Chapter 14

Gerald woke up to the sound of someone at his door. A familiar soft rhythm of knocking had drifted to his ears while he slept, slowly waking him up. "Uncle Rudolf?" Gerald sat up, surprised. It was quite early.

"Yes," the serene voice of the old man came from outside.

Gerald stood up and walked to the door. When he opened it, he saw Uncle Rudolf in his regular steward attire, standing solemn. "Is it time?" Gerald asked, rubbing his eyes.

Uncle Rudolf nodded. "The Black Dog bandits are attacking the Big Mountain camp tomorrow. Most likely after nightfall."

Gerald let his old steward in and looked outside. Harrid hadn't woken up yet, and there were hardly any maids who had either. "Who knows that you're here?" he asked.

"A few guards and one maid," the old man said. "I'll be leaving before anyone else wakes up."

"Gasper?"

"Still at the Black Dog camp. He couldn't leave with me. He will have to join Black Dog's assault," the old man explained.

Gerald rubbed his chin. He had been planning for this. Although it was happening earlier than he'd thought it would, he wasn't unprepared. "Are the recruited refugees ready to see some blood?"

"They will manage, as long as it isn't too much," Uncle Rudolf said. "They haven't been trained for long, after all."

Gerald nodded. He didn't want them to do much anyway. They were essential for tomorrow's battle and for his future plans, but they weren't ready for a frontal battle with other bandits yet. "Let's take this to my study. We need a map, and I have to summon Arthur and Robard. It's good that you came early. I don't want Renard or my cousins to know that I might leave the castle with most of my men, at least not until I start moving." They soon left his sleeping chamber and headed to the study. On their way, Gerald passed by Harrid's chamber and knocked loudly.

A sleepy Harrid quickly emerged from within. He froze when he realized that it was Gerald who knocked."M-My lord?"

"Shush," Gerald said. "No time to talk. You know where to find Arthur and Robard. Go and summon both of them for me."

Harrid forcefully rubbed his eyes and straightened himself. "Yes, my lord."

Gerald nodded and strode with Uncle Rudolf to his study.

When they arrived, Gerald pulled out a map and spread it out. "This is the forest," he pointed at the green blur on the east of the map. "The Black Dog bandits will have to go south from near the forest. They will have to choose to pass by its east. If they pass by its west, they risk being noticed by us. Besides, their camp is closer to the northeast of the forest."

"I agree," Uncle Rudolf nodded. "During the past fortnight, they've never acted west of the forest. The last time they moved west of the forest was when they chased Gasper and those peasants."

"Hmm," Gerald closed his eyes to ponder for a moment. "Listen, Uncle Rudolf. First, you have to wait until Black Dog moves and brings his men south of the forest towards Big Mountain's camp. Then you'll have to send a few men to the west of the forest to keep an eye out just in case. You will take the rest of the recruits east of the forest to cut any links between their attacking force and their camp. When I attack with Robard, we'll need both sides to be clueless. Any messengers or fleeing bandits are for you to either capture or kill."

"Will you attack them while they battle each other in the south?"

"We will wait as much as we can. I want them to kill each other for me," Gerald said. "I know that it might do our reputation good if our men are the ones to lop both bandit chiefs' heads off, but it would harm more than help. Our men have been bloodied before, but they are limited. We can't lose many of them for the sake of reputation. I will let the bandits weaken each other, even if we end up claiming the glory for only one head."

"We can always claim that we killed both of them after the battle," Uncle Rudolf smiled.

"I don't think we'll need to," Gerald chuckled. Then there was a knock on the study's door. "You may come in," Gerald said.

Arthur soon entered, followed by an armored Robard. The head knight was always wearing his armor, even on an occasion as early as this one.

"Rudolf!" Arthur exclaimed as soon as he entered. "You've returned?"

The old steward's smile widened and he nodded. "Not for long, though."

"I see," Arthur said. Then he turned to Gerald, embarrassed that he hadn't greeted him first. "My lord," he said along with Robard.

"Arthur, Robard," Gerald nodded. "We have a pressing matter on our hands. But first give me a moment." He stepped out of the study and found Harrid. "Go find Yanna and bring her to my study," he told the boy.

"Yes, my lord," Harrid nodded and ran off.

Gerald returned back to his study. "Robard," he said. "Have you handled the matter of separating all the young Warriors in a corps of their own?"

"Yes," Robard said. "30 young Earth Warriors are now in a corps of their own, awaiting your direct commands."

"Good," Gerald said. "I suppose we'll see how good they are tomorrow then."

"My lord?"

"Well, Robard, you always wanted to wipe out the bandits," Gerald chuckled. "Tomorrow is the first chance of many you'll get. We will move against the bandits in the east tomorrow at night. I want you to prepare all 4 thousand men for battle starting now."

Robard stood aghast for a while, then he came back to his senses and punched his chest in a salute. "Yes, my lord!"

"Be subtle, though," Gerald continued. "There are some people that I don't want alerted. Prepare the men to be split up. I will lead 1000 while you will lead 3000. Come here to the map."

Robard stepped forward and checked the map. Gerald pointed at the western edge of the forest. "We will ride out to the forest in the east after nightfall tomorrow," he said. "Then we will stop at the west of the forest and split up. I will lead 1000 men and the new elite corps to the north towards the Black Dog camp, while you will lead 3000 men south towards the Big Mountain camp."

"Why the disparity in numbers, my lord?" Robard asked, puzzled.

"Because most of the bandits from both camps will be in the south, where you're going," Gerald grinned. "They're going for each other's necks now. You've seen to that with the riders you've sent."

Robard was shocked for a moment. "The riders? Is that why you negotiated with the bandits in the first place?"

"Yes," Gerald nodded. "It doesn't matter now. What matters is that they will be where we need them tomorrow. You'll lead 3 thousand men and surround the Big Mountain camp while they fight to the death. When they're nearly done, you'll finish the remnants off."

The middle-aged knight swallowed and slowly recovered from the earlier surprise. "Yes, my lord. I will do as you command."

"I will explain more later," Gerald said. "But now you have to start preparing all the men without alerting anyone. You only have a single day."

"Most of the men are at least half-ready, my lord," Robard said. "We've been that way since the late Viscount passed. The men are always ready to move."

"That's good to hear," Gerald said. "You may go and prepare now."

Robard saluted. "By your command, my lord." Then he left.

Gerald turned to Arthur. The old minister had been as shocked as Robard earlier by the news, but he'd recovered much faster. "Arthur, the castle will be in your care while I'm away. Keep an eye on the Duke's rat."

"I will, my lord."

"There is something else, though," Gerald said. "Might you have heard something about Grina, my cousin, recruiting a number of men recently?"

Arthur raised his brows slightly, eying Gerald thoughtfully. "I have heard some rumors," the old minister uttered. "But I believe they're baseless."

"They are not," Gerald said decisively. "She has been recruiting men under your nose. You know Robard and old Han aren't responsible for dealing with my sly relatives. They're both straightforward soldiers. My relatives were yours to keep an eye on from the beginning. If something happens while I'm away, I will hold you responsible. So keep a very close eye on Grina."

"Yes, my lord," Arthur said apologetically. "You can rest assured. I will have the garrison ready in case they try anything."

"Very well," Gerald said. "You may leave."

Arthur nodded and bowed then steadily walked out of the study.

Before Gerald could turn to Uncle Rudolf to speak again, Yanna entered the study followed by Harrid. He'd almost forgotten about her. "Yanna," he said. "It is a good time for you to meet your homeless acquaintances again. I want you to take as much coin as you need and keep an eye specifically on my cousin, Grina."

"Your cousin, milord?"

"Yes," Gerald nodded. "You've already told me that you had some of the homeless keep an eye on her, but now I want you to go and collect whatever they've heard so far as well as have even more people keep an eye on her. Do all you can. I want to know why she recruited those men. I am not expecting much from you," he looked at the little girl with a smile. "But if you surpass my expectations, I will reward you."

"I will do it, milord," the girl said.

"Take Harrid with you like last time," Gerald added. "You're to return in two to three days at most. You may leave now."

Yanna soon bowed deeply along with Harrid who stood beside her, then they left the study.

Gerald turned to his steward. "Don't forget, Uncle Rudolf. Spread the recruits as wide as you can east of the forest right after Black Dog passes by. I don't want one side to alert the other. It might ruin all our plans. We outnumber them, but if they escape and reunite with the other crews, we'll have future difficulties."

"And Gasper's role would be exposed too," the old steward said. "Don't worry. I will handle it. The recruited refugees are still dull-edged, but they're enough to handle any stragglers who come our way."

"Alright," Gerald nodded. "It's better that you return now. Renard has already taken note of your disappearance. I announced that you were ill. The less people that see you now the better."