Historical Setting: 610 C.E., Vosges Mountains
Greg tells us what he and Gaillard did late into last night.
“First, while it was dusk, after we found this safe farmhouse, we went to circle around the fortress looking for gates and openings and analyzing possible views from walls and watchtowers. The river runs wide in an oxbow on three sides of the fortress and the main entrance uses a well-guarded bridge to cross the water.
“Gaillard’s plan was to watch the fourth side of the fortress to find an entrance on the land side. He was sure there would be a secret way in and out. He found this by learning the location of the alehouse that young trainee soldiers visit on their clandestine nights’ outings.”
Greg explained, “So Gaillard went on to the alehouse dressed as a woman, and I followed separately as my usual soldier self. My assignment was to mingle with the young soldiers while they were drinking and learn as much as I could about how many guards were on duty at one time, where they were posted, and when the changing of the guard would happen. Surprisingly that wasn’t very hard to gather all those secrets from them — just a bit challenging to decipher the factual information from the drunken braggadocios of these young fellows.
“Meanwhile, Gaillard was with the women who stayed at the alehouse inn. Then, with the bright moon, some women went out across the fields to a particular place with a rock heap in a pasture. That was the place the women he was with expected to find soldiers emerging from the fortress tunnel. Some very young soldiers would be in search of new adventures seeking the truth in rumors they’d heard about the nature of women.”
Gaillard adds, “One tender youth took one look at me and probably thought ‘tall and weathered, must be a safe person to try this with’ but, of course, I guided him into the waiting arms of an actual woman prostitute.”
Greg adds, “Why? You might be just the one he was looking for.”
“Really, Love, if I don’t need a concubine, you don’t need a prostitute.”
So maybe that is what they decided between themselves. Maybe Gaillard has surrendered his family obligation to be true to Greg. Pleased as I may be, I’ll leave my thoughts unspoken and let them keep it between themselves.
Greg asks Gaillard to give us the plan and the details of our orders.
(Continues Wednesday, November 1)
Lazarus Ink 