Edward scanned the horizon for the hundredth time since they'd stopped in the small clearing at the edge of the ridge. Despite every reassurance from his guide and from his men, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something out there. Following them. He'd already sent out two men, one to scout forward and the other to scout behind them, just to satisfy his inkling. They'd returned with very little to report that could not be seen from atop his own horse.
“To what purpose, my lord?” The small, heavily bearded man they'd contracted in the village inquired. “Are there alternative reasons to your journey?” It was a simple enough question, but Edwards temper threatened to get the better of him. There was no way for him to know that they had a darker purpose than a simple jaunt to the next kingdom. Or to have any idea how far they'd journeyed already. He studied the man's red beard and bald head for a moment, letting his anger dissipate lest he do something rash. The middle aged man stood, slightly breathless, wringing his floppy cap in his hands nervously. Edward was frightening him. If he was wont to admit it, he liked frightening people he didn't know.
Taking a breath, Edward dismounted from his horse and allowed the man to tie it up with the others as he joined his spare group of men in making camp. The ten men with him had journeyed far in a relatively short amount of time and it had been a great boon to their travels when they'd happened upon the guide. Hamish had already cut what could have amounted to a weeks worth of travel by leading them over the ridge instead of around it as their maps had suggested.
In hindsight, he might have taken less men so that he would have been able to carry out his deed quicker, but that would have meant arousing suspicions within his own court and that would not do. Whatever lands and titles he held, there was still work to be done. Evil to counter and alliances to be formed. There were great corruptions, vulgarities and malignancies throughout the land that had to be dealt with if good people would be able to thrive. Granted, he was the product of such evils, but that was more the reason that he should be the one to try and right those wrongs.
No, whatever else anyone thought of him, being the bastard son of the king meant that he had certain responsibilities that his brother would never need worry about. Edward raked a hand through his thick, shoulder length hair. The deep brown had picked up warm gold highlights from their extended time in the sun.
The only real positive of the journey was that he hadn't had to worry about shaving and his beard had been allowed to grow in over the last three weeks. Not only did it help to mask his identity, but it helped to give him a greater air of experience and gravitas among the young men of his group. He was not much older than many of them, a few scant years to their early twenties but a couple of them were his elders both in experience and in age. Then there was also the Viscount, his friend John, and the Baron, their friend Augustus. Counting himself and their guide they had twelve people. If their mission was successful, they would have fourteen people on their return.
