When the pair arrived back at the castle, Old Julian and Boc unloaded the remaining books from the pony cart and stacked them in the library, where Julian would perform more thorough accounting and record keeping before adopting them into the general collection. Boc said his fair well, and Julian once again thanked him for his company and unique skills.
On the way of walking home from the library Boc saw his friend, the soldier Grenliegh, and stopped for a chat.
"Hello Cully, you'll never believe what happened to me today!"
Grenliegh said, "Oh good, I needed to see you Boc, what's your news?"
Boc told Grenliegh all about the trip he and Old Julian had picking up books, to include the run-in with bandits on the road. Grenliegh listened intently, asking clarifying questions on certain points. When Boc concluded, Grenliegh said, "Well now, I guess that just makes sense then."
"What do you mean?" Boc replied.
Grenliegh didn't answer straight away. His eyes drifted, as if he were calculating.
After a few moments, Boc tried again, "You just said that us getting attacked on the road made sense, what do you mean by that, Gren?"
The question brought Gren back to focus. Looking Boc straight in the eye, he said, "I've just heard, what I was wanting to tell you . . . they are deploying nearly all the forces from Stormveil south, to Limgrave, due to the rise in banditry and general lawlessness. I'm leaving."
"Leaving?" Boc asked incredulously. "But you soldiers are meant to defend Stormveil, you can't just leave it. Who will see to the defense of the castle?"
"That's all I know, Boc. The rest is in the mind of the Lord Commander, or Lord Godrick as far as anything I'm aware of. All's I've been told is we're to be ready to leave in the morning."
"In the morning?" was all Boc could say, his mind busy processing this unexpected turn of events. After a short time, he asked "Well, do you know when you'll be back?"
Gren shook his head and looked off to his right, saying, "It's like I said, all's I know is we're to be ready to leave in the morning. I'm not even sure we will be leaving first thing, we were just told to be ready, so . . . I guess that's what I'll be doing now, is making myself ready to go. I'm happy I had the chance to tell you in person. I wanted . . . well, at least you should know why I'm not here if I'm to be off some's place else."
Boc looked sad, which prompted Gren to add, "Ahh, I'm sure it won't be more than a week or two, I mean, how long can mere bandits be a problem for Lord Godrick's best soldiers? I'm thinking we take care of a few problems, the rest of the countryside will fall in line, and we'll be back here like normal before you know it."
"I suppose you're right, sir," said Boc.
Gren went on to say that it was time he should be busy in preparation for the morning. They said appropriate words of a temporary parting, then left in their separate directions.
Boc continued home, and found Thanny plying her sewing needle to the red and green tabard draped across her knees. He didn't want his mum to worry, so he didn't fill in all the details when he told her about his day out with Old Julian. About the ride home he merely said, "And we came across some interesting characters, but they didn't slow us down none, so you could say it was a pretty quick ride home."
Thanny didn't pry for additional detail, but rather seemed eager to fill Boc in on all that she had seen and heard. There was something unusual happening, she was sure. The soldiers hadn't been drilling on their normal schedule. They had assembled in the morning, but then stayed in their groups while the officers went off someplace else. Several hours later, the officers returned, and went from squad to squad, giving each group some kind of instruction or information. Then, the squad would dismiss, and the officer would move on to the next squad. Then, throughout the day, a number of soldiers came by the tent who had a uniform in for mending, only they didn't want it mended any longer and asked for it back.
Boc told Thanny what he had heard from Gren, that he said all the soldiers were leaving, going out on some kind of mission.
"All the soldiers?" asked Thanny.
"I think that's what he said, yes Mum," replied Boc.
"Well then who's going to defend the castle if all the soldiers are gone?"
"That's exactly what I asked, Mum, who's going to defend the castle?"
"And?"
"No, that was my only question, really, or at least the only one I asked."
"No, Boc, and what was the answer?" Thanny asked, rather patiently.
"Oh! I thought . . . ha, ha, but you meant . . . oh well, let's see, I'm not sure Gren really gave me an answer, other than saying he expected to be back before too long."
"Well my stars, that is peculiar." Thanny sat thinking, the needle in her hand enjoying a rare rest. Boc thought to ask all sorts of questions, but intuited that his Mum was herself in need of answers, so he remained quiet. Finally, Thanny let out a sigh and said, "So I guess I'll just have to go talk to Captain Pasling."
Just then, a soldier appeared at the door of the tent and announced, "Begging your pardon, Ma'am, but I have a message."
Thanny gave Boc a quizzical look, put her sewing to the side, and went to the door. She poked her head out of the door and said, "A message you say? Would you like to come in?"
"That won't be necessary Ma'am, I am here to collect you, Captain Pasling has requested to speak with you, and I am here to escort you to him." The soldier spoke in an almost apologetic tone. He continued, "so then . . . if you don't mind, would you please come with me?"
"That's fine, I was thinking about needing a word with Captain Pasling myself, but you know I know how to find him, I hardly need an escort."
"Begging your pardon, Ma'am, but as I'm just doing as I've been ordered, I kindly ask that you come with me."
A coldness hit Thanny. It was most unusual for the Captain to send for her in this way. It was out of place, signaling something, but of what she couldn't quite guess. It might be danger, or it might be nothing; but either way there was certainly no alternative course of action now. She did her very best to say to Boc in a manner that betrayed not her misgivings, "I'm going to go talk to the Captain and see what's going on. I want you to be here when I get back. Go ahead and eat if you need to, but stay here." She forced a smirking smile, then stepped out the door.
"Ok then," she said, "Let's go see your captain."
As it turned out, it was a good thing the soldier acted as escort, because Capt Pasling was not in his usual office. Thanny and the soldier walked out to the fields north of the castle, which were full of activity. Men, animals, and carts all seemed to be simultaneously in a sort of roiling motion, the opposite of synchronized. There was an unruly mix of yelling, singing, and panicked chatter. A dog showcased his continued ability to bark, as if auditioning to lead the fracas, causing a nearby horse to rear and stomp.
Through the madness, the soldier guided Thanny until they reached a tented roof without walls. There were a dozen men in various groups inside, who all seemed to be talking at once. The soldier led Thanny to a particular small group. After a moment, she recognized the voice of the man talking as Captain Pasling.
He was saying, "I understand that you cannot deliver the grain without being told when and where it is to be delivered. I'm not asking that you deliver it today, or tomorrow, or even next week. I'm asking you for your commitment, in the future, when you will be notified when and where the grain is to be delivered, that you commit to filling that delivery. In return you will be paid a fair price, compensated for the cost of the grain, and for the delivery. I expect you'll even be accompanied by armed guards to protect both your grain and your good self. So can I have your promise, you won't sell the grain to any others, that you'll be ready to fill our orders in the weeks and months ahead?"
An earthy farmer replied, "If that's what you're on about, then aye, it's an easy thing. But what happens if your lot is all murdered, eh? I'll 'ave held my grain, when I could have sold it somewhere's for a market price, but then nothing to show at the end but an army's load of grain for this old man to eat, eh? Missus says I'm fat enough, I can't eat that grain any more than a cow sings church songs. I need to be paid now if I'm gon' lay it up for your use far away some day, as we hope and pray."
This conversation continued for some time. In the end, both the captain and the farmer seemed to have both won and lost, but an agreement was reached and the farmer was passed on to someone else for more detailed discussion. Capt Pasling turned when the soldier escort announced himself.
"Oh, Ms. Thanny," the Capt said when he recognized the visitor, "thank you for coming on short notice."
"Well yes, Sir, of course," she said, looking Capt Pasling in the eye, "I'm not one to refuse an armed escort."
"Right. Well, it was the only way I could find a moment to talk with you, today of all days. I apologize if the formality caused . . . well, let me just get to the thing. The soldiers are all moving out, immediately. We've been told to be ready to leave in the morning. The reports from Limgrave are troubling. Various sectors are overrun by, well, everything from those-who-live-in-death, to, well, no offense is intended, but there are wild packs of demi-humans threatening on many fronts. This is in addition to the raiders and cutthroats who have long been plighting the land. Our general orders are to establish enough presence throughout the region to quell these . . . shall we say, issues."
"I see," said Thanny, "But I do have a question. If the soldiers are all moving out, what force will remain to defend the castle? Am I to swing a sword, is it?"
"Of course not, and there is a plan for the castle, but that's not why I needed to talk to you. The soldiers of Godrick will be camped at a number of sites around Limgrave. Not every site will have everything needed to support the force. We're putting together a mobile caravan of support. It will move from site to site, staying just long enough to bring that location back up to full fighting strength. The caravan will have a swordsmith and armorer, a medical officer, a cleric, and several others. Among those several others will be you, we need you to mend. Trail and trial will distress in many ways, but foremost in fabric. An army may march on its stomach, but it is sheltered by fabric. From clothes, uniforms, baggage, tents . . . I believe an un-mended army will perish, by foe or by freezing rain it matters little. Your needle and your skill are instruments of war, necessary for all that lords set their minds to accomplish. A sword? No, but I do call upon you now to take up your needle and away with us unto war."
Thanny was shocked. And distressed. She immediately thought no, she could not possibly. She has a home here, coincidental to the location of her only family. She never once thought to go off, to go to war? That's utterly ridiculous. Her whole reason for being is here, not in some far-off campsite. So no, good sir, I do not believe I will be leaving here at all.
She said, "But . . ."
"I know," Capt Pasling said, raising his hands in mock defense, "and I've already seen to it. Boc will continue to receive your normal salary for his looking after. I've already spoken to Old Julian, and he's more than willing to keep employing and watching over the lad. Truth be told, though, I am not asking you to join us. I must be clear, although we will not force you to join us against your will, if you refuse, well, the castle cannot support those who refuse when duty calls. If I must, I can say it more plainly still, but I hope you have heard enough, and will be joining us in the morning. For today, that's all I'm looking for you to do, say to me you'll join us in the morning."
"I . . . understand," Thanny said, without knowing if it were true. With her mind racing, she added, "You said there was a plan for the defense of the castle. If Boc is to remain here without me, I'm entitled to know what that plan is."
Capt Pasling took his time, but then bent down onto a knee so he could say quietly, "Ok, Ms. Thanny. I don't know if you are entitled, as you put it, but I don't blame you for asking. You must tell no one, but there is a force that will be arriving in two days' time. They are a company of exile soldiers and banished knights. Soldiers who were sent to penal colonies, now come here to defend the castle as mercenaries. They will be strong, and there will be a few captains and a lord commander from Godrick's soldiers remaining behind to . . . to ensure everything remains orderly. So, will I see you in the morning, as is my strong desire?"
Thanny's response was not immediate, but it was affirmative.