After escorting the under-dwellers to the entrance of the underground cavern and saying my goodbyes I ordered the two scouts that had accompanied me to return to their patrol. I then took a few moments to contemplate the last hour or so before heading off for my meeting with the captain and his lordship.
“Well, so it begins though the sooner it ends the better, it’s an expensive endeavour this and I’m not just talking about hiring you lot. The repair of the fortlets alone or to be fair completely rebuilding them cost a few per cent of my annual income. Thankfully it only happens every dozen generations or so and we are forewarned so we start saving for the next one just as soon as the current one is over.
I’m told the Empire used to pay for half of it but not the new bunch though they did promise to refund any extra cost via a tax rebait if anything actually goes wrong, not that I actually want anything to happen mind you. Now sergeant did that elder have any requests or say anything of note?”
“No, not really, not the most talkative of fellows but then again I had the feeling that he found having to translate his thoughts in his own language into imperial a chore and while it might be something he once did semi-regularly he hasn’t had to for a while.”
“He didn’t give any kind of indication of how many different groups there would be or anything like that?”
“No, but I expect he was in a hurry to get underground as quickly as possible before the sun rises and he will perhaps be more talkative tonight.”
“Let’s hope that’s the case I suppose I could manage without that information but I would feel a lot more comfortable if I had it. Now before he gets back to his patrolling is there anything you want to ask him, captain?”
“Sergeant, did you have any problems spotting the under-dwellers?”
“Not at all sir they weren’t trying to hide after all.”
“Did you spot any signs that anyone else might be out and about?”
“Just the usual activity you would expect sir but we’re keeping an eye out nonetheless. We did notice one slightly strange thing though, a small crudely built boat with obvious signs of damage laid up at the opposite bank of the river. I only mention it because it didn’t look like any of the other craft we’ve seen operate on the river but it could just be something some kids built.”
“What do you think milord, anything to be concerned with.”
“Shouldn’t be I remember trying to construct my own boat with a few others when I was younger, thank Telondian we had all learned to swim long before taking it out on the river.”
“He’s probably right sergeant but keep an extra eye on the river from what I’m told under-dwellers aren’t that fond of water but they aren’t the only ones we potentially have to worry about after all. Now I noticed that Elder had a dagger or something in his right boot were any of the others armed as far as you could tell?
“A few of the others were armed the same way he was and five of them had short swords plus I thought I saw what might be a crossbow in that cart of theirs but I couldn’t be absolutely sure of it.”
“Nothing to be too worried about but where theirs one crossbow there might be others, something to keep in mind with the other possibly much larger groups I expect in the coming days. Sergeant you can return to your scouting now, remain vigilant and don’t forget to report to me again after you have swapped with Corporal Young's squad. Before I forget I’ll like you to come see me two hours before your due to start your next patrol. I want you to join me while I search that cavern just encase the departing under-dwellers tonight leave something behind for the next lot, whether it be an object or simply some form of written communication or code. That’s if it’s ok with you lord Moore, we’ll try not to leave any obvious signs we were there but I don’t expect it to go unnoticed.”
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“There's nothing in the treaty as far as I am aware preventing you from doing such a thing so you might as well.”
When I returned to my squad they didn’t have anything new to report and the rest of our patrol passed without incident. When we returned to our fortlet we handed over to Young and his squad and I dismissed the men before I headed to report to the captain. After I give him my report he asked me a few questions and reminding me of our visit later that night he dismissed me. I then headed over to the mess tent and had a hearty meal with the men and two hours later I was asleep.
I awoke the next day earlier than I would have otherwise and after breakfast, I saw to the feeding and grooming of my horses before heading to meet the captain for our trip underground.
The captain had already paid two visits to the cavern before, once by himself the day after we arrived in Long Bank Manor and once with his lordship when he visited Senior Star Gazer Bix Byrsenian just before nightfall. From what he told me the meeting had gone well and Bix had informed them that we could expect seven further groups of pilgrims in as many days.
I can’t say I’ve ever been underground before though my father did once mention my grandfather had spent a tour of duty in an area that was full of caves.
Thankfully the cavern in question hadn’t been left in its natural state, steps having been carved leading down to it. I can’t imagine having to navigate our way down there otherwise, especially carrying a torch as we were required to. The cavern itself had also been heavily modified to accommodate the under-dwellers which meant it easily accommodated us without once having to mind our heads.
I think that the cavern could easily play host to a thousand pilgrims and perhaps, even more, depending on what size of personnel space they require a fact of which I am unaware. We spent over half an hour searching the cavern but while I can’t for a second rule out the possibility we missed something we were unable to find anything out of place.
While we were making our way out of the cavern the captain ordered me to return with him the following night for a repeat performance.
Private Henry Downes was once again the first member of my squad to spot the under-dwellers not that the other members of it including myself were all that far behind in doing so. There were far more of them this time, eight to nine hundred from what I could see and they had three small carts and another one that was more than twice the size.
Unlike the smaller group from the day before this larger group wasn’t
lead by a single individual but rather a group of three, though one of them seemed to be more important than the other two. He had first introduced himself and only afterwards did he mention the names of the other two. His name was Senior Star Guide Rexe Rounanyian and his two companions were Senior Sky Watcher Daye Damazigal and Senior Star Seeker Giya Gebunhawa.
Once the introductions were made they asked us to quickly show them the way to the underground cavern and we of course complied immediately. Unlike Senior Star Gazer Bix Byrsenian they couldn’t even be bothered to be introduced to the captain and his lordship but simply asked me to convey to them that if they wished to talk they would be willing to do so an hour before sunset.
I wasn’t informed about what was discussed at that meeting but the captain seems to be happy enough with whatever went down and I didn’t press him. When we searched the caverns after the pilgrim's departure we were again unable to find anything out of place. It did seem dustier than during my first visit but I put that down to the large number of under-dwellers who had stayed in it previously.
We didn’t encounter any problems with the next four groups of under-dwellers that we escorted which were all led by a group of three individuals. Again we didn’t find anything out of place on our subsequent inspections of the cavern other than signs that people had been staying there that is. After the third group, his lordship had stopped trying to meet with the incoming pilgrims leaving that task to the captain and his son. Not that they were able to do so after that first time until darkness was nearly upon them that is.
However, one thing of note happened when Corporal Young handed over patrol duties to me and my squad the following day, he mentioned spotting an unusual-looking boat laid up at the opposite bank of the river though unlike the first one he hadn’t seen any obvious signs of damage.
After hearing his report on the boat even though it might simply be that whoever had built the first one had tried again with better luck, I felt it important enough that I asked him to inform the captain of it. When I had finished escorting the seventh group of pilgrims to the cavern the captain informed me that he had passed the information on to his lordship who had sent a messenger to enquire about it from his neighbour on the other side of the river. That messenger had yet to return but was expected any minute.