By the time I had handed over patrol duty to Corporal Young and reported to Captain Walker the messenger had returned from his enquiries on the other bank of the river. The news he had brought back with him was troubling though not necessarily completely definitive proof that someone was looking to interfere with the Pilgrimage.

Sir Derek Landon of Oak Grove Manor had already been aware of the two boats laid up on the river bank of his lands and had sent out a party to investigate. Although whoever had been aboard the boats in question had made a concerted effort to hide their tracks they hadn’t been completely successful. They had left behind faint tracks while crossing a small stream that didn’t look as if they were made by a human or any animal found in the local area.

That wasn’t to say that Landon had any idea where they were presently but rather that someone or something at least had still been aboard the boats that had made it to the far bank where they had in all probability laid them up and left them for the next passer-by to find. His men were still trying to track them down but unless they made any other mistakes he wasn’t expecting it to prove successful.

After telling me of the development he ordered me to attend a meeting with our employer that was to take place in an hour. I spent the time until then thinking over the implications of this discovery and what effect it would have on the chances of the Ebony Hyenas successfully carrying out the current contract without taking casualties, myself included.

The meeting was well attended with Lord Moore, his son, the captain of his guards, his majordomo, his Seneschal, the local reeve representing Long Bank Manor plus a newly arrived messenger with the latest news from Lord Landon. The Ebony Hyenas were represented by Captain Walker, the three lieutenants and myself.

Once we were all introduced to each other Lord Moore had the messenger deliver his news.

“Theirs still no sign of them but they did discover another boat, though this one was a lot better built and of a different design. Also, they made an attempt to hide it this time and if it hadn’t been for local children using the location as a fort we might not have found it.”

“Well I’m not exactly as much of an expert in such things as you are Captain Walker but it seems to me that it’s one of several possibilities, it’s a bluff, a double bluff or whomever it is plans to attack us from both sides or not at all. If it’s a bluff they want us to concentrate on them coming from the far bank while they attack us from behind. If it’s a double bluff they’ll be hoping for the opposite but as for the not at all, it is possible I suppose we’re just dealing with some kind of prank but I can’t think of anyone likely to try that sort of thing. In all likelihood I think they’ll be attacking us from both sides, what do you think captain.”

“Your probably right but another possibility just occurred to me the ones in those three boats might just be part of a larger group that is planning to hit another group of under-dwellers elsewhere that somehow got separated from the rest.”

“That possibility didn’t cross my mind but if that’s the case other than raising the alarm which I have done, there isn’t anything I can do about it so better to just concentrate on our own defence.”

“Your right milord but we mustn’t forget that in all likelihood we aren’t dealing with humans and the tribals mightn’t necessarily think the same way we do. This raises the question of your current guests, do we just inform them of the situation and leave them out of it or actively seek their help in bringing it to a successful conclusion.”

“You don’t think they are involved with whatever’s going on?”

“Maybe one or two of them but otherwise no, I don’t see what they could gain from it. Maybe if the situation between the three kingdoms and the one republic were tense and they thought they could take advantage of it. Also, I don’t see what happens here no matter how bad things might get affecting the relationship between the four powers. Whoever’s behind this is likely looking to ruin what little interaction we humans have with the under-dwellers and in the worse case cause the treaty to be ripped up and Telondian knows what else to occur.”

“I agree, but that raises the question, do we wake them up now or wait until shortly before nightfall to talk to them.”

“It might be too late if we leave it milord.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Right, now before we go and wake them has anyone else got anything they’d like to add.”

“Sir, do you know if any of your other neighbours have spotted any mysterious boats or anything else unusual for that matter.”, I asked.

“I’ve sent messengers to every manor up to two neighbours away and so far none have had anything of the sort to report but I haven’t heard back from all of them just yet, anyone else?”

“In that case, I suppose we should all head down to the cavern and reconvene our meeting there where the under-dweller representatives can participate. That’s unless any of you have any problem being underground, do you.”

“No milord.”, replied everyone all at once.

We didn’t all go down to the cavern at once, Sir Reginald Moore headed down first accompanied by Captain Walker to wake his guest up and deliver the bad news.

It was close to half an hour later before everyone joined them together with the three under-dweller representatives, Senior Star Guide Wex Witlentian, Senior Sky watcher Yudi Yatlasti and Senior Star Gazer Bexi Bidwerce. They weren’t at all pleased to be woken up at such an hour but they didn’t show signs of being tired not that anyone else present was exactly sure what they might be

“Well elders what do you make of all that?”, asked his lordship after he had finished explaining the situation.

Senior Star Guide Wex Witlentian Who seemed to be the senior of the three was the first to respond

“Well having a look at the boats wouldn’t tell me a thing, no under-dweller has anything to do with boats, however, I would like to have a look at the tracks. But theirs no bridge nearby and you’ll never get any of us into any sort of boat. Maybe some young whippersnapper who doesn’t know any better might do so as a dare if you ply them with enough liquor but I doubt it. It’s a pity you can’t bring it to me and your description of it is sadly of no use.”

“Actually there might be a way but I don’t know how feasible it is,” I interjected interrupted.

“Speak up young man.”

“Well, we could get someone to make a cast of the tracks and deliver them to you.”

“What do you mean by a cast”

“Well you pour plaster into the tracks and after it’s been dried and removed you should be left with an imprint of them that can then be brought to you to inspect.”

“Plaster, what’s that?”

“Well, it’s a building material usually used to make decorative reliefs and the like.”

“Oh, you mean stucco.”

‘If that’s what you call it then yes, I think.”

“Well I don’t know, would there be anyone locally able to make such a thing and a supply of the required materials and if so would they be willing to do such a thing as you have suggested?”

“Belik, Luka is there anyone locally with such a skill”, his lordship asked of his Seneschal and Reeve.

“Not to my knowledge milord,” replied his Seneschal Belik Jorge.

“Maybe Milord, but he’s not a young man anymore, not by a long shot and I don’t know if he could survive a river crossing. He might however be able to walk someone else through the process. As for the materials required, he’d be the best man to talk to about that.”, was the reply from the Reeve, Luka Pandoe.

“In that case, I’ll leave it to you, hurry I fear we don’t have the time to dally.”

It wasn’t until Lula had hurried out of the cavern that the conversation started again.

“Until and unless that is sorted out we’ll have to do without any evidence of who is behind all this from that direction. Elder from what I have told you here today is there anything that might indicate who is behind it or what exactly they are up to.”

“I’m afraid there is not, we just don’t have enough data to help us narrow it down though we can dismiss a few options due to distance and the like. Unless the casting process turns up something or your neighbour tracks one of them down I’m afraid we won’t know who is behind it until they take action.

Even knowing who we are facing mightn’t help us determine what exactly they are up to. In the end, I’m afraid it might just come down to numbers and how much they manage to surprise us. As for our participation in the fight, I’m afraid we have few skilled warriors among our number and outside of defending this cavern we will only be of use if it is dark out. Our enemy is also aware of this fact and will no doubt use it to their advantage.”

“Now will you be staying until the enemy makes their move or if they don’t do so by nightfall will you try and make it to your next stop. Either way, we will try our best to protect you but like you, I cannot guarantee anything.”

“Well, I really and I mean really don’t want to miss the reason for our pilgrimage but the safety of the pilgrims is my first concern. Even if we weren’t the last group of pilgrims I think it would be best to rest in place until this crisis is over. We would be sitting ducks out in the open if we are facing any sizeable force and a lot harder for you and the warriors amongst us to protect.

The possibility that whoever is behind this has no intention or even a large enough party to attack us has crossed my mind. This may be all an attempt to embarrass us or simply mess with the pilgrimage. But even if that is the case we cannot risk the possibility that it isn’t so we will be staying put for the time being. If we aren’t attacked in the next day or two I will revisit this decision but for now, our safety is in your hands.”

“Alright with that in mind Captain Walker my men will take over responsibility for patrolling the river bank while your sergeant Ryder and his men plus anyone else you can spare search the rest of my lands to see if they can find the invaders or signs of their passing. Encase we are attacked the rest of your men will be responsible for making sure the fortlets and the area around the entrance to the cavern are as secure as you can make it”

“That’s fine with me milord.”