Chapter 66
After completing our mission to suppress the bandits, we rode west from Ocle Fort. Our destination was Yufe, a medium-sized fort. Apparently, the Second Knight Order had often been using this fort as its base lately.
"The weather's looking a little ominous," Frein muttered as he rode alongside me.
I had my reasons for wanting to meet the commander of the Second Knight Order.
So, after the mission, I said I'd make a quick ride over to the Second Knight Order and pay my respects during our leave. Wickhart and Dick, along with Ryuzel and Frein, said they would come with me.
I suggested that we might as well enjoy the sightseeing while we were there, but Wickhart replied, "I'm Roa-dono's aide. Besides, it should make it easier to get through to Nieshock, don't you think?"
Nieshock was the commander of the Second Knight Order.
During this mission, Wickhart himself never volunteered his opinion on our plans. He quietly listened to the conversations between me, Ryuzel, and Frein.
Maybe Wickhart was still trying to find his place in Roa Company.
Dick generally never interfered in our strategies. But whenever I made a move, he always followed. Apparently, that was the role Rays-sama had given him.
As they'd said beforehand, Ryuzel and Frein simply wanted to see the Second Knight Order for themselves.
We'd been given three days of leave. We had to be back at Ocle by the evening of the third day. Given the distance to the fort, we'd have only a few hours at most to spend in Yufe. If the Second Knight Order happened to be away, there was a good chance we'd come away empty-handed.
"If it rains, they may be easier to catch," Wickhart said. His reasoning was that the Second Knight Order wasn't handling any major assignments at present, so they probably wouldn't make much of a move in bad weather.
"But if this turns into a downpour, it'll make it difficult for us to keep moving too. We should probably hurry a little. Dick, can you keep up?"
"I'm fiiine~"
Dick's leisurely reply came from a little behind us. His riding, at least, was reasonably polished. He had been skilled enough to join the Tenth Knight Order in the first place. He picked things up several times faster than I did.
Ryuzel picked up the pace; Frein saw him and did the same, and then Ryuzel saw that and sped up again...
I watched, half exasperated, as their figures rapidly dwindled in the distance.
"We don't need to hurry quite that much. I think the weather will hold. Shall we go as well?" Wickhart watched the two men's backs with a wry smile.
"Yeah." I lightly kicked Arrow in the belly and hurried after them.
〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜
"So this is Yufe Fort."
The rain I had worried about stopped during the night. Though the ground was somewhat muddy, we reached our destination without trouble.
When we approached the fort, a flag was waved at us from within. It was the signal to "Stop there." We hadn't had time to send word ahead, so our arrival was unexpected. It was only natural that they should respond this way.
We stopped where they instructed.
After a while, several cavalrymen approached us from the fort.
"Wickhart-sama?"
One of the arriving cavalrymen called out uncertainly. Apparently, he knew Wickhart.
"Captain Rezor, is that you? It's been a long time."
"It's been a long time... But why are you here? You were, if I recall..." He faltered, unable to finish.
"Ah, I imagine you've heard, but I resigned as commander. I'm currently serving in the Tenth Knight Order as Roa-dono's aide."
"Roa-dono...? Not Glantz-sama or Rapiria-sama? Forgive me, but that isn't a name I often hear. Are you Roa-dono?"
"Yes. Rays-sama has entrusted me with Roa Company, at least for now. These are Ryuzel and Frein, the commanders of units in my company. And this is my aide, Dick."
"I know of Captain Ryuzel. I hear he commands the Tenth Knight Order's only cavalry unit."
As befitted the commander of a cavalry unit.
"I'm Ryuzel. I know Captain Rezor's name well too. It's an honor to meet you."
"I see. So you've joined Roa Company?"
"Yes. It was formed only a month ago. It's the Tenth Knight Order's third company, after Glantz Company and Rapiria Company."
"I see... Then what brings the members of this Roa Company all the way out here, and with so few of you?"
"Actually, since we're a newly formed company, we came to suppress the bandits who appeared near the Three Goddesses' Spring, partly as a training exercise. This area is under the Second Knight Order's jurisdiction, so we wanted to come and introduce ourselves. Also, the Tenth Knight Order has increased its cavalry forces. Roa Company will be operating as a cavalry unit, so we'd be grateful if we could observe the Second Knight Order in action. We didn't have time to send word ahead, so I'm sorry about that. We don't have much time today, either, so if we're in your way, we'll leave immediately."
I rattled it all off in one breath.
"I see. A cavalry unit." Captain Rezor's gaze softened somewhat. Apparently, the idea of a new cavalry unit seeking instruction from the Second Knight Order had worked.
"Since you've come all this way, it would be discourteous to send you away. I'll go ask the commander for permission, so please wait here for a while."
"Of course. If anything, we're sorry to have imposed."
"No, with the rain in the middle of the night, many of the soldiers are off duty today. We may even be able to have a useful discussion with you."
With that, Captain Rezor left.
Before long, we were invited into the fort.