The Duke of Richmond triumphantly admired his pet and smiled happily and said, "How are you?" My Sir Bedwell. At this time, the falconer, who acted as a middle-aged male servant, did not wait for the lord's command, and took the initiative to hand him a bag full of minced mutton.

Henry listened to the barking of dogs in the distance, and took out a few pieces of minced lamb from the bag and threw them at the falcon "Bedwell". When the falcon took the minced lamb in its mouth accurately in mid-air and swallowed it, Henry, with great honor and pride, said to Isabel, "Madam, how graceful and haughty Sir Bedwell's movements are. ”

The goshawk, which was "seated" on the falconer's fist, seemed to be ready to swoop quickly from the sky to the ground, pursued and twisted the hare, and stared straight at Isabel with its piercing amber eyes, and let out several high-pitched and loud cries, as if to express bloodthirsty anger to her.

Henry smiled and said, "Ma'am, it seems that Sir Bedwell has a crush on you, too. ”

Isabel smiled lightly, crossed her arms over her chest and said, "Maybe it's more interested in my nose." Probably, it will tear my nose open while I'm asleep. ”

"Nose? Hahaha, no, ma'am, Jazz doesn't like to eat your nose, it prefers to eat fresh offal from hares, rats, and birds. ”

Looking at this beautiful, small-to-medium-sized goshawk, Isabel thought of the bald eagle, the national bird of the United States. Then he asked Henry: "Your Highness, don't you think this falcon is a little small?" I mean, if you use it to hunt red deer or wild boar. ”

When Henry threw the minced lamb back into the bag, he smiled faintly and said, "Madam, in my library there is a mid-fifteenth-century Book of St. Albans, which details the falcon adapted to all classes of society. For example, a large falcon such as the eagle is only suitable for His Majesty the King. ”

"Well, it seems that the hierarchy has penetrated into every corner of the nobles' lives."

"Ma'am, you know what? The book also introduces a falcon called the Grayback Falcon, which is more suitable for ladies. ”

"Isn't it? I thought I was only fit to wear a bodice and a puffy skirt that was almost breathless, and to sit in the carriage and giggle with the valet and whisper about the looks and possessions of some handsome young nobleman. ”

"Hahaha... Ma'am, your humor makes today's hunt even more interesting. ”

Behind the conversation, Henry pondered where to get a well-trained grayback falcon and give it to Isabel as a gift. Because it's a fashionable and decent thing for him.

While Isabel was joking, she thought of how to use Henry's falcon as her scout force. Compared with the reconnaissance of the enemy's situation on the ground, which has certain limitations, the aerial reconnaissance force can be said to be an important reconnaissance means to obtain the enemy's in-depth situation. However, judging by the current state of breeding, a falcon can bring information about prey to humans at most. If it wants to be used in military reconnaissance, further military training is required.

Thinking of this, Isabel hurriedly said, "Your Highness, can the hunt begin?" ”

Henry nodded smugly and said, "Okay, let's get started." ”

With the trumpet blowing of a prospective knight, the hunt officially begins. Ferguson divided the hunting party into two teams, a few would-be knights and half English purebred foxhounds, led by a seasoned hunting keeper, towards the east of the isosceles trapezoidal hunting grounds.

The other would-be knights, the remaining foxhounds, and another hunting ground keeper quickly set out from the west side of the hunting ground. When the two hunting teams drive the various prey to the open area in the middle of the hunting grounds, Henry and his pet falcon engage in a game of hunting.

The barking of foxhounds, the piercing cries of arrogant falcons in mid-air, and the sound of excited would-be knights driving their horses on the ground were intertwined, all of which made the emotions of everyone on the scene be mobilized by this huge hunting game.

Sitting firmly on Onyx's back, Isabel was by Henry's side, intending to use this rare opportunity to conduct an effective enemy reconnaissance of the entire hunting grounds. Seeing Ferguson march east with the first hunting party, she said anxiously, "Your Highness, I also want to join their team." ”

Henry looked at her for a few seconds before he said, "Ma'am, don't you want to stay with me?" ”

"Of course not. Aren't you planning to wait until I've completed my knightly skills training before conferring on me? I feel that this moment is the best opportunity for me to learn hunting skills. ”

"Well, well, I can promise you. However, I need you to bring back a prey for me. ”

"Yes, Your Highness." Isabel finished speaking, touched Onix's stomach with her spur, and the black purebred war horse under her crotch shot out like an arrow off the string.

"Isabel, I'm kidding!" Henry immediately got up from his horse and shouted at the departing lady-in-waiting.

Ferguson, along with the first team of would-be knights and foxhounds, was only responsible for driving the animals in the woods to the south, so the speed of the march was not very fast. When Isabel caught up with them, Ferguson smiled and said, "Isabel, now that you're finally leaving Your Highness?" ”

The corners of Isabel's mouth tilted, and she smiled and said, "Sir, have you found anything?" ”

"No, only four-legged roast venison, roast wild boar and roast badger meat have been found so far."

"Good. Uh, sir, what's south of the hunting grounds? ”

"A large area to the south is open field, and there are a few streams that flow through the hunting grounds."

"I'm going to go to the south right now and have a look. If nothing happens, I'll be back with you right away. ”

"Isabel, are you going to go alone? No, I can't let my knight brother venture alone. ”

"Well, I only need one person."

Ferguson looked around at the several would-be knights scattered around, and suddenly shouted loudly, "Herbert, come here." ”

When Herbert, who was not far away, heard the call, he immediately drove his horse to the side of the two, saluted, and said, "Madam, sir, is there anything I need to serve?" ”

"Now, I command you to act with Lady Isabel, and you are to protect her life. Did you hear me clearly? Ferguson gave an order.

"Yes, Sir." Herbert happily agreed.

Isabel nodded at Ferguson and said to Herbert, "Let's go." ”

Herbert didn't know where she was going, but he rode after him toward the south of the hunting grounds. In a few minutes, the two of them walked through a large wooded area to the open area south of the hunting ground.

When Isabel asked the war horse Onyx to continue jogging forward near the wooden fence of the hunting ground on the right, Herbert rode on the left side and asked her curiously: "Ma'am, there are no woods here, and there are few animals, what are we doing here?" ”

Holding the longbow in her left hand and pulling the reins in her right hand, Isabel looked around vigilantly and said, "Hunting." ”

Her answer made Herbert even more confused, and after thinking alone for a while, he still asked her, "Ma'am, then what are you going to capture?" ”