The next few days passed, yet still no word came as to which path the army would take or when Richard would rejoin them. The sound of metal striking metal rang out among the tents that afternoon as Rodrigo and Geoffrey faced each other with their swords in a sparring circle nearby. “Rodrigo! Geoffrey!” Jean called out to them, interrupting their match. Lowering his sword, Rodrigo saw Jean standing by a tent nearby. Beside him was Richard, who was leaning on wooden staff that he was using for a crutch.
“Richard!” Rodrigo exclaimed. Rodrigo sheathed his sword and smiled broadly as he and Geoffrey hopped the wooden fence that formed the sparring circle and walked toward Richard and Jean. As they approached, Rodrigo’s smile began to fade, and he was struck by the dramatic change of Richard’s
