We reached the end of the track that led to the garrison itself. The previous quiet was broken by the sound of several voices speaking, and several horses moving about.
Waelden leaned on a fence, and chuckled with satisfaction as he looked out over the garrison grounds. “As I said… well protected.”
At such close quarters, I was impressed. But I had to say what was on my mind. “The Dunlending would be a fool to follow us here.”
Waelden nodded, turning towards the barricades and barracks. “He wouldn’t get far into Bancross with all those watchful eyes. I really feel we can be safe here.”
That was what I hoped he would say. We couldn’t remain in hiding here forever, but we would be safe until we chose to venture out.
“Want to have a closer look?” he suggested, with a grin of anticipation.
“Aye dear. We should find someone to introduce ourselves to.”
Waelden needed no further encouragement. He headed forward towards the barricades. “I will just make ourselves known to the guards first. They already know we are here. Look, there are two just behind the first barricade.” Giving a hail as greeting, he called out “Guards of Bancross, may we enter? We only wish to speak to the man in charge for a moment”
The two guards remained alert, looking to each other a moment as from behind them a Shieldmaiden stepped forward. She raised a hand to beckon us closer. “You may enter, sir! We would also like to know of you, and why you’re here in this place.”
Waelden turned to me, as I grinned and silently mouthed ‘Man in charge..’ He was unperturbed though. “Let’s go, but watch the spears dear, they’re sharp.”
Looking back to the Shieldmaiden he called out, “Greetings, lady! Are you the commander here?
“Hail, and well met,” was all I said then. I was not as used to military folk as he, and would rather listen well and observe what transpired unless I could make a good contribution.
The woman carried a large sword, and shield upon her back. She looked a moment at us, each in turn, then nodded sternly. “I am the sergeant, and highest rank among these folk here for now, aye. You may speak to me. Come, and join me in my quarters…” She turned and headed for the nearby barn-sized building, opening the door for us and ushering us in.
“Upstairs, if you please.”
Upon entering I cast a swift glance around the ground floor. It was a small armoury. There was a forge, racks of weapons…
“They have quite a set up here,” Waelden commented, obviously impressed. “Well guarded, well equipped…”
The sergeant followed us inside, closing the door after us and walking straight upstairs without missing a beat. “Up here,” she said.
Her quarters were adequate for one with her responsibility; functional, practical. There was a bed, a chair and a table. She sat down in her chair, and placed her sword on the table before her.
“I have no more chairs for you to sit, my apologies for that. But to the matter at hand. I’ve been made aware of your presence, though I do not know who you are. Introduce yourselves.” Her voice was commanding, curious, though there was no hint of anger.
Waelden nodded to her, and put a hand upon his chest as he bowed his head. “I am Waelden, son of Eldewine.”
I copied the gesture as one known to me. “I am Yllfa, daughter of Beornmund,” I said, before standing straight before her. I was no soldier, but neither was I unaware of proper behaviour to one with authority.
Rising from her chair, the Shieldmaiden nodded. “ And I am Thilwend, daughter of Rorden, and sergeant of the guard of Bancross. I was told there was one more with you?”
“Aye,” replied Waelden. “That would be my daughter, Ethel. She’s a young woman, thirteen years of age.”
Thilwend sat down again, jotting down a quick few notes, no more than scribbles, upon a piece of parchment. “Thank you. I am very protective of my village, so I trust you will excuse me for keeping note of the people who enter here. We have no captain, but we are waiting for reinforcement from Snowbourn. Until then, you will answer to me. Is that clear?”
“Very clear, lady Thilwend.” Waelden spoke for us both in the matter.
“Sergeant Thilwend, if you please.”
“Aye, … of course, Sergeant Thilwend. My apologies.”
She looked up at us again, looked over us both with an appraising eye. “I heard you arrived at Northgyth’s house not long ago, and have sought lodgings there. Why did you come to this village? Are you refugees, or just vagabonds?”
I looked to Waelden, who bit his lip, put his hands behind his back and straightened up his posture.“Our house burned down some nights ago, Sergeant Thilwend. We came here to seek shelter, that is all.” he said.
“Our home was deliberately burned to the ground. We almost burned with it.” I added some emotion to the information.
Thilwend looked at me for a moment, then nodded. “I heard about a farmhouse burning down to the west of here, some nights ago. Was that your home? If so, I apologise for your loss.”
“It was, Sergeant Thilwent. It is...was..Yllfa’s home of birthright.”. Waelden calmly answered.
“Aye, sergeant Thilwend, it was where I was born. My grandpapa’s farm, left to me.” Again I felt like adding a little, likely unnecessary information.
“I won’t speak more of that,” she stated. “I know well how hard it is to lose a home. I saw my parent’s cottage being burned by the orcs years ago.”
“I am sorry to hear that,” Waelden replied.
For my part, her comment did not come unexpected. She knew of suffering. But my own pain was too raw to want to speak further of the farm at that time, to anyone.
Thilwend continued, sitting back in her chair a moment, “Ancient history, that serves no more purpose than idle chatter. How long do you intend to stay here?”
Waelden looked to me for agreement, holding his wrist now in a tight grip with his hand. I nodded in turn, a silent confirmation he should speak as he would. “Until we have found a new home, sergeant. Lady Northgyth has promised us a place to stay for now.” he said.
“We shall start looking in a day or two, sergeant Thilwend” I added. “We would like just a short time to collect our thoughts first.”
Thilwend nodded, and made a couple more scribbles before looking directly at us in turn. “That is well then. Northgyth is a kind lady, and not one to turn away those in need. She has a keen eye for character, and has helped many over the years. I hope she can do the same for you. Thank you for indulging me and answering my questions truthfully. That puts my mind at ease. Strangers in my village are welcome, as long as they behave. I trust you will, too.”
“Of course, sergeant. We are just glad to have a roof over our heads.” I stated.
“Of course, sergeant.” Waelden also confirmed. “I am in service of Lord Ehris Tiubar of Floodwend, and should you need my assistance, I’ll be at your service too while I am staying here.”
“We have all the men we need, except a captain - and the man is said to arrive in a few weeks. But thank you, I appreciate it. Now, if you will excuse me, I have work to complete. You can feel safe in my village.”
And that was the end of our introduction, and our meeting with Thilwend daughter of Rorden.
I liked her. I confess I did not feel anything warm and cosy about her as I did with Ymma, or elder - sisterly as with Northgyth, but I trusted that sergeant to be true to her word. I only hoped the new captain would be of equal calibre.
We asked her permission to take a short stroll around the garrison before we left her quarters.
“That is fine, though do not disturb my men more than needed. I want every watchful eye ready,” was her response.
“Do you think she was annoyed with us, Greybeard?” I asked, once we were in the open air again.
“No. I don’t think so at all.” Waelden leaned on the nearby fence. He smiled, and nodded thoughtfully. “She is in command and wants everything in order, that’s all. I know the type well.” He gestured at the tents. “Many tents, both for eating and sleeping. They likely have riders coming in regularly to rest.”
“It would seem we have stumbled upon one of the safest villages in the area.” I spoke my thoughts aloud.
And we walked a little more, observing many guards, and strong and healthy horses in the yard, though did not enter the main barracks. In all, Waelden seemed most satisfied concerning our safety in general, and not just regarding one particular man. As the pink tinge of the earlier sky was now replaced by one of a rosy hew, we knew it was time to return to Northgyth’s farm.
Upon arrival, we found she was again true to her word. There was indeed a selection of additional furniture for our use in the lower room. There was also a large pot of mutton stew on the new table, some bowls and spoons, and a platter with a decreasing amount of fresh bread, as Ethel was working her way through it. Herne sat dutifully under the table, by her feet.
She grinned up at us as we entered, “So we are staying here for months at least, papa?”
“Ymma has told you that, dear?” I asked, before Waelden could reply. He sat himself down at the table and reached over to ruffle Ethel’s hair before taking a bowl and spoon, and helping himself to some stew.
“Aye, Ymma and I have had a good talk while you wanderers were out and about. She says we can stay here till midwinter if we want, and maybe longer.”
I knew nothing about the ‘maybe longer’, so simply sat down at the table myself as Waelden ladled stew into a bowl for me.
“Thank you, dear.”
Waelden and I exchanged glances as he passed the bowl to me. Ethel was dunking bread into a half eaten bowl of the mutton stew. We did not comment.
So the evening passed swiftly. Another check on the horses, and barn, and then we all retired for the night. The bed was not our own, but it was warm and comfortable and oh so easy to sink into. Ethel spoke with Herne for a short time before the hound’s snoring could be heard from behind the screen that gave her and us, some small privacy.
“She needs her own room...for all our sakes,”Waelden whispered to me with a smile. “Maybe we can make a good space for her downstairs tomorrow, aye?”
“Only if she wants that. Though it won't be long before she complains about you snoring, I suspect,” I replied with a smile of my own.
“She snores too, but that is never a problem it seems…” Waelden drew me close as usual, and pulled the blanket over us both. He was in a significantly better mood. “We are safe for now, she-wolf, and I am happy.”
“Aye, Greybeard, so am I.” I kissed his nose, and snuggled against him.
For the first time since we lost the farm, I slept easily. I think Waelden and Ethel did too.
