by John Hicks
*
The next day the cohort marched all morning without encountering any merchant caravans. At noon they halted for a meal and then continued for an hour into the afternoon before they came upon a caravan of twelve wagons. This time the strong aroma Olivia could smell was of spices. Again there was no problem with the merchant who stood aside and watched as the first wagon was unloaded. After checking the cargo and finding no fault, Lieutenant Amelia called Olivia to her. ‘Can you find any hidden compartments here soldier?’
‘Yes, Ma’am,’ replied Olivia and turned to the wagon.
‘Ma’am, surely you aren’t taking notice of a so inexperienced a soldier?’ snorted Sergeant Crandall.
Olivia ran her hands around the inside of the wagon and quickly found the hidden catch and pressed it. There was a ‘click’ then the floor of the wagon seemed to jump up slightly. Olivia heard Lieutenant Amelia gasp softly. Olivia was also conscious that Sergeant Crandall was standing nearby glaring at her silently.
Olivia lifted the panel, exposing the contents. They consisted of dried meat and salted fish packed with strong smelling herbs to help in preservation of the contents.
*Military food,* thought Olivia.
Lieutenant Amelia turned to the merchant. ‘Care to explain, Master Conley?’
‘I… I know nothing of this. I swear. I…’
‘I’m sure you do. Sergeant, have the other wagons unloaded - STOP HIM.’ the Lieutenant barked as the Master of the caravan tried to run off. The merchant didn’t get far and he and his people were quickly secured except for one who slipped away in the excitement. Sergeant Crandall went after him but returned to say he had lost him in the scrub. When all was quiet again the Lieutenant ordered the wagons unloaded.
Two of the wagons held sacks of grain in their hidden compartments, the other five held weapons - swords and daggers in sheaths, bows, arrows, crossbows and bolts. The last four wagons were found to not have false bottoms.
‘Can you read and write, soldier?’
‘Yes, Ma’am.’
‘Record all this then we will reload and head back to Fenton.’ ordered the lieutenant passing the merchant’s leather-bound folder to Olivia.
‘Yes, Ma’am.’
Olivia made a list of the quantities of the items found in the secret compartments on the back of the official record of items carried and signed it. As she looked through the merchant’s papers Olivia discovered a document in the Weldforean language. After reading it she looked round for the lieutenant.
‘Ma’am have you seen this?’
‘Saw it yes. One of Mother’s squires can speak Weldforean. I’ll show it to him when we get back.
‘I can read it, Ma’am.’
‘You can?’ Lieutenant Amelia stared at Olivia in surprise. Most common soldiers were barely able to write their own names.
‘Yes. It is a letter from a man named Scrald in Portjalor to this merchant saying that the ‘special cargo’ -which is not described - is to be delivered to Master Merchant Harlon in Fendon before the end of the current month.’
Lieutenant Amelia stared at Olivia for a moment then slowly nodded. ‘Report to me tonight soldier as soon as my tent is up. You can write out a translation of this letter. For now help with the reloading.’
‘Yes, Ma’am.’
That evening Olivia reported to the lieutenant in her tent. ‘Sit down Private - Olivia isn’t it? - Here is paper,quills and ink. I will bring candles. Get started.’
‘Yes Ma’am.’ Olivia was soon busy with the quill as she scribed a translation of the letter. Lieutenant Amelia returned and set down a candleholder with two lit candles and watched her as she wrote.
‘You write like a scribe,’ she commented.
‘Taught by my foster-father’s scribe, Ma’am.’