The eldest son of the baron did say "bold words" in front of everyone that he was not afraid of anything. However, he did not tell anyone what he was afraid of. Presumably, he thought that if he spoke out what he feared the most, he would not only be ridiculed by others, but would also despise his experience of being trained in knightly skills.

At this moment, his worst fear quietly appeared. He intends to resist the physical and mental erosion of hunger with a strong will, so that his godmother will not notice it. Little John was still very innocent, lovable, and even cute enough to think that his godmother had never had a childhood and adolescence, as if she had come to him overnight from the Virgin of Heaven.

How Isabel didn't know what her godson needed most at this age. She knew very well that nothing could compare to fragrant food in front of the young godson. Because she also had the experience of starvation, a horrific experience that people can't forget.

Looking in the direction of the castle gates, the godson's uncle, William Parr, still did not return. Turning his head, he squinted at the saddlebag hanging from the saddle bridge behind his godson's saddle, "John, get off your horse and check your saddlebag to see if there is anything you want." ”

John Neville, who had a sad face, nodded excitedly after hearing his godmother's words, "Yes, godmother." He immediately rolled over and dismounted, went behind the horse, and opened the saddlebag on the saddle bridge.

The rest of the people present, including Baldwin and Fast, the two flag bearers, looked at him with a smile and a silent word. After all, little John was just a boy who was not yet qualified to go into battle, a boy who was still learning knightly etiquette and taking on the duties of a valet by the lord's wife.

William rode out of the castle gate at a gallop, reined in before Isabel, and saluted: "Your Excellency, the priest accepts your suggestion that we go to the church to confess when we return." ”

Isabel nodded, "Does Your Highness's butler have anything to say?" ”

"Your Excellency, Mr. Butler said that please be careful all the way, he will inform His Highness."

"When did this guy Arthur become so kind? A few years ago, I colluded with the priest to get rid of me, a Burgundian witch from Europe. ”

"Well, maybe it's because I hired his brother to work as a supervisor in the workshop." Isabel looked at William calmly, "I see. ”

At this point, little John almost turned both saddlebags upside down and did not find what he was looking for. Just as his face turned ugly again, he only listened to his godmother's instructions: "William, give John some of your cured jerky, and the others will follow me!" ”

"Yes, Your Excellency." William turned over and jumped off the horse, opened the saddlebag and took out a bulging linen pouch and handed it to his nephew, "John, you can take it all." Hurry up, the others are already on their way. ”

John looked back at the group that had marched across the stone bridge, and looked at William anxiously, "Uncle, you gave it all to me, do you have any other food to eat?" ”

"Don't say it, get on the horse and catch up with Your Excellency."

"Oh, wait for me, uncle."

As the two of them rode up to the fast-moving southward procession, William stared sideways at his nephew, "What were you doing when I came back just now?" ”

Little John, who was holding the reins with his right hand and his left hand hanging down to his side naturally, looked at the other party pouring bitter water, "Uncle, I was so hungry just now and wanted to find some food to eat." However, I found that I didn't have even a bit of bread crumbs in my saddlebag. ”

"You didn't prepare the food and ale last night?"

"From yesterday until now, I realized that I didn't have anything to eat and malt wine ready for the road."

Facing his nephew, who was still a teenager and was on his first outing, William shook his head helplessly, "If Your Excellency agrees to your next action, you must prepare cured jerky and ale." ”

Little John nodded heavily, "I will." It's just that I was so excited last night that I didn't sleep all night. ”

"Didn't sleep? What are you doing in the room? ”

"Nothing, just a night's rest in the room with a costume, cuirass and boots."

William noticed that his nephew's face looked a little haggard, and asked with concern, "Don't do it again next time." Be sure to get enough sleep before you move, and when you wake up, you'll find that it's just the right time. ”

Little John nodded thoughtfully, "Godmother won't blame me for this, will she?" ”

"When you rest later, you can ask Your Excellency yourself."

———————————

Almost after about an hour of riding, Isabel led the team to the outside, the west-to-east, lush, forest-like "curtain wall" of Latimer Manor. As she slowed down, so did the whole team.

Little John hung a small bag full of cured jerky on the saddle bridge, and as he reached out and grabbed a jerky, he looked intently at the "curtain wall" that only he could inherit one day. As Isabel pulled the reins and let the horse slow forward, she looked sideways at her godson, "John, would you like to visit your father, stepmother, and sister?" ”

"Hmm." Little John swallowed the jerky, looked at her, "Yes, godmother, I've probably forgotten what the manor is like." ”

"After this escort mission, I'll give you two days of rest to go back to Latimer Manor."

"Godmother, I... I'm not going back. Now, I have not participated in battles, I have no knightly honors, I don't even have trophies, I don't go back. ”

"Maybe you can get loot in this escort mission?"

"Spoils of war? Godmother, from His Highness's castle all the way to my father's estate, I didn't find out even a thief who stole crops. ”

By this time, the party had entered the territory of John Jr.'s father. Isabel admired the dense wild woods on both sides of the road and explained well, "We're just entering Yorkshire like a giant beast. You know, the whole of Yorkshire is the largest bore in the north, right? ”

Little John nodded, then looked around at the vigorous trees on both sides, and turned his head to look at her with delight, "Godmother, it's summer, and there should be a lot of small animals in the woods. I thought, I can go hunt a few and come back and roast them. ”

Isabel didn't mean to stop the horse, but just smiled lightly, "Plus your entire team of 22 people, how many animals do you think you need to hunt to feed everyone?" ”

"This is the domain of my father, Lord Latimer, and I, as the eldest son, should show my father's generosity and kindness."

"John, tell me, which is more important, mission or generosity?"