“Very well, far be it my master intent to disturb your friendship gentlemen. We withdraw, but instead before we leave let me offer the hospitality of the Manor to any that wish it. My Master has instituted some changes that you may begin to see. There will be no more disrespectful behaviour of any of the soldiers in his employ in your towns and villages no instead we will be offering you our neighbours help and assistance at very fair rates in the future to reflect our common holding of the land. But…” and here the man paused to fix the Steward with an eerie look. “..we will expect more respect than evidently you were used to granting the previous commander of the Manor! One day you may need us and your greeting will be remembered.” – Excerpt Post 8

Somehow you managed to keep a straight face as Master Malcianus gave the drunken louts the mildest dressing down you had ever heard. Probably a wasted effort but had to admire the  man for trying. Peasants were just that usually, no discipline and no respect right up until they needed help.

When the gawking villagers had all but left Malcianus turned to you. “Begin breaking camp soldier. I can stomach these fools no longer in any case!”

“Sir should we mention the Orc tracks we saw on the way in, sir?” your companion guard mentioned respectfully.

“Probably, but I am in no mood for it now. I suspect they’d throw that back in our face as being our fault as well”

“Yessir, its just that the princes guards aren’t here I see. I just wondered…” Malcianus cut him off with a sharp glance and a chop of his hand

“Enough! I have made a decision!” Then his irritation softened. “You are correct soldier; well observed, but until these fools unbend those stiff necks our hands are tied. Break camp I’ll send a message to the Manor about all this, including what we saw on the way in. Dismissed!”

The camp broke down by the numbers, but with some misgivings you headed back to the manor. “Say did I hear a cart of supplies didn’t turn up to the Faye a couple of days ago?”

“Yeah whole cart full of fine cloth and curios from the big market in the capital. Not showed up yet. Co incidence?”

“Doubt it, bandits more like”

“Not Orcs?”

“Nah, there is only the one Warband of any size in the local area. They keep to the barren lands for the most part. In a long running fued with the Gor’Bayen over water rights or some such I heard.”

“So why all the tracks?”

“Dunno, maybe they is looking for a way to out flank the Gobbo’s. They know if they stray to far into these woods the prince’ll have their ears!”

An uncomfortable silence fell over the troop of marching men. So where exactly was the Prince and his men?