CHAPTER 847: THE LONG WAY AROUND (PART THREE)

"So, assuming we have four templars, four knights, and three captains, plus myself and Cousin Eleanor," Jocelynn said, shaking off thoughts of infatuated suitors and an escape to life in a convent as she turned back to Sir Elgon to bring the conversation back to their escape plan. "How long would it take to reach Purcell Village in Tibraeth Barony?"

Everyone that Jocelynn had spoken to in Lothian March, from the young ladies of the court she invited over for tea to the workers in the storehouses, said the same thing about traveling the march in the winter. Don’t.

The past month seemed to have fewer days without rain than days with and the ground was already sodden in many places. Anywhere that the roads were poor, they might be washed out, flooded, or turned into pits of mud that could mire a wagon. Once the snows came, there would be a brief period where things improved as the mud froze, but after that, the snow would grow deeper and deeper until the spring thaw made roads passable again.

Most people said that it wasn’t worth it to travel in the winter, but the window of opportunity to do so should arrive within the next month. The only question was whether or not they could move quickly enough to flee the march before the snows piled up so deeply that it was impossible to go anywhere.

"If we were traveling over good roads in fair weather," Elgon mused. "Seven to eight days. One to reach Maeril, three or four to cross Dunn Barony since we have to avoid the villages and the Town of Dunn, plus another two, or maybe three to cross the wilderness and reach Purcell. But we won’t be making the crossing in fair weather over good roads, and daylight is limited in the winter."

Sir Elgon had heard many of the same stories that Jocelynn had, but unlike the young noblewoman, he’d actually led men on campaigns in the winter months. Everything would be harder, but in his experience, as long as they were cautious and willing to retreat to the nearest settlement if conditions looked like they were worsening, it wouldn’t be impossible.

"Add at least four days for the slowness of short days, poor roads and any diversions we have to make because of snow," the knight said after considering the map. "And I’d want at least three days extra of supplies in case we become blocked by snow."

"You’re talking about half a month’s worth of supplies for thirteen people," Albyn said as he began to calculate the amount of meat, grain, and other supplies they’d need. When he’d plied the coastal waters as the captain of a small balinger, he’d kept a crew of twenty men who were at sea for as many as ten days at a time which made for familiar calculations.

"We can probably manage supplies for everyone in two wagons, but we’ll also need feed for the horses, tents when we can’t reach a settlement by nightfall... My lady, this won’t be a small expedition," Albynn said as he cast a worried look at Jocelynn. "I’m sure the coin for it won’t be an issue for you, but someone is certain to notice the preparations."

"I think you’d be surprised," Jocelynn said as she reached into the pouch at her waist and pulled out a small, folded sheet of paper. "As a favor to Lord Owain, I’ve been overseeing the storage and accounting of the various autumn tithes received from the barons and their knights," she said with a mischievous smile.

"It doesn’t take much for a few ’errors’ in the counting to free up most of what we need for the journey," she explained, pointing to neat columns of numbers for sacks of grain, including feed for horses, barrels of salted beef and pork, pickled cabbages, and all manner of other things.

"And the men of the storehouses have become accustomed to my presence," Jocelynn added "If I bat my eyelashes at them and ask them sweetly to load up a pair of wagons to supply one of the training camps that Lord Owain has established outside the city, I doubt that anyone will question it," she said confidently.

Sitting beside her, Sir Elgon looked like he’d been struck over the head as he watched the upright and honorable daughter of his liege lord casually mention stealing supplies from the Lothians to facilitate her escape. Sitting next to him, however, both of his companions at the table were nodding in approval.

That Captain Albyn agreed with Jocelynn wasn’t necessarily surprising. He seemed to be flexible in his definitions of right and wrong, and he was willing to bend or outright break rules if he needed to in order to get things done. What truly surprised Sir Elgon was that Confessor Eleanor didn’t seem to have a problem with it.

"Don’t look so surprised, Sir Elgon," Eleanor said when she noticed him staring at her in surprise. "An innocent man commits no crime when he flees the headsman’s noose," she quoted as she gave the troubled knight a reassuring smile. "The Holy Lord of Light understands that men falter and fail in their struggle to live good and righteous lives. When lords and Inquisitors fail in their struggle, their victims have every right to struggle to free themselves of an unjust end."

"I might wish that there were better ways for Lady Jocelynn to obtain what we need," she said as she glanced at Jocelynn. "But I agree with my lady that taking our provisions from the Lothian stores will be easier and likely safer than buying them openly and creating questions or starting rumors. When you are fleeing injustice, exceptions can be made."

"I know that fleeing the march won’t be easy," she said, returning to the statement she’d made earlier. "And I know that our plan needs to be refined significantly before we make our move. But any other route I’ve considered only leads to doom. Since that’s the case, I’d prefer to take my chances crossing the wilderness, but I can’t do it without your support."

"So, gentlemen," she said, doing her best imitation of her father as she drew a deep breath and met each of their eyes directly. "Are you with me?"

"My father told me when I swore to uphold ’Loyalty’ as a virtue that I’d be tested in ways I never imagined," Elgon said with a determined look in his eyes. "He wasn’t wrong. But if a man isn’t willing to risk his life for the sake of his oaths, then that man has no right to call himself a knight. You have my sword and my shield, my lady," he promised. "Whether it’s against the Lothians, the Church or the demons, I won’t fail you."

"Likewise," Albyn said from his seat. "I’ll leave the pretty words for Sir Elgon, but whatever it takes, a captain sees his passengers safely back to port. I’ll get you home, your ladyship, one way or another."

"Thank you," Jocelynn said, breathing a sigh of relief as the tension she’d carried between her shoulder blades since she woke began to relax. There was still a great deal to be done if she was going to escape this nightmare, but now she knew... she wouldn’t have to do it alone.

Now, she just had to hope that the Inquisitor didn’t condemn her to burn, because if he did, she had no idea how she would escape.