Suddenly, Bastion stopped and snorted, softly. Humphrey held up a hand to stop the others and listened intently. Some way ahead, amid the steady drip of rain water, he thought he heard the faint clink of metal on metal. He patted Bastion's neck and tuned the horse toward a thick stand of trees. When they were all concealed, Humphrey dismounted and approached Bruce.

"Remain here and stay quiet," he warned, speaking in a whisper. "I will see what lies ahead." Bruce nodded as Humphrey disappeared quickly and silently amongst the trees.

Moving as a dark shadow between trees, Humphrey circled around and approached the area where he had heard the faint sounds of metal. He stopped periodically, to listen, and could now hear several voices, talking softly. He came at them from the river side, so even if he were to be seen, whoever these men might be would not know for certain which direction he had come from. He dropped low and edged up behind some bushes until he could see his quarry, sitting beneath a large oak; three men at arms, passing around a flask of ale and grumbling, as did all soldiers when ordered out into inclement weather. Their horses were tied up to one side.

"I do not see why we should be out here at all," one of them said, taking the flask from a companion.

"Aye," another said, pulling the hood of his cloak more tightly around his head. "As if the bloody missing princess would be out and about in weather such as this."

Humphrey tensed at the mention of the princess. It meant that Moorcroft had apparently not been fooled by his attempt to throw off his pursuers by pretending to ride east, and these men were looking for them, after all.

The first man wiped his mouth after taking a pull from the flask. "She's hole up somewhere all warm and dry, mark me words," he said, sounding bitter. The third soldier was leaning back against the tree, with his eyes closed.

"So, what's it to be, then?" he asked.

"I say we sit here and finish off this flask," the first man said. "Then we head back to the post and report we saw nothin'."

"Aye," his companion agreed. "We'll get just as wet sittin' here, as we would ridin' up and down this sodden forest, lookin' for that wisp of a girl."

"Fine," the one with his eyes closed said. "Wake me up when it be time to leave." He worked himself deeper into his wet cloak, and dropped his head to his chest.

Humphrey backed quietly away from the sullen group and made his way back to Isabelle and Bruce. He motioned for continued silence when he arrived, then mounted Bastion and led them in a wide arch around the area where the soldiers sat.