They had moved from the scene of combat and made camp. Jadow dispensed with the full entrenchment since the elves made excellent outer sentries, and Jadow decided the extra two hours a day of movement was more necessary than defensive security.
Twice since leaving that camp in the morning, they had reports of other companies moving south: Kingdom forces to the east, and invaders to the west. It was clear that they were heading straight toward the next battle. Roo knew enough about the surrounding countryside to understand that after Ravensburg the only town of size was Wolverton and the countryside around that hamlet was not conducive to a stout defense. They would hold for a while at Ravensburg, then fall back to Darkmoor.
‘How far to Ravensburg?’ Jadow asked Roo.
Roo said, ‘We’ll be there in less than an hour.’
‘Good,’ said Luis. ‘I could use a taste of that wine you and Erik used to brag on so often.’
‘You’ll not be disappointed,’ said Roo. Then he thought of a large portion of the Kingdom Army already being in Ravensburg, and said, ‘Assuming there’s any left when we get there.’
Ten minutes later they approached the first Kingdom camp, located behind a very defensible rise in the road. They hailed the guards and were passed without question.
As they rode along, they saw more and more elements of the Kingdom Army digging in. Roo said, ‘Looks like they’re fighting along ten miles or so of front.’
Jadow pointed over his shoulder, to the north. ‘We’ve been turning them this way for weeks. We left behind enough men to ensure they don’t try to feint this way, turn back, and break through north of us.’
Roo knew the local terrain as well as anyone. ‘Even if they get past you that way,’ he said, ‘they’re still going to have to turn south when they try to climb Nightmare Ridge.’
‘That’s the plan,’ said Jadow.
The closer they came to the town of Ravensburg, the more frantic the activity. The road they traveled ran parallel to a low ridge line, a series of interconnecting hills, that had been planted with grapevines for years.
Soldiers were cutting the large grape vines, some as big as small trees, piling them, along with anything else they could find, to form breastworks along the top of the ridge. While no winemaker, Roo had spent enough time growing up among them to know what a loss those vines would be. Some were three hundred years old, rootstock that would be impossible to replace. He noticed that workers were madly cutting vines, saving them for grafts, in the hope they could someday return to these vineyards and start over. Roo silently wished them luck.
They reached Ravensburg in mid-afternoon. Roo saw Erik supervising the establishment of a barricade across the main road. He waved and Erik rode over.
‘Roo! Luis! Jadow!’ said Erik, relief obvious on his face.
Galain waited until greetings were exchanged, and said, ‘Captain von Darkmoor?’
‘Yes,’ said Erik. ‘What can I do for you?’
Galain produced a scroll and handed it to him. Erik read it and said, ‘Good.’ He pointed toward an inn across the square. ‘If you’d like to eat, go there and tell them I sent you.’
‘Thank you,’ said Galain.
Erik looked at Karli, Helen, and the children and said, ‘If you’d be so kind as to continue leading those horses, I’d appreciate it.’ To Karli he said, ‘Tell my mother I sent you and don’t let her give the children too many sweets.’
Karli smiled and a tear of relief ran down her cheeks, despite her attempts to restrain it. ‘Thank you,’ she said.
As the two women and four children were led away, Erik said to Luis, ‘What happened to your shoulder?’
Luis said, ‘Long story. I’ll tell you tonight.’
Erik nodded. To Roo he said, ‘Why don’t you go with your family and we’ll visit later. I still have a lot to do.’
‘Apparently,’ said Roo. ‘Until later.’
They rode off and Erik accepted Jadow’s mocking salute. ‘Report, Sergeant.’
‘Yes, sir. Captain, sir!’ said Jadow with a grin.
‘All right, that’s enough.’
‘Anything you say, Captain sir!’
Erik leaned over and said, ‘Would you like to be a corporal again, Sergeant?’
‘Don’t tease me with promises you won’t keep, you evil man.’
Erik grinned. ‘What have you seen?’
‘There’s a tough bastard up to the north leading the enemy, named Duko, General Duko. He’s staving put, pounding at that little pass between Eggly and Tannerus. The Earl of Pemberton and the Duke of Yabon both have heavy infantry dug in there, with some Cortesian archers holding the higher ridges, keeping the enemy down in the pass. They’re tough little bastards and can pick your teeth with their arrows. So most of Duko’s men are just hitting the barricades across the trail, over and over. It’s a bloody mess, a regular grinder up there, but other than that, most of the enemy’s forces are heading this way.’
‘Any word on Fadawah?’