Once at the campsite, Chuck dismounted from Casey's back and headed to where Shaw was setting up a large pot of water to boil.
"I see the snares worked." Shaw said nodding to the rabbits hanging from Chuck's belt.
"Yeah, but that's not the most important part. As we were coming back we saw riders on the road. I think they were soldiers. Luckily Casey heard them coming and manage to hide us in the shadows. The soldiers said something about a town or village being a couple of days away." Chuck told Shaw.
"That's good news. When we are ready we can take the road to this village. Hopefully we can sell those bandit's horses and gear for money until we can find some kind of job."
"So you don't think we'll ever get home?" Chuck asked Shaw.
"I don't know Chuck. I wish we could, but even if somehow we find a portal home, what about them?" He nodded to where Casey and Sarah were standing together.
"Maybe we can find a wizard to transform them back?" Chuck said.
"Could we trust any wizard to do that instead of taking them. I am guessing Sarah and Casey are worth a lot of money. We would be hard pressed to defeat a wizard."
"This is so wrong. With us out of the way there is no telling what the Ring will do." Chuck answered. "Beckman probably thinks we are dead which means someone will tell Ellie that I am dead. Morgan at least will know that the Ring killed me, but Ellie will probably believe I died in a car accident or something."
"The CIA will take care of Ellie, Chuck. They will keep an eye on her to make sure that Ring doesn't know about her."
Chuck just nodded. He noticed the pot that Shaw was setting up. "What are you doing, making some more food?"
"No actually I was going to boil water to help clean those bedrolls, the clothes I found and the saddle blankets. I am hoping that the Intersect has some knowledge on how to make soap since I couldn't find any in the supplies."
Chuck flashed as Shaw's words and then grinned, "Yeah it's in there. What a weird thing to have in the Intersect. But hey whatever works."
Shaw smiled at Chuck and then the two men got to work.
Casey and Sarah had listened to Chuck and Shaw's conversation. Sarah wished she could hug Chuck when he started talking about Ellie.
"They'll be fine, Walker. They are both capable agents. We got them what they needed to survive and the two of them will take care of each other. We'll get them to this village and they will be able to make lives for themselves here." Casey answered.
"You talk as if you plan to leave afterward." Sarah said.
"Like you said, taking care of two big horses will be too much of a burden for them. They will be fine and I have no desire to pull a plow or wagon."
"What do you plan to do then?" Sarah asked her partner.
"I guess we'll wait and see, Walker."
Sarah didn't know what to say to that. To her Casey sounded resigned to being a horse and Sarah knew she probably accept the fact that they would never be human again.
Working together, Shaw and Chuck made soap from wood ash and animal fat. They then used the pot of boiling water and the soap to clean the bedrolls and the extra clothes they had found in the tents. They hung the items up on a long rope strung between two trees to dry. When they had cleaned everything they had found, the two men then stripped themselves of their mission clothes and washed them as well. They then used the rest of the hot water and soap to clean themselves. When they were done they used the cloaks to cover themselves and to keep warm while they waited for the clothes to dry.
Shaw took the small pot that had held beans upon their arrival. He had cleaned it earlier so it was ready for use. He took some of the oats from one of the bags from the cart and added water. He then hung the pot over the fire to cook.
Eventually the clothes found in the tent were dry enough that Chuck and Saw were able to wear them. The clothes didn't fit very well but it was all they had till their mission clothes were dry. The oat porridge Shaw had made was ready and they added some sugar to it and ate. Shaw had also fed the horses some oats and left a bag open for Casey and Sarah.
The rabbits that had been caught in the snares were skinned and butchered by Chuck using knowledge from the Intersect. The meat was placed in another pot of water with some chopped vegetables and seasonings along with some barley from one of the other bags. The stew would take some times to cook and they hoped it would be ready before nightfall.
After eating the porridge, Chuck and Shaw took the saddles and bridles to the fireside and used the oil found in the saddlebags to clean the tack in hopes of selling it at the village. While they worked, Casey walked over to them and began to stamp in MORSE code.
"He wants us to choose out two of the best set of tack to keep. No way, we aren't using those on you guys!" Chuck protested.
Casey stamped his hoof some more.
"What did he say?" Shaw asked when Chuck remained silent.
"He said it would be too suspicious for us to be riding without tack. This changing people into horses thing might be common knowledge. If they realize what Casey and Sarah are they might try and steal them." Chuck answered in a subdued voice.
"He's right." Shaw said.
"I know but I don't have to like. Anyway we need to take those bits off those bridles, No way am I putting a bit their mouths." Chuck said.
Shaw smiled, "Neither am I." And he set to work finding the two best bridles to remove the bits.
Casey shook his head, but stamped nothing more. He walked back to where Sarah was eating some of the oats.
"Did you really want a bit in your mouth?" Sarah asked him.
Casey didn't bother to answer.
Cleaning the saddles and bridles kept Shaw and Chuck busy for awhile. Shaw had set aside two of the best set of tack and had removed the bits. All the tack had been dyed black and the buckles and metal parts had been allowed to tarnish so that the gleam would not give the bandits away. Shaw and Chuck cleaned the metal polishing them till they shone and then oiled the leather. When they were done with the tack, Shaw checked on the horses. He found a brush and curry comb among the supplies and used them on the real horses. He combed out their mane and tails removing burrs and knots carefully. Shaw realized as he was taking care of the horses that he actually missed the ranch that he had grown up on as a child. He had hope that after he and Eve had taken care of the Ring that they would be able to settle down on that ranch that had been left to him by his parents after they died. The ranch had been taken care of by people he trusted, but he eventually had hoped to retire to that ranch. After Eve's death, he wasn't sure that he wanted to survive the destruction of the Ring. Now everything was different. He had stepped into a fantasy novel and all that was left was friendship and survival.
Shaw vowed that he would make sure that he took care of his people in honor of Evie.
After he finished with the horses he took the brush and currycomb over to where Sarah and Casey were grazing. He offered the same service to them.
Casey disdained the idea and shook his dark head. Sarah let him, knowing that Shaw was just being helpful since they didn't have hands to care for themselves. And the knots in her tail were starting to hurt just a little.
Shaw took care of the knots and the burrs she had picked up in her golden mane and tail, then brushed her brilliant white coat until it shone. He checked her hooves to make sure they were in good shape.
When he was done he looked over at where Casey was drinking water from the stream and really wished the Marine would let him at least check his hooves. Shaw supposed he could order Casey to let him check since he was technically their boss, but he felt that would be a breach of trust. Instead he walked back to the fire where Chuck sat on one of the saddles his cloak wrapped around him.
"They alright?" Chuck asked.
"Sarah had picked up some burrs in her mane and tail, but her hooves are in good condition. Won't need a trim for awhile. Casey wouldn't let me check, but I think I saw some burrs and knots. Stubborn Marine." Shaw said.
"He is at that." Chuck answered as he placed another log of wood on the fire.
Eventually night fell. The bedrolls and the rest of the clothes had dried. They set up two of the bedrolls in one of the tents. The other tents besides the supply tent they dismantled and used the oiled canvases to hang in the trees to build a temporary shelter for Casey and Sarah in case it rained again. They packed up the clothes in the saddlebags placing the saddlebags in the supply tent. They had also moved the sacks of grain into the supply tent as well. The rabbit stew was done, and the two of them ate generous portions along with some bread that they dipped into the stew. After cleaning up everything and burying the pot with the remaining stew in the hot coals of the banked fire, the two men went inside the tent to sleep.
Casey and Sarah kept guard throughout the night taking turns to sleep a few hours. The real horses were content to graze and stay near the stallion and mare.
In the morning the clouds had begun to gather hiding the sun. A drizzle of rain began making the day gray and cold. Putting the hood of his cloak over his head, Chuck exited the tent to go and take of business in the treeline, then returned to the camp. Using a stick he dug through the ashes and coals of the fire to find the stew pot. The fire was hard to start because of the rain but luckily they had kept the firewood inside the supply tent. The fire hissed and spit as the drizzle hit the flames but the rain wasn't heavy enough to put the fire out. Shaw exited the tent and went toward the treeline as well. Chuck set the pot of leftover rabbit stew over the fire to warm then sat on a log to huddle around the warmth of the flames. A few minutes later Shaw joined him huddled in his own waterproof cloak.
"Miserable morning." Chuck said. "Is there anything we need today?"
"Nothing I can think of. Everything's cleaned, the supplies are in the tent, horses are groomed. Might wanna open another sack of grain for them. Thinking I will mix some of the oats and barley and wheat together to make a good mix for them. I found a couple of extra feedbags in the supplies for Sarah and Casey if they want. Other than that, nothing comes to mind." Shaw answered.
"Then maybe we can go back to bed until this rain clears up." Chuck said hopefully. Shaw laughed a little at that.
"If you want to you can."
When the stew was heated Shaw took the bowls they had used the night before and cleaned afterward filling them with the rest of the rabbit stew. With a chunk of bread apiece, the two men finished off the rabbit stew letting the warmth fill their bodies.
When the stew was done, Shaw took out the coffee pot he had found in the supplies and made them some coffee. While the coffee was being made, Shaw went into the supply tent using an empty bag he mixed up a feed for the horses using the oats, barley and wheat grains. He then filled each of the feedbags with the mixture and walked out of the tent.
The horses were all huddled beneath the canvases that were hung in the trees to provide a shelter. Casey and Sarah were among them standing close together for warmth. Shaw placed the feedbags on the horses noses and then offered full feedbags to Casey and Sarah. They both accepted though Casey rather grudgingly. Shaw smiled at that, idly patting Sarah's white neck. "If you guys need anything don't hesitate to ask." Shaw said then walked back to the fire where Chuck was pouring two cups of coffee.
The two of them drank their coffee then Chuck true to his word went back into the tent mumbling, "Wake me when it stops raining."
Shaw grinned shaking his head and poured himself another cup of coffee.
Unfortunately the rain continued throughout the day. The horses ventured out of the shelter to graze sometime after Shaw removed the feedbags. Casey and Sarah did as well. Chuck eventually woke back up glaring at the rain, but he helped Shaw cook up some oat porridge with sugar to sweeten it. They sat around the campfire as they ate watching the horses graze.
"They look cold and miserable." Chuck said.
Shaw nodded, though he knew that their coats would help keep them warm. Shaw looked at the cookpot and had an idea. He went back to the supply tent and found the bag of mixed feed he had made. He poured a generous amount into the pot and then added some water. He placed the pot over the fire.
"Are you still hungry?" Chuck asked.
"No this if for Sarah and Casey." Shaw answered.
"Good idea." Chuck brightened. When the mash was done, they filled two large bowls with the stuff and carried them to where Casey and Sarah were once again huddled beneath the makeshift shelter. The other horses were still grazing.
Chuck and Shaw held the bowls for their two friends and partners. Casey and Sarah ate the warm mash gratefully. The real horses were curious but were too afraid of the big stallion to try and steal his food. Casey had finished his first and Chuck took the bowl he had held for his mentor to the stream to clean it. When Sarah was done, Shaw did the same. They gave the other horses some more of the grain mix, then went back to the fire.
"I think this rain is going to last all day." Shaw said looking up at the gray cloud covered sky.
"Looks like it." Chuck returned. He added a few more pieces of wood to the fire. Eventually the rain got worse and drove them to seek shelter in the tent. The slept some, talked a little bit and ate cold bread and cheese. Eventually the rain began to recede but by that time it was getting dark. They ate a quick meal of warm toasted bread with melted cheese over it and warmed up a little of the smoked meat. Then the two of them retired for the night after Shaw checked on Sarah and Casey.
The sun was out the next morning and they decided that it was time to pack up and head toward the village. After eating a bowl of grain porridge, the two men began to pack up the tents and bedrolls along with all the supplies into the cart. Shaw used the healthiest of the real horses to harness to the cart. The other horses he tied to the back of the cart two to each side. Chuck and Shaw changed into their black mission clothes stuffing the rest of the clothes and some supplies in the saddlebags.
Reluctantly, both Shaw and Chuck placed the saddle blankets on their friends' backs then saddled up Sarah and Casey using the two best saddles Shaw had found among the bandit's gear. The bridles were placed last, the bits having been removed. Before they saddled the two humans turned horses, Shaw had insisted that they be brushed down because it would be more comfortable for the two of them. Sarah had agreed, but Casey had shook his head. Chuck just ignored the head shake however so that when Shaw was done with the brush on Sarah, Chuck took it and tried to brush Casey's coat. Casey sidestepped out of the way and snapped at Chuck missing him deliberately. Chuck just frowned at him and said, "Do you really want all that dirt and mud between you and a saddle. By the time we got to the village your back would be rubbed raw. I know it sucks, but the saddles were your idea."
Casey laid back his ears, but allowed Chuck to brush his coat free of mud and dirt. When Chuck was done, Casey's coat shined. Chuck didn't stop at that, however. He also used the comb to unknot Casey's mane and tail and pulled out several burrs. Casey laid his ears back even more, but didn't stop Chuck. The Intersect even gave him the knowledge to check Casey's hooves for damage. When it was done, Chuck then saddled and bridled his mentor.
Chuck and Shaw swung up into the saddles, then Shaw grabbed the lead rope tied to the horse that was harnessed to the cart. Casey led the group taking them out of the woods at an angle to avoid the carcass on the road. Sarah followed Casey with the cart horse following her.
Once on the road, Casey walked on the side of the cart horse as they headed down the road hopefully toward a town or village.
They stopped to rest about midday. Shaw made up the feedbags for the horses with the grain mixture, settling down to share some bread with meat and cheese with Chuck when he was done.
"Almost like a sandwich." Chuck said. Casey rolled his eyes.
After resting for a few hours they continued on down the road.
At one point they came upon two men leading a similar cart to their own drawn by a mule. One of the men was older with some gray in his hair and the other was obviously the man's son who appeared to be about sixteen or so. The two men smiled at Shaw and Chuck in a friendly manner as they passed around them. Shaw and Chuck smiled back giving nods of greeting.
"Heading to the market?" The man asked as they passed.
"Yes," Shaw answered. "And you?"
"Aye, have several casks of apple brandy and some cider to sell. Had a good crop this year." The man answered. Shaw had unconcsiously reined Sarah to a slower walk so that he could talk to the man. The horse following them had slowed as well so that only Chuck and Casey were ahead of them.
"Congratulations, I take it you have an apple orchard?" Shaw asked.
"Oh aye, but it's not all I deal in of course. Got sheep same as everyone else, and grow wheat and tobacco. Selling the horses? Didn't think anyone round here raised horses."
"Well we don't raise horses. Some bandits thought we would be easy pickings." Shaw said hoping he wasn't saying too much.
But the man nodded sadly, "Aye it's been a few rough years what with the war and all, lotta men forced into banditry lately. 'Course there are those who refused our lord's call to arms and had to turn to bandits to survive. My eldest two boys are off fighting. I pray to the Mother they make it back safely to us."
"I will add my prayers to yours good sir." Shaw said. The man thanked him and Shaw tightened his thighs to tell Sarah to catch up to Casey. Sarah picked up her pace to a fast walk and the cart horse followed.
When they caught up to Casey, Chuck asked Shaw, "Anything useful?"
"A little bit. There is war going on apparently. Has been for awhile it seems. I am guessing that is why they need the war-horses."
"I hope they don't try to conscript us into this war." Chuck said.
"Hopefully not."
Before night, Casey, scouting ahead, found them a place off the road and in the surrounding woods for them to camp. They made just a quick camp setting up one tent and leaving the supplies in the cart, but covering the cart with one of the canvases from the other tents. They unsaddled Casey and Sarah, rubbing them both down. They tied the other horses to a rope strung between two trees, and made a small fire to cook a grain porridge. The horses were given nosebags full of the grain mixture as was Sarah and Casey. After they ate, Chuck and Shaw retired to their bedrolls in the tent.
The next morning was more of the same. After a quick breakfast of porridge and hot coffee, they broke down the camp placing the supplies they had used back in the cart including the tent and bedrolls. They buried the hot coals of the fire with dirt, then placed one of the other horses in the harness and tied the other four to the back of the cart.
After a quick brushing that Sarah enjoyed and Casey barely tolerated, they replaced the saddles and bridles and then mounted up. They got back on the road and continued on their journey toward what they hoped was a village or town.
As they travelled they began to notice that the trees were thinning out and eventually the forest made way to broad rolling plains. In the distance on the plains they could see other smaller dirt track roads that connected to the one they road on from outlying farms. They could see the farmhouses with smoke from their chimneys. They were mostly small homes made from stone and wood with sometimes a barn or shelter surrounded by a rock or wood fence. The fields themselves were filled with golden grain or large leafy plants that Shaw recognized as tobacco plants. They could see people working in the fields and Shaw wasn't surprised to see that they were mostly women and children. A war usually greatly reduced the number of men to work the fields.
"Its kinda pretty. All this land as far as the eye can see." Chuck said.
"It is quite beautiful." Shaw agreed.
"Looks like a lot of hard work too."
"That it is. We may have to find work on farm somewhere. Unless we want to become soldiers."
They continued on down the road that led them up a hill. Once they reached the top of the hill they could see the road winding down the other side past more farmland to what looked like a town surrounded by a large stone wall. The town was a good size and had a lot of buildings some as high as six stories. The buildings were mostly made from stone with some wooden supports. A river flowed past the walls of the town and a bridge was required to be crossed to reach the gates. Around the outside of the walls was more farmland and farmhouses. There was even a farmhouse slightly bigger than the ones they had seen so far situated not more than a few yards off the main road. As they rode closer they saw that the farmland around the house was fenced in by a high fence made of stone and wood. In the fenced in farmland stood a stable and an attached windmill. The farmland didn't hold any tobacco, just wheat and other grains along with weeds and tall grasses. A few sheep and goats along with a cow were grazing in the fenced in field.
The farmhouse made of stone and wood had a wraparound porch with a wooden deck. As they rode closer they could see an older man sitting on a chair on the deck smoking a pipe and watching the travelers on the road. For as they got closer to the town they noticed they weren't the only ones traveling toward the town. Several were farmer and shepards taking their goods to the town market to be sold, while a few others were soldiers or guards but not dressed in the red cloaks that the soldiers they had seen before had been wearing.
As they passed the farmhouse with its owner sitting on the porch, the man called out to them, "You sure are a long way from home."
Chuck reined Casey to a stop unconsciously. Casey stamped a hoof at Chuck but Chuck was too busy flashing on the man to notice.
Chuck couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Chuck what is it?" Shaw asked.
"That man, he's a CIA agent. His name is Scott Harrington. He went missing five years ago." Chuck answered. Shaw looked at the old man sitting on his porch.
"CIA agent, Chuck that man would have been retired five years ago. He's mine and Casey's age combined maybe with yours added on."
"I know but I flashed on his voice. According to the file he should only be about ten years older than I am."
Shaw frowned and looked at the man who held amusement in his eyes.
"Somehow the boy recognized me. I take he's an analyst or something." The old man said.
"Or something." Shaw answered.
"I take it you were brought here like I was. Through a nice little portal, I reckon. And those mounts under you aren't really horses."
Shaw and Chuck looked at each other. They weren't sure how to deal with the man.
"Nothing in the Intersect suggested he was with the Ring." Chuck told Shaw.
"I know you are suspicious of me, but I can help you. It's the reason I built my home here about ten years ago. I knew that anyone brought to this world from ours who escaped from those bastards would find the road and make their way here. I hoped to find them when they did and help them."
"Help how?" Chuck asked.
"Help you to understand what has happened and how you can save your friends. We probably shouldn't talk out here. There's a gate just to the side there. Take your cart and horses into the barn. When you are finished taking care of them come inside and I will tell you everything." The man said.
Shaw and Chuck looked at each other. Casey stamped his hoof in MORSE code. "Casey doesn't trust him. Not surprising, Casey doesn't trust anyone. I don't think this guy is lying." Chuck told Shaw.
"You think we need to hear him out?" Shaw asked.
"Yes." Chuck answered.
Shaw thought for a moment and then nodded. "All right." He used the reins to guide Sarah to the gate leading the cart horse with him. Sarah trusted Shaw and was willing to go along with him and Chuck's decision.
Casey balked at following. He didn't trust the guy and he couldn't believe that Shaw and Chuck were going to go inside the man's house leaving Casey and Sarah in a barn.
"Come on, Casey it will be alright. When has the Intersect been wrong." Chuck said.
There is always a first time, Casey thought but he sighed then followed Sarah and the cart through the gate.
Inside the barn were stalls. Shaw and Chuck unharnessed the cart horse and placed each of the real horses in stall. Inside each stall was a water trough and a feed trough along with a hay basket. They filled the troughs with water and some grain, then unsaddled Casey and Sarah placing the saddles on wooden barrels that were sitting on top of some stands. They placed the bridles on hooks on the walls. Then they gave Sarah and Casey each a stall filling the trough with water and the food trough with grain. Then they left the barn leaving the door open so Casey and Sarah could come and go. They walked through the gate closing it behind them so the goats and sheep couldn't get out and headed for the front of the porch.
The man was waiting for them. "Well I know the boy recognized me, but thought I would introduce myself. Name is Scott Harrington, please to meet you."
"Daniel Shaw, and this is Charles Carmichael." Shaw introduced them.
"Shall we go inside. I have a pot of coffee freshly brewed." Scott said.
Shaw nodded and the two of them followed Scott into the house.