When Isabel followed the steps of the steam bath, she felt a sense of comfort and relaxation from the internal organs to the outer skin, and her mind became quite clear. While resting in a room reserved for himself by the Guards, Francis Swift knocked on the door several times.

When Francis came in, he said to her, "Your Excellency, what should we do if we encounter Sir Augustine's vigilante patrol in the course of our operations?" ”

Isabel stood up and said, "I'll fix this," said Isabel as she tied her belt around her waist with two daggers. You and your brothers must be well fed and ready for battle tonight. ”

"Yes, Your Excellency, 20 Scots can be easily dealt with."

"You must not be careless, you must not let one go."

"Yes, Your Excellency. Uh, dinner is about to begin, isn't it here, Your Excellency? ”

After Isabel packed up her weapons and cuirass, she shook her head and said, "I'm going back to Asker Manor." I came back from Windsor this afternoon, and I haven't been home. ”

As soon as he heard the name Windsor, Francis smiled and said, "When Your Excellency and Your Highness stayed in Windsor, didn't you attend a few balls with the nobles living in Windsor?" ”

"Prom? Francis, I can't dance, so I don't have much interest in going to the prom. ”

"Taking the opportunity to dance to get to know some of the best aristocrats in London is good for myself and my family. Your Excellency, this is the method that Lord Darlington has taught me. ”

"Really? Well, why don't I recommend you to a special nobleman. ”

Francis followed her out of the room, and as he walked in the direction of the stables, he said, "Your Excellency, it can't be a nobleman of the royal family, can you?" ”

Isabel said with a smile: "Lord Surrey is the eldest son of the Duke of Norfolk III, the godson of His Majesty the King and the playmate of His Royal Highness. Are you interested in getting to know such a nobleman? ”

Francis's eyes widened and he said excitedly: "Your Excellency, you mean Lord Surrey, His Majesty's favorite servant, a knight with a genius for commanding that is rare in the Kingdom?!" ”

"yes, you know him?"

"Your Excellency, this Lord Surrey is very famous among the nobility, he is a nobleman with royal blood. I have heard that a few years ago he had been to France with His Majesty the King as an attendant attaché. ”

"Well, I know these things too, and I am very good companions with Lord Surrey's wife."

"Sir, don't you think this is a good opportunity?"

"Francis, I think it's a great opportunity for you. I remember you said you always wanted to go to the city of London, right? ”

When the two came to the stable, Francis offered to lead the horse for her, saying, "I have indeed considered it, Your Excellency. But why would you think to recommend me to Lord Surrey? ”

Isabel stepped forward and stroked the neck of the war horse Onis, and said with a smile, "You are Lord Darlington's second son, Caroline's only younger brother. And because my sister and you are very good partners, I want to help you. ”

Francis, who grabbed the belt on the side of the bridle, didn't know what to say for a moment, and stared at Isabel: "Your Excellency, I feel that I am no longer a member of that family. Whether it was a former thief or a servant of His Highness's guard now, I am even more determined to insist on this. ”

"Francis, even if it's for your own sake, you have to seize this opportunity to fulfill your own wishes."

"My wish? Well, that's right. However, I have sworn allegiance to His Highness, so I can no longer swear allegiance to other lords. ”

Isabel really wanted to scold this idiot, but she thought of it and said, "Frances, you are a fool, a very stupid fellow. You know who Your Highness is, and isn't swearing allegiance to His Highness an oath of allegiance to His Majesty? Or do you disagree with the representatives of Almighty God to the secular world? ”

"No, Your Excellency, I never intended to overthrow His Majesty's rule."

"Good. I've given you the chance, and the rest is up to you. ”

———————————

At 1 a.m. the next day, Isabelle Walton, dressed in a half-new, half-worn quasi-lancer cuirass with skirt armor, arm guards on both forearms, leggings and high riding boots, walked towards the manor's stables with a quiver with 24 heavy arrows on her back, two short swords tied around her waist, and a custom-made longbow. In a few minutes, she left the Aske estate on a thoroughbred Bob warhorse and rode away toward the Second Guard Quarters two miles away.

As soon as she entered the schoolyard, Isabel found that the 2nd Guards team, which had expanded to 50 personnel, had been mobilized. Although everyone silently examined the various weapons they carried, everyone's faces were filled with the outward expression of excitement, uneasiness, and anxiety before the battle.

Francis Swift, who she had designated as the captain, saw her coming to the station and hurriedly greeted her with two deputies. Isabel looked at the three heavily armed men, nodded and said, "Francis, are your people ready?" ”

Francis nodded, "Yes, Your Excellency." ”

"Very good, go lead the horse and meet at the school grounds."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Soon, 50 members of the "Blackfriars" led their respective war horses and lined up neatly in five horizontal columns in the school yard. Isabel stood in front of everyone and exclaimed, "Today, the Monks' goal is 20 Scots!" Do you need to know why? ”

The 50 members, including Francis, said in unison, "No. ”

"It's good to leave two alive after finishing out the Scots. Because you need to know from the mouth of the living where the spoils of war and the riches are hidden, you see? ”

"Yes, sir."

"Today's hands-on time was after sunset near the village of Howth in the Yorkshire Highlands. After arriving at the village of Hoth, five people were left to guard the road out of the village, and not a single farmer was allowed to come out. ”

Isabel glanced at the crowd and said aloud the motto of the U.S. Navy: "Honor, courage, dedication!" ”

Those present immediately shouted excitedly: "Honor, courage, dedication!" ”

After about two and a half hours of riding, Isabel led her 50 members to a clearing north of the village of Hoth, by the Yul River. Seeing that it was almost dark, she hurriedly ordered the men to hide their horses in the grove north of the clearing. Then, Francis called five men to immediately rush to the south side of the road outside the village of Hoth and hide there.

All of them wore black monks' uniforms and silver humanoid masks, and hid on the east side of the grove with weapons in hand. Francis and a deputy, carrying a box of money, went to the clearing outside the woods and quietly awaited the arrival of the Scotsman.