"George, find a campsite and set up the tents. I'll join you later!" Giroud ordered, and his men obeyed.

Slowly, the cavalry rode off, guided by the deputy captain, George. He nodded and pushed his horse forward to find the right spot to pitch the tents.

Gideon and Giroud stood in the village main street. Their attention shifted when a fat man walked up. He was the captain who had been on duty in Jurgan Village under Commander Ashfield's orders.

"Hudor?" Giroud exclaimed.

"Oh, so it's you, Giroud."

They met and shook hands. They were acquaintances, not close friends, but they had worked together leading forces in the north before Ashfield pulled them back.

"You two already know each other, it seems," Gideon said.

"That's right, Captain Gideon. He fought with my unit against Luthe at Bordak City. We lost and had to retreat," Giroud explained.

Gideon nodded. Talking about past defeats was not wise, especially around people suffering from the war. It would only lower morale.

Lena and the others came down from the second floor and joined them outside the inn. Gideon looked up and saw Giroud and Hudor immediately kneel and bow when Princess Hannah arrived.

"Greetings, Princess Hannah," they said together.

"The inn rooms aren't big enough. Let's talk in Captain Hudor's office. Sound good?" Gideon asked.

Hudor did not mind. He even offered the best wine they had to welcome Giroud and to honor Princess Hannah. They left the village street and went into the administrative house.

As usual, many administrative staff were busy with papers and documents. Most of the paperwork asked for more logistics and war supplies.

Gideon watched them, noticing how the village was close to collapse because soldiers were taking their food. Still, the staff looked busy. Gideon could not tell what they were doing.

The office door opened. The room looked different from before. The bed and bedroom furniture were gone. Gideon saw a proper captain's office.

"You must be tired from the long trip, Giroud," Hudor said.

"Not really. My men and I are used to long rides. We're fine. Our horses are the ones tired."

"Haha!"

A female soldier brought a box of wine bottles and helped pour glasses for everyone. Hudor and Giroud chatted at his desk, while Gideon and his team relaxed on the office sofa.

"So what's your plan, Captain Gideon? I heard you plan to attack the enemy base on the mountain," Giroud asked.

"That's right. We still have some time to prepare," Gideon said without turning.

"Wait. Aren't you going to attack it right away?" Giroud asked.

"We changed the plan, more or less," Gideon answered.

Giroud and Hudor exchanged looks. Giroud stood and walked closer to Gideon, still holding his wine glass.

"Then I want to hear the plan from someone Commander Ashfield trusts," Giroud said.

"My signal will be a burning tent on the mountain. When that happens, you and Princess Hannah lead the cavalry to attack," Gideon explained.

"Okay. What will you do then?" Giroud asked.

"Who knows. We'll rely on luck, maybe," Gideon said.

SPLURTT!

Luke accidentally spurted his drink when Gideon answered like that. Giroud turned to look, and so did everyone else. Luke looked embarrassed and started cleaning the wet glass table in front of the sofa.

Gideon smiled, drank his wine, and poured another glass for Luke. To Giroud, Gideon's behavior seemed odd. He was holding back details.

"You still haven't said anything about the plan. Don't you trust me?" Giroud demanded.

"I didn't say anything because I didn't want to ruin the mood."

"Don't play word with me, Captain Gideon. You are a soldier. Soldiers are not full of small talk!" Giroud snapped, making the room tense.

Gideon took a deep breath and glanced at Lena and Luke. They nodded. If Giroud pushed, Gideon would have no choice but to tell everything.

With one long breath, Gideon stood and faced Giroud directly, right in front of the cavalry captain.

"You want to know? My team and I will hide inside the delivery wagons," Gideon said firmly.

Hudor panicked and went pale. He stood up quickly when he heard Gideon, a newcomer, knew about the deliveries.

"H-How did you—" Hudor stammered.

"What delivery wagons?" Giroud asked.

Gideon paused and looked at Hudor's face. Hudor begged with a shake of his head, silently asking Gideon not to reveal it.

But that plea did not sway him. Gideon had no ties to Hudor and no reason to protect him. Why would he?

"Captain Hudor and other division captains have been cooperating with Luthe soldiers at the mountain base," Gideon said.

Giroud and Hannah listened closely. This was a political matter, and their kingdom was at war with Luthe. What Gideon said made both of them want to hear more.

"Cooperating?" Giroud asked.

"Moko troops in Jurgan must send delivery wagons to the mountain base as a guarantee so Luthe will not attack the village," Gideon explained.

"What?!" Hannah slammed the table, exactly as Gideon expected.

"You?!" Hannah shouted, pointing at Hudor.

Hudor panicked, dropped to his knees, and buried his face in the floor before Princess Hannah. He apologized over and over, begging forgiveness. He said he had no choice but to agree to Luthe's proposal.

"That is cowardly and disgraceful! You shame the kingdom!" Hannah cried.

"What's in the wagons?" Giroud demanded.

Gideon looked at Lena for a moment, then focused back on Giroud and Hannah. He had to tell them, even if the truth hurt Hudor.

"Food."

Giroud and Hannah could not hide their anger. Giroud drew his sword and Hannah did the same. They stared at Hudor with rage, the blades at the back of his neck.

"You traitorous bastard! I will not forgive you!" Hannah shouted.

As Gideon expected, the situation became tense. He sighed. Dealing with Captain Hudor could wait for another day.

Gideon patted Hannah and Giroud gently on the shoulder, trying to calm them. Hannah was still angry, but she followed Gideon's orders without question.

"We need to discuss the wagon plan. Hudor's matter can be postponed," Gideon said.

"If he shows loyalty to the kingdom, maybe you won't have to kill him. Just dismiss him and let him live as a commoner."

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