None of the civilian gunners standing in the back row spoke, but stared straight at the row of dukes in front of them, wearing breastplates, hoods, swords hanging from their waists, and high riding boots, and stepped neatly onto the horses beside them. At this time, Isabel Walton, who was standing in front of the team, had also ridden a black war horse.

A gunner poked James Short with his elbow and said eagerly, "James, we don't know how to ride, what should we do?" ”

Perhaps, Isabel heard the gunner's voice, and calmly looked at the civilian gunners at the back of the line as she rode her horse, "James, you and your companions are all in the carriage. ”

"Yes, Your Excellency." James still hasn't figured out why anyone calls Isabel "Your Excellency", but parrots in agreement.

Just as the civilian gunners were smiling silently at each other and preparing to walk towards the four-wheeled transport horses parked nearby, they heard their female commander say something that made people feel a little distressed, "James, when you get into the car, everyone wears ammunition belts, bullet bags, and holds arquebuses to protect the safety of the convoy. ”

As a cavalry squad of a dozen horses slowly left the gates of Captain William Hawkins' domain, the sun was rising. At this moment, a morning breeze blew, like a pair of soft hands of a young woman caressing the cheeks of everyone who traveled. Isabe, who was riding in the middle of the cavalry squad, turned her face to look at Captain Hawkins standing near the gate, and nodded happily, "Good luck, Captain, we will meet again in the future!" ”

After Captain Hawkins and the main members of the family saluted, they waved goodbye to Isabel and the others. Captain Hawkins, who was standing in front of the family members, looked at the northern noble lady on the horse, and said in a loud voice: "Miss Isabel, God will protect you all the way!" ”

The cavalry squad entered the streets outside the walls of the territory, followed by a convoy of 10 four-wheeled wagons. At that moment, a petite figure carried a package and quickly ran to the tail fender of the last carriage. However, wearing a straitjacket and a long skirt, she could not climb into the carriage.

When she stood anxiously in front of the baffle and was at a loss, she only heard a "bang", and the baffle of the carriage was actually lowered. She looked up and saw a familiar male face in front of her. I saw the other party stretching out his right hand with a smile, "Hey, do you want to take a ride?" Come on. ”

She hesitated, and when she reached out her right hand to the other when she heard the constant shouting of the coachman coming from the carriage in front of her, she looked at the other party and said shyly, "Thank you for your kindness." ”

Not long after entering the carriage, she felt the carriage under her feet move, and hurriedly squatted in the carriage. And the man who helped her get into the car also used an iron hook to pull up the baffle that had been put down again, closed the baffle and sat down again, looking at her with a smile, "I remember, you are a maid in the captain's family, right?" ”

"The patriarch won't find me, will he?" As she squatted in the car, she nervously looked towards the back of the car.

"I won't find you, the captain and his brother are bidding farewell to you." The man sat on the floor of the carriage with an arquebus in his arms and glanced at her.

Soon, the last carriage also left Captain Hawkins' territory. As the carriage drove at a constant speed through the streets of Plymouth, she let out a long spit, set the package aside gently, and sat down somewhat reservedly. While fiddling with the hem of his skirt, he looked at the man opposite, "You said just now, you remember who I am." Probably I also remember who you are, you are the patriarch ... A sailor, your name is... Be......? ”

The bearded man smiled, "I'm James Short, one of the captain's gunners. What about you, maid. ”

With a faint smile on her face, the maid Rose whispered, "I'm Rose." You're right, I'm a maid in the patriarch's family. ”

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On her return trip north, Isabel set up her first supply depot at Goodwood Manor, near the town of Chichester in Sussex. Of course, Goodwood Manor and several nearby hamlets, as well as a vast hunting forest around it, were one of the Duke of Richmond's domains. Since they are subordinates who work for the duke, they can naturally enter the duke's manor to rest and eat something to replenish their strength.

After about a dozen hours of travelling to the city of London last summer, the team arrived on the edge of a primeval forest west of Southampton on the afternoon of 26 April. The team then walked on a forest trail through the heart of the forest. At this time, Isabel began to become alert, and immediately gave an order to the guard next to her, "Hall, let everyone separate and walk on both sides of the carriage." ”

The guards nimbly steered their horses and quickly galloped towards the wagon convoy behind the team. Isabel herself turned her horse's head and galloped toward the last carriage, and when she came to the left side of the carriage, she reined in her horse. Just as she was about to turn the horse's head in the direction she was going, she unexpectedly heard a woman's voice. Upon closer inspection, she saw that the voice was coming from inside the carriage.

While turning the horse's head eagerly, he stared at the gunner, who was sitting on the floor of the carriage, facing him, and shouted: "James Short, who is the woman you are talking to?" ”

Before James could get up and answer her, Rose, the maid, slowly stood up and turned to face her. Perhaps, she had forgotten that she was in the moving carriage and had bowed crookedly to Isabel. Buried his head, he said timidly, "I'm sorry, Miss Isabel, I'm Rose. ”

Isabel's eyes widened in surprise, and she couldn't help but shake her head and let out a sigh, "God is above, Rose, you... How did you get into the wagon? ”

"I... I... It was he who jumped into the carriage. Rose stammered, and took the mistake James had made on his own.

"Yourself? Rose, I need your explanation when we get to the camp. Isabel looked at the weak maid coldly, and then gently touched the belly of the war horse with the spur of her heel, and stepped off the war horse and rushed forward like an arrow off the string.

In a short time, she was galloping

Got to the left side of the first carriage of the convoy. At this moment, Baldwin, who was armed with a light cavalry gun with a spear flag in his hand, galloped back from the forest path ahead, and when he stood in the stirrup, he reined in his horse and reported: "Your Excellency, I have found a small village ahead. ”

Isabel glanced at the convoy behind her and nodded solemnly, "Stop." ”