A Roll of the Die - 1. Inception
Copyright© 2026 by Michael Loucks
Chapter 36: Day 53
The following day, Milos, Tristan, and Karla joined a detachment of ten City Guardsmen, two sergeants, and a lieutenant to search the woods. Despite a careful, coördinated search, they located nothing and returned to Newtown to report to Matthias.
"I think the only way to find their hidden camp is by stealth," Milos concluded. "Unfortunately, that means Matthias, probably operating alone. I don't like it, but he committed to rooting them out."
"I can undertake the task," Matthias replied. "I won't engage under any circumstances, only observe, track, and report. Do you think we should begin tonight? Or should we wait?"
"I think tonight, as if there are more of them, they stayed hidden all day."
"Then I'll depart at once and, as soon as last light occurs, stealthily enter and observe."
"I'll ride with you," Milos declared. "And return in the morning to escort you back to Newtown."
"Allow me to speak to Lilia, then we'll be off."
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"I am not cut out to be an administrator!" Robert complained to Miri when they relaxed together after their evening meal. "I would rather patrol with the men! Instead, I'm dealing with supplies, discipline, and schedules!"
"Why not hire a clerk and assign yourself patrols?" Miri suggested. "You are, after all, Captain of the King's Guard and Crown Prince of the Realm!"
"Tradition," Robert replied.
"Is the Commander of the King's Guard traditionally a noble?"
"The only one was the first, nearly four hundred years ago, when Nystria was first unified. King Ælfweard's brother, Anton, formed the King's Guard to ensure the safety of the new King."
"And he was not an administrator, was he?"
"All accounts say he personally saved Ælfweard's life on six separate occasions."
"Then you have history on your side," Miri observed. "The Realm is certainly at risk."
"You are very wise, Lady wife!"
"Allow me to rub your shoulders, and once you are relaxed, perhaps you will rub against me!"
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"Please be careful, Matthias," Lilia pleaded, using his given name to show her true concern. "I could not bear seeing you injured ... or worse!"
"I promise to come home with not even a scratch!" Matthias declared.
He kissed Lilia, took his leave, then joined Milos for the ride to Sierra's farm.
"No heroics, my friend," Milos said firmly. "Observe and report."
"I promised Lilia, just as I promised you," Matthias replied.
They shook hands, and Matthias walked to the pasture where Sierra was herding the sheep to their pen for the night, assisted by a dog.
"My Lord!" she exclaimed. "What brings you here?"
"A spy mission," he replied. "We did not locate the archers' camp, and believe it must be underground with a well-concealed entrance."
"If so, I may know how to find it. I could guide you."
"It's too dangerous," Matthias objected. "It calls for extreme stealth."
"I played in those woods from almost the time I could walk until I began herding the sheep when my father was sick. I gathered mushrooms and snared rabbits as well. Let me finish bringing in the sheep, then we'll go inside until dark."
Matthias considered and realized what she said made sense.
He nodded his assent, then asked, "Who shears your sheep?"
"A man from the other sheep farm who was my father's best friend. He has done it at no cost for us since my father died."
"How much wool do you get from each sheep?"
"Our flock produces the equivalent of about five bales of cleaned wool a year," Sierra said.
While in the OP, Matthew had no idea how much that was; Matthias, however, knew the Nystrian weights. Doing the math, that meant about 800 kilos of wool, give or take, which meant each of Sierra's roughly two hundred sheep generated about four kilos of wool each year. Matthias watched while she expertly herded her flock into their pen.
Once they were penned, she used a bucket to take water from the stream, which flowed across the property, and fill a trough. Matthias thought to offer to help, but realized no noble would dare do such a thing, and it would not only raise serious questions, but potentially offend Sierra. Once the trough was full, she bade Matthias to follow her into the house.
"Mother, Count Matthias is here," Sierra called out as they entered.
"Please sit, my Lord!" Patricia requested. "Are you hungry?"
"I have eaten," Matthias replied.
"Then some ale?"
"Yes, please. Thank you for your hospitality."
Patricia filled a mug with ale while Sierra washed. Sierra went into another room and returned in a dark-colored tunic, with her hair pulled back by a black ribbon.
The same sour-sweet smell of the flock clung to her wool cloak.
"Mother, when it's dark, I'm going to lead Count Matthias to a place I believe may conceal a secret lair for the archers."
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