Climbing in Calradia: Part Four

The grass in the glade was bloody and broken in the morning light. Rousing herself from an uneasy sleep Brigid stared at the outlines left by dead men before half-turning, conscious of her ruined dress, when she sensed someone approaching. Charle held out her sabre and she gratefully took it, sliding the blade back into its sheath at her waist.
"Thank you for last night."
Charle shrugged, already moving towards the cart.
"You're a Leonine Knight. We look after each other."
Laughter cut through the glade as Louis returned from hunting the horses and the noise awoke the merchant, still sleeping beneath the cart where he'd been put during the night battle. Climbing from under the cart the merchant paled when he spotted the blood adorning the stems of grass.
"Are the bandits gone? How many were there?"
"Twelve attacked and twelve died. Charle and I dragged them deeper into the forest." The cavalryman reached into a sack hanging from his horse's saddle and pulled out a richly decorated dress, showing it to Brigid. "I found their camp whilst looking for the horses. I thought you would want this."
"Thank you. You'd best keep it 'til we get to Jelbegi."

With the horses recovered the group set off, aiming to reach the village of Jelbegi by midday. It took a few hours to leave the forest but after cresting a small hill the village became visible. It was a small settlement, the largest building the size of a standard construction in Sargoth, and an old man moved to stand in the gap in the stone wall surrounding the village as the group approached.
"State your business travellers."
The merchant climbed down from the cart and crossed to where the old man was, a piece of flax in hand for the village elder to see.
"I'm on my way to Suno to sell flax. My escorts are just that."
"Elder, do you have a trader? We encountered bandits in the forest, overcame them, and claimed spoils that we don't really need."
The village elder nodded after Louis had interrupted, content though that the merchant was being truthful, and he stepped aside to let the group pass, pointing out to Louis where the trader could be found. The few items the mercenaries had recovered they traded for food, enjoying a simple meal of cabbage and bread. Brigid had also changed into her new dress, now looking like a noble lady, and was cautious as she mounted her horse when it was time to leave.

---

A couple of hours passed before the group reached Jelbegi Castle, one of the two prominent outposts on the Nordic/Swadian border. Jarl Harald held the mountain fortress and his red tulip banner flew on each side of the castle's gatehouse, multicoloured banners bearing the Swadian lion flying next to the jarl's. Both Louis and Charle studied the banners for a moment, no doubt trying to identify its owner.
"Must be Jarl Surdun."
Brigid frowned as she looked again at the banners before turning to glance at Louis.
"A Swadian jarl?"
"If you like. Rumour has it that Surdun was fostered by a Swadian."
"Rumour also has it that he's a bastard Harald took home with him."
Louis scowled as Charle interrupted the conversation and turned in his saddle to glare at the crossbowman.
"Best not repeat that one if we go in the castle."
The conversation died as the group continued climbing towards Jelbegi Castle, the mercenaries taking note of the archers that began appearing atop the battlements. The castle gates ground open and a lone huscarl emerged from within the castle, a stern expression on his face.
"What brings a flax merchant to the castle of Jarl Harald? Sargoth is a day or so behind you."
As he'd done when in Jelbegi itself the merchant slid done from his cart and slowly approached the huscarl.
"Flax sells cheaply in Sargoth. It sells better elsewhere and your lord's castle just happens to be on the route to elsewhere."
The huscarl growled at the merchant's impudence, pointing towards a trail that continued past the castle and disappeared over the mountain ridge.
"That path then. Be elsewhere merchant. And be elsewhere quickly."

Everyone was silent until the castle was behind them and they stopped at the ridge, looking down upon the great plains of Swadia. Louis guided his horse to stand beside Brigid's, pointing towards a settlement just beyond a distant river.
"I lived there, before joining the army and then becoming a mercenary, and Charle was from..."
"A little village on the coast. All of this can wait Louis. We're losing light."
The merchant spurred the horse pulling his cart to action and both Louis and Brigid got their horses moving, following the cart down the side of the ridge and into Swadia.