Waking early to start his day, Gerard had been busying himself with Bona until time to wake his father. She had been fed, brushed, and returned to the stables in no time at all; incidentally, Gerard realized he had little left to do before the sun broke the horizon. Gerard opted to wait outside his father's tent until the proper time, lest he get carried away and drift back to sleep. Taking a step, Gerard's foot caught a soft spot and rushed out from beneath him. Reaching out, Gerard managed to catch himself on Bona. That had better been mud.
A couple of stable boys had poked their heads around at the sound of Gerard's shocked cry. Gerard gave them a quick wave as he steadied himself. Watch where you step, fool. Moving quickly now, Gerard made his way across the camp towards a bundle of tents. Darting past several of the men, Gerard couldn't help but be curious as to what was causing such an early commotion.
Finally, reaching his father's tent, he stepped in to see his father already awake and half dressed. "You're early this morning, Father." Johannes Gast merely stared back at his son, no expression of joy or merriment on his brow. "Come to think of it, several of the men are early rising today." Gerard had helped his father finish dressing. Johannes clapped him on the shoulder and, without a word, left his tent. Gerard quickly doused the flames of the tent and sped out behind Johannes.
"Gerard. There's to be an announcement made this morning. Don't miss it." Johannes dismissed him and walked hastily across the fields. An announcement? Was there a conflict soon? Gerard knew the usurper was close but he had overheard that there was more time to be had. A shiver of fear rippled down his spine as he milled about, lost in thought. Eventually, he asked anyone who listened for information. He was given a jumbled mix of rumors that were of no use to him. Gerard had managed to discover where the announcement was being held as his father had failed to mention where it would reside. He knew his father had simply forgotten this was his first march. He thanked each stranger he spoke to earnestly and rushed off to hear the announcement.
"... our captain is dead..."
Gerard had only now managed to reach the throngs of soldiers standing leisurely about the carts but those four words stopped him in his tracks. Uncertainty swelled within him and his thoughts began to wander. Raising with concern were other voices, men who had more questions than patience.
"... elect a new captain." Gerard despaired. His employment with the band had been tied to the captain and the bond he bore with Gerard's father. With a new captain, would Gerard find himself deserted, told to run home like a child? He shook his fears off, replacing them with a brave face. He would simply have to work harder.
"... ditches to be dug..." Ditches! I can dig ditches! Determination ate away at the uncertainty in his legs and Gerard began to move again. He run quickly to find his father, eager to see what task he could tackle. Surely if he worked as hard as two men, the new captain couldn't possibly toss him out of the band.
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