[b]"I'll take that under consideration sergeant,"[/b] Gilderoy responded, placing slightly more emphasis on the rank than was necessary. The knight was not dressed in his armor this morning but rather in a gold shirt with black sleeves and the emblem of a hammer over a rising sun on its breast. He had dark brown trousers and black riding boots of comfortable and utilitarian design. The overall effect was pleasing, although it reminded Camilla of an old painting she had seen once of the crusaders wading ashore onto the beaches or Araby.

[b]"Since you are awake my lady and clearly dressed for it, perhaps you could join me for a morning ride?"[/b] he asked. Camilla sensed that not only was Cydric not invited but that attempting to invite him would rouse the knight to anger. Instead she squeezed to the Ostlander's thigh beneath the table, out of view of Gilderoy, and stood up, drinking down the rest of her cider.

[b]"I would be honored Sir Gilderoy,"[/b] she agreed.

Fifteen minutes later they were cantering down the valley. The improvement in Egling was remarkable and Camilla got the sense that whatever else the man was he truly loved horses. Camilla was not a natural horsewoman but it was considered one of the skills a noble and thus a nobles companion ought to possess and so she had received some instruction. It was much easier if she told her self she was falconing in Tilea rather than riding through possibly beastman infested woodlands and so she guided her dappled gray mare through the forest at an easy trot, its hooves kicking up leaf litter.

[b]"I must confess, Si..."[/b] she began but Gilderoy raised his hand.

[b]"Gilderoy, please My Lady," [/b]he corrected with a smile. She nodded in acknowlegement.

[b]"And you may call me Camilla of course,"[/b] she returned, earning herself a pleased smile from the knight.

[b]"I was about to say that you seem to take alot of pleasure in riding.[/b]" Gilderoy nodded sagely.

[b]"Tis true," [/b]he responded, touching his heels to his horse, a roan colored stallion and urging it to leap over a log.

[b]"Sigmar's work weighs heavily upon me but when I was a boy..." [/b]The night trailed off his eyes drawn away to the south. Camilla followed his gaze and saw a small trail of smoke rising from the southern end of the valley.

[b]"Sigmar's blood,"[/b] Gilderoy cursed and sawed at the reigns of his horse, jerking the big beast around violently.

[b]"What..."[/b] Camilla began but Gilderoy was already responding.

[b]"It's a watch fire, ride for your life, ride for the castle!" [/b]he snapped unsheathing his broadsword. Camilla needed no further encouragement and kicked her steed into a run, racing back down the valley. Ahead of them she could see brown bestial forms emerging from the trees as horns began to sound from the castle, sharp eyed watchmen having also spotted the signal fire's grim message. Giledroy's horse, stronger and wartrained, drew ahead of hers.

[b]"Stay close!"[/b] he yelled and a moment later his horse smashed into the disorganized group of beastmen, sword arcing down to decapitate one of the beasts, the weight and violence of his charge tearing a hole in the loose line. Camilla drew her pistol from her belt and fired into one of the beastmen blocking the way sending it screaming to the ground and then she and Gilderoy were through and racing towards the castle, the portcullis already beginning to decend.

[b]"Every man to the walls,"[/b] Gilderoy roared as they thundered over the draw bridge.

[@POOHEAD189]