The camp perimeter guard took him directly to Lord Fulstrom, who was still in his pavilion. The baron had just finished getting his breastplate on with the assistance of another man when Will came in. “You took long enough,” said Lord Fulstrom. “Did you learn anything?”
Will wasted no time. “They have nearly twice as many men, but their camp is in chaos, milord.”
“What does that mean?”
He pulled the bundle of papers out of his tunic. “I took these from the table in the commander’s tent. They looked important.”
Fulstrom thumbed through the papers quickly. “It’s a mixture of logistics reports and other minutiae. Some of it may be important. Unfortunately, you took too long. We’re about to march. These will have to wait until later.” His gaze returned to Will and fixed him with an intense stare. “Did you say you got into their commander’s tent?”
Will nodded. “I was caught after entering, Your Lordship. I killed the commander and ran. After that, everything went crazy. The earth started shaking and there was fire everywhere. If it hadn’t been for all the confusion, I might not have gotten out.”
“I can’t even imagine how you got into the center of their camp. Didn’t they have guards? How did you kill their commander? Wasn’t he protected?” asked Fulstrom.
He knew he was treading on dangerous ground. He couldn’t simply admit to using magic on the sentries. “There was some sort of commotion in the camp. I think two of the officers were arguing. When the fires started, the guards left their posts, so I ducked into the commander’s tent. After I killed him, everything got worse. I think whatever magic he was using went out of control.” Will was careful not to say the word ‘elemental’ since he hadn’t learned it until after studying with Arrogan, and he didn’t want to give away just how much he knew about sorcerers and their workings.
The baron rubbed his chin, muttering, “That makes no sense. Why would his elementals go out of control, and who would be fighting in their camp? Are you sure you’ve told me the truth?”
“To the best of my understanding, Your Lordship, which is limited. A lot of things happened that were incomprehensible to me,” Will lied.
“Well, your account of their numbers squares with the rough estimates the other scouts gave. If their camp is in disarray, we had best not waste the opportunity,” said Lord Fulstrom. “Find your armor and report back to your company. We march soon.”
Grateful to be out from under the baron’s suspicious gaze, Will returned to his tent. He had worried that it, along with his gear, might have been packed already, but it appeared that the army intended to return to the camp. His bedroll and kit bag were still where he had left them. Working quickly, he shrugged into his gambeson and mail and hurried to find Company B.
Dave gave him a strange look when he fell in with the others in his squad. “I thought you had deserted.”
“I asked to help them scout,” said Will.
Sven and Corporal Taylor glanced at each other while Tiny merely nodded. Then the big man spoke. “At least they’re smart enough to listen to you now.”
Sven grumbled. “Rule number one as a soldier, never volunteer. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“I’d volunteer to go the hell home if I thought they’d let me,” said Dave. “I’ve got a bad feeling about today.”
“They should let you rest,” said Tiny. “You haven’t slept since yesterday, have you?”
Corporal Taylor interrupted, “Fat chance of that. They know we’re outnumbered. I heard the sergeants talking. They want every man that can walk on the field today.”
“If anyone should be given a rest, it ought to be me,” groused Dave. “I’m still covered in bruises.”
“You look fine to me,” offered Sven. “If anything, the swelling improved your ugly looks.”
“It feels worse than you think,” whined Dave. “I just want to make sure it doesn’t turn into something more serious, like a spear in the gut.”
“A spear would probably improve your conversation skills,” observed Tiny.
Dave’s eyes narrowed. “I couldn’t talk. I’d be dead, idiot.”
Tiny nodded in agreement. “Exactly.”
Sergeant Nash yelled, “Silence in the ranks!” and moments later the orders to march went out. They did the first two miles in a column five men wide before switching to a combat formation that stretched out across most of the width of the pass. The main line was three ranks deep, though one unit, Company E, remained behind the lines