Summer 965 MC
"Where"s Hollis?" demanded Fitz. "His army was supposed to be at Oaksvale!"
"It appears they tricked us," offered Alric, "and snuck off in the night."
"I can see that," the baron roared. "What I want to know is how?"
Herdwin straightened himself. "They set false campfires. A tactic Gerald and Beverly used when they fled Galburn"s Ridge last year."
The baron was not amused. "I"d give my left leg to know where he"s gone."
"My guess would be east," said Alric. "Likely to join forces with Lord Rutherford."
"That would put him in a position to attack the marshal"s flank," warned Sir Preston.
"Could he get his whole army there in time?" asked the prince.
"No," said Fitz, "though his cavalry might be fast enough."
"In other, more encouraging news," interrupted Albreda, "I"
