, playing games of hide and seek with my friends.”
“And do you think this has given you skills my scouts lack?”
“No, Your Lordship,” said Will hastily.
Lord Fulstrom frowned. “False modesty will do you no favors here, young man. Twice you have demonstrated your skills, and twice you have succeeded. I am told your wound was not great. How is your injury?”
“I lost some blood, milord, but I think I fainted from exhaustion as much as from that,” said Will.
“I would like you to ride with my scouts, tomorrow,” announced the baron. “Are you capable enough for it?”
Will’s mind raced as he considered his options. Refusal seemed impossible, and this was a chance to provide the army with the information he had already gained. Plus, he thought he might discover more on his own. Having other eyes beside him would only limit what he could claim to have seen. “I am, milord, but I would rather not.”
The baron’s eyes hardened. “I see.”
“Begging your pardon, milord, I would rather go alone—or separately at least,” Will hurried to add.
“Explain your reasoning.”
“Men on horseback are easier to spot,” said Will. “I believe I can get closer on foot.”
“Men on horseback are also harder to catch,” said the baron. “They are more likely to survive to give a report. You think you can avoid being seen?”
Will nodded. “Yes, milord.”
“The scouts leave at dawn tomorrow,” said Fulstrom. “I would like you to go as well. If you prefer to go alone rather than with them, I will allow it.” The baron turned away, clearly dismissing him.
But Will wasn’t done. “Excuse me, Your Lordship. I would prefer to leave in the evening.”
Fulstrom turned back, curiosity on his face. “I intend to march the morning after tomorrow. Our best estimate is that we can reach the enemy camp in less than two hours. If you leave at night, your report will come too late to be of any use.”
“I’ll start before nightfall,” said Will. “Once it is dark, I should be able to enter their camp. If they have any surprises planned, I can discover them.”
Lieutenant Stanton spoke for the first time. “It will be too dark for you to see anything. Assuming you aren’t caught.”
Will shook his head. “The new moon begins to wax tonight. There should be a sliver in the sky. If we have clear weather, I will be able to see. I’ll definitely see better than the enemy.”
Stanton looked to the baron, who seemed lost in thought. Finally, Lord Fulstrom made his decision. “You seem sure of yourself, and I have little to lose gambling on your cocksure attitude. We march early that night so we can catch them at dawn. Be back two hours before then or any knowledge you gain will be wasted.” The baron waved his hand. “You may leave. Stanton, give Sir Kyle my instructions.”
***
The next day passed slowly. Will felt fine, but he was still off the duty roster, so he had little to do. He had spent part of the night focusing on the small wound in his side, trying to replicate something of what he had done for Joey. He wasn’t really sure if it had made a difference or not, but the wound showed no sign of sickening and the skin had nearly closed. Given what he knew of such wounds, he thought it was healing faster than usual, but he couldn’t say for sure that it wasn’t his imagination.
He tried thinking about what he would do when he left that evening on his special assignment, but it wasn’t possible to plan much. The whole point of scouting was to find new information, so he would have to rely on his judgment to decide what to do once he had seen the enemy force. Other than that,