We had ample time to compose a letter to Jost Castor and arrange for its delivery. Despite the Grandmaster’s assertion that they had been preparing to sail, that process had stopped short of actually loading the ships. The delay required to load supplies, arms and materiel onto the ships was enough to allow the order’s armorers to adjust our tournament plate to be better suited for field use. All of the changes were minor, and it was faster than trying to scrounge up fresh suits of armor. Once done, we were loaded onto the ships as well. Despite it being the same boat as Vogel, I decided to take passage with Hengist and his men. I wasn’t sure how many fighting men and how many horses were on our fleet of ships. I hadn’t even gotten a good count of ships before we set sail. I’m sure someone knew. Gefrah was left in the hands of the Castellan, as the Grandmaster accompanied his order to sea. Shipboard space being at a premium, I was sharing a cabin with Lenz again. It was as austere as every other boat I’d been on, but there was so little light in the cabin that it didn’t really matter.
“Okay, I don’t think anyone else is listening,” Lenz said, “So tell me, why did you decide to follow Hengist east?”
“I didn’t want to face Roland or your father and tell them I failed,” I lied. It was partially true. That was not something I wanted to do, but not my main reason.
“That’s a terrible reason to go to war.”
“I also figured it would be a good idea to help my allies.” This was an out and out fabrication. I hadn’t added that justification until after the decision was made.
Lenz sighed.
“Any other questions?” I asked.
“Since you’re answering them, why were you so insistent on taking this ship?”
“Straub was acting suspiciously.”
“What? Are you kidding me? How was he being suspicious?”
“He was far too eager to offer his troops to whatever cause I was fighting.”
“How is helping you suspicious?”
“Look, Lenz, if I had gone to the Grandmaster and asked for his aid, his agreeing would be nothing out of the ordinary, right?”
“Obviously.”
“That’s not what happened. I arrived unexpected and unannounced. He greets me, then almost immediately says that he heard I might need an army. And he just so happened to have one ready to go. Then when I chose to head somewhere he wasn’t expecting, he was extremely quick to tag along there.”
“I admit, that is a bit odd. So why didn’t you turn down his aid?”
“We need his army.”
“So he’s suspiciously helpful. Why does that mean you want a different ship?”
“Someone had tried to kill me twice,” I said.
“You don’t think the Grandmaster-”
“I don’t know what to think.”
“If you want to play the ‘suspicious of everybody’ game, one of those attacks happened at Hengist’s tournament, in a building guarded by Banik’s people.”
“And the other happened in a town even I didn’t know I was going to be at until after that storm rolled in. At least the Skrael showed up where a lot of people knew I was going to be.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“Right now, nothing.”
“That sounds like a terrible plan,” Lenz said, “I’m going out on deck where it’s not dark and miserable.” He rose and was at the door in a stride. Sunlight stabbed into my eyes as he exited and climbed the two risers onto the deck. I waited for the blinding light to go away, only it didn’t. Lenz had left the door wide open. I rose to shut it. By the time I lay my hand upon the edge of the wood, my eyes had adjusted to the light. On the deck, Ritter and Andrei were sparring. Both were wrong-footed by the inconstant motion of the ship as it progressed along the small sea. Standing in the doorway, I debated where I should be. After a moment, I closed the door.
Finding a spot by the rail, I watched the two youths battle with blunted blades.
***
My mental map of the Five Kingdoms disagreed with the actual map, much to my consternation. I kept thinking there was another principality between Zesrin and Quendaverus, when no such polity existed. Forkbeard Sound marked the point where the border between those two ran into the eastern edge of the Volkmund. The sound was fed from the south by Ironblood Spill, a shallow, braided river that drained out of Lake Meander. From the east, the Lugnerstrom tumbled into the sound. The Lugnerstrom was named for the fact that on a map, and in many spans, it looked like the perfect waterway for transport. It drew an almost perfectly straight line across the east. It also ran through an endless series of shallows, cataracts, rapids and outright waterfalls. At Forkbeard Sound, the Lugnerstrom was pouring sedately out of a canyon. A trick of the acoustics erased the sound of the rapids just out of sight upstream.
Standing vigil over the Sound was an ancient colossal statue. The formation of granite had been carved into the figure of an armored dwarf, stoically watching the sea lanes from his perch at the end of a narrow spit.[37] The spit had been the boundary of a harbor up until rather recently. The powers that be in Quendaverus repeatedly told the people of Suthfork not to build there. It was too tempting a spot as a trading post, so they built around the harbor. The warning, however, had not been of political repercussions. The ground was not solid and, in an earthquake, the whole city drained into the sound, buildings and all. The sand was starting to reaccumulate within the curve of the Suthfork harbor, but no one wanted to set foot on that ground.
We put ashore across the water from that lonely statue and the deceptive harbor. The beach was broad and sandy, littered with broken clumps of seaweed and scuttling crustaceans. Beyond a narrow band of tough grasses was a tumble-down slump of broken rock and boulders that formed a ramp up to the top of the headland. Of the shores framing Forkbeard Sound, the west was the gentlest, but led into the Volkmund and was useless to us. The southeast had harsh, sheer cliffs that marked the edge of the Quendaverus plateau. It would have gotten us where we needed to be, but was functionally impassable for our horses and baggage train. So footmen pushed boulders out of the clearest path to let the carts ascend the ragged incline.
“I don’t like it,” I muttered.
“What’s there to like?” Lothar asked. “We’re on the wrong side of the river, with no idea where the enemy is, going to meet up with an ally who doesn’t know we’re coming.”
I looked at the Baron. “I was actually only talking about the ground. It’s going to take all day to get the baggage train up on the headland.”
“Aye, and we need outriders to look for sign of the enemy, lest they fall upon us while we’re doing so.”
I looked at the half-dozen or so riders that were ashore. “Come on, let’s go up the hill and see what there is to see.” While Ritterblume horses had no special breeding to deal with rough ground, they were familiar enough with it that three of us made it up the slope without any issue. Soren’s mare struggled a bit but caught up soon enough. From the top of the headland, I saw rocky, rolling hills covered in thick grasses and thistle. A few bushes and anemic trees broke up the scene, but no woodlands, and little in the way of real cover. A squat square tower atop one of the hills had my immediate attention. I pointed at the structure.
“No banners, do you think it’s occupied?” Lenz asked.
“We can either sit here and wonder, or get a closer look,” I said. With that, I nudged Graymire into motion and started in the direction of the tower. As we moved, I reassessed my initial impressions. It would certainly be possible for someone to hide behind the rocks and within the grass. You wouldn’t be able to hide horses or wagons there, but infantry, maybe, scouts or spies, definitely. Avoiding the worst patches of thistle, I studied the structure. It was square, half again as tall as it was wide, and pierced with arrow slits on the top floor. No grand castle, it would still hold out against a border raid more interested in quick plunder than conquest.
The door sat closed. Having not been challenged and seeing not the least sign of life in the structure, I dismounted and approached. A few sharp raps upon the portal went unanswered. I tried to open it and found the door locked. A few more knocks, louder this time.
Silence.
“Do you think anyone is home?” Vogel asked. I all but leapt out of my skin. The man hadn’t been with us when we’d climbed the headland and hadn’t come by horse.
“Where did you come from?”
“The ship.”
I scowled, but he remained impassive.
“Would you like me to open the door?” I stepped back, and he took this as assent, moving forward and addressing the keyhole. Evidently, not possessing the key proved no impediment for him. The door creaked open a moment later. The interior was still deathly silent. The stale aroma wafting out of the interior indicated a long period of inoccupation. We still searched the three floors, turning up nothing but furniture and cobwebs.
***
It did take all day to unload and drag our materiel up to the headland, so we encamped around the tower. It was far too small to house any significant number of people, but it made a decent defensive fixture. The tables also meant we didn’t need to unpack ours to review the maps. Hengist’s finger was on a town marked ‘Altenheim’ east of us along the Lugnerstrom.
“This is where Freinmarkt-Ziegeberg should be waiting,” the king said. “It is the best crossing for hundreds of miles. It is between the river’s emergence from one canyon before it drops into another. It’s pretty much level fording, compared to up or down stream. It’s where the caravans between Zesrin and Quendaverus cross.”
“What’s the ground like between here and there?” Straub asked.
Hengist pursed his lips, then shrugged. The Grandmaster let out a sigh.
“This may be Zesrin, but I’ve never been this far south.”
“Does anyone in your retinue know the ground?”
“Lord Banik, ask around, see if anyone is familiar with this area,” Hengist said, turning far enough to face the man. Lothar nodded and stepped out to query the Zesrin knights. I could see exasperation starting to bubble within Straub. To credit his diplomacy, he refrained from asking why this question hadn’t been posed to Hengist’s men in transit.
“How accurate is this map?” I asked, looking at the mark indicating Suthfork near where we were camped.
“I’m afraid it’s three kings out of date,” Hengist said.
“Is the scale accurate?”
“I have no idea.”
Straub hung his head and muttered under his breath. “Azerion grant me fortitude in this time of trial.” I don’t suppose he meant for me to overhear it. He straightened up and spoke at a normal volume. “So, we don’t know how far or over what type of ground we need to travel to Altenheim. Here’s what I propose.” He drew his finger along the river. “If we keep the river on our right, we’ll reach the crossing eventually. We don’t know where Stefak is, so we need to move in formation and have the infantry pace the baggage train. We will split the cavalry into two groups of outriders and three squadrons. The first group of outriders will seek out obstacles, any sign of the enemy, and a site for our next evening encampment. The second group will forage for both water and provisions. We have five days of food, but we don’t know that we’ll reach Altenheim within that window. Our three squadrons will pace the column to its north, within sight of it and each other. They will screen us against fast-moving raiders trying to strike the column on the march.”
Hengist drew with his fingertip on the tabletop. It left no markings behind, but I could clearly see him parsing the proposition. “Who’s watching the rear?” he asked.
“That duty would have to fall to the westernmost squadron of the screening force,” Straub said.
Hengist nodded. “It sounds workable enough.” Lothar Banik stepped in and shook his head. He had not found anyone who knew the ground between here and Altenheim.
“I presume his majesty will not object to any game we take while on the march. Especially should the land prove as sparsely inhabited as this corner of it.”
“What? Oh, of course not. We need to keep the stew pot full.”
“Since most of these formations will be your troops,” I said, “Who do you recommend lead each contingent?”
“I have a reliable Captain of foot who can lead the main column. The outriders will split into smaller contingents which can be led by serjeants-at-arms.”
“Makes sense.”
“The squadrons should be given to you, myself and Keng Hengist.”
I turned my gaze back upon the Grandmaster. “I’m not exactly an experienced commander.”
“There is only one way to gain experience, Prince Kord.”
“Perhaps we should put him in the middle, so he only has to watch one direction,” Hengist suggested. I sighed and nodded slowly.
“I suppose.”
[37] These colossi of the Old Empire are provincial boundary markers. There is something very dwarven about making a building-sized statue to demarcate minor internal borders.
If you want your own copy, the whole book is available from Amazon in eBook, Paperback, and Hardcover variants.
Oops, that was supposed to by “Kyng Hyngst”
We wuz Kengs?
Well, what were the alternatives? Kongs? Kungs?
Only if they go ape.
See, I read that as ‘Hijinx’.
Not Shenanigans?
Can’t blame the guy for being paranoid.
Wait — are we talking about OMB now? (Because it may or may not be three now…)
48-hour rule might apply.
Unless mega-MAGAs are after Donald now too.
Would-be assassins do not get released on $5000 bail.
For what it’s worth, SRF (German-language broadcaster from Switzerland) had a brief mention of it in their news podcast this morning.
Any Feds or drunks care to Zoom this evening?
What about drunk Feds?
Would enjoy. Curious and hopeful about those in harm’s way.Much good news comes Milhouse’s way. For now am on pretty-full Uncle Evster duties. <– Moniker hasn't caught on yet, but Evster works too perfectly to pass up. Adding an Uncle Fester mix just *Chef's kiss*' it all.
Me: Oh noes, my switch won’t connect to my wireless network, something might be wrong with my switch.
Me: Wait, don’t jump to conclusions, it might not be the console. Lets test the wireless from my laptop.
Me: No connection – crap, is my network borked?
Me: What would tech support do?
“Have you tried turning it off and on again?”
*reboots router*
Me: Oh hey, it works now.
::gives UCS three-fingered salute::
I never knew you were a boy scout.
🖖
It’s a shocker.
I’ll have you know I was a Camp Fire Girl – the Betamax of girls’ youth development organizations.
the Betamax of girls’ youth development organizations.
Technically superior but doomed by bad management decisions?
“It is now gender-inclusive”
What was that about bad management decisions?
If the Boy Scouts and Camp Fire are gender integrated what is the difference?. Are they not redundant in mission?
I had to wait ’til I was in the army to go camping.
When does a boy scout become a man?
When he eats his 1st Brownie.
/insert Dice Clay “Oh!”
@neph That is not The Shocker I was hoping for.
https://youtu.be/PNrS9Ot0wu4?si=f6orfI14AjIjRllt
Also- Fingerbang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xEhr2kbRw4
I’d follow them on tour. 🤷♂️
“Have you tried turning it off and on again?”
That is my go-to, and it seems to work at least 90% of the time, for some reason.
I still leave it (whatever it is) off for at least 30 seconds, because that was the way you did it in ages past. Dunno if that still does anything.
There are some electrical components which will retain state for a slight period of time, so yes, waiting for it to finish discharging and settling is probably prudent.
something something drain capacitors something
My speakers quit working a few days ago. I did all the ordinary things, unplugged, checked the thermostat,generally dinked around for 1/2 hour. Went on line.
First thing “Check to insure speakers are plugged in” WTF, ‘course they are. Looked at the light. Oh-oh. Crawled underneath the table and did a quick repair job.
You mean they didn’t use wireless power?
I love it when you guys talk all technical and stuff.
220, 221 whatever it takes.
Yep, the instructions always include that.
Is that like the CYA instructions to leave food in the microwave for 1-2 minutes after cooking (which no one does except me?)
Yes.
Things can go wrong, but it’s not guaranteed to do so.
I had to restart my old router like once a week. It was annoying AF.
My current router came with the apartment and I haven’t had to look at it yet knock on wood.
This is the first time I’ve had to do it with this one where there wasn’t also a restart of the cable modem because Spectrum was having issues.
You know what’s not fun? Spending 5 hours in O’hare. You know what’s worse? Knowing your final destination is Hartford.
If you’re on United, and trapped there that long, I cant vouch enough for the United Club.
Sure it may be a $65 fee. But its a glowing beacon of light against the turmoil and darkness of whichever terminal you’re stuck in.
I was going to do just that but you United kept delaying the flight in increments. I knew about the first hour. That was fine because I grabbed lunch. After that it was half hour and 45 per delay.
I spent overnight in the MSP terminal once. I was all alone, inside security, a couple clean up people came by. Tried to sleep in chairs, to no avail. About 5 AM the terminal began to wake up and I could get coffee and something to eat, my plane left about 10-11 AM but at least my destination was home, in the woods.
Does not sound like fun.
Ouch. Sorry.
Thanks. The happy ending is Sunday Night Football and a half decent hotel dinner. Also there is a giant wedding reception here. Many of the guests are dressed so elegantly it looks like Wakanda.
In Hartford, Hereford, and Hampshire, hurricanes hardly happen.
🎶Terrain in Maine is stained with acid rain.🎵/very old SNL sketch
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger, Badger,
MUSHROOM!
A snake a snake, snake, a snake, ohhhh it’s a snake!
You’re in Hartford? That’s a hop, skip, and a jump away. How long are you in Hartford for?
Drop your cocks and grab your socks!
Time to start your week, Glibs.
🌄👀✊
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xPU8OAjjS4k
🎶🎶
“What we see is so hard to see that we lose faith or a vision of those things we cannot see but must know,” Harris said.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/10/joy-cometh-morning-kamala-harris-panders-black-church/
I hope we get tv in the camps, I don’t wanna miss gems like these.
Media Handler: “Say something that sounds inspirational on the surface but that means nothing underneath that doesn’t allow them to pin you down on any policy implications.”
Harris: “I’m on it.”
Worst. Puppet. Show. Ever.
It’s what she means that’s important, not what she says.
So… what does she mean?
She ain’t in no ways tahhrd.
She totally is a tard.
Anyone else find it remarkably distasteful to shill for oneself from the pulpit…?
Something something establishment of religion something something take the Lord’s name in vain.
I’m still congested but I think I’m over my cold enough to head to the gym.
Rainy, crappy, cold morning here in southern NH.
Mornin’ all.
Hope you’re feeling better, a spoonful of honey will cure you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPmbT5XC-q0
Enjoy the day, Glibsters! Or Not!
suh’ fam
whats goody
Good morning, homey, 4(20), DEG, Teh Hype, Suthen, Stinky, and Sean!
Morning, how goes?
Well, thanks! It’s a little cool out here on the state park lodge balcony, but the lake and the sunrise are pretty!
Where are my manners?? How’s YOUR morning going?
Not so great.
😟
I swear I wrote and submitted a horoscope. With Lily vids and everything!
It became a horrorscope?
Jupiter retrograde does flip the meaning of a whole lot of otherwise positive signs.
And Death was drawn.
Last I saw, it was “Pending.”