There's a slight haze of smoke now, and Lady Ayo calls a halt with an upheld fist. She points to the ground, where black feathers are scattered in a small circle. There's no sign of the bird they came from, but the soil is disturbed where they've fallen.
"See them?" Sir Kelton whispers, pointing first to the sky through a rare gap in the trees, then down through the forest.
You wonder what he's doing at first, but as you follow his finger, you spot the wisps of smoke in the sky, then down below them you see shapes through the trees. Then movement. You realize the movement is people. You suddenly feel exposed, sitting tall on your horse out here.
Lady Ayo turns down a small incline and motions for the three of you to follow. Soon, you're all dismounted and hiding below the hill.
"I don't think anyone saw us," Lady Ayo whispers. "But those are definitely soldiers, and not from Jubai. I'd say there are maybe a dozen in all. What do you think?"
Kelton thinks for a moment, biting his bottom lip. "We need to find out why they're here, but I'm loathe to put my squires in danger…. So, Lady Ayo, why don't the two of us try to sneak up from the front and observe them? Meanwhile, Kirk and Fizza, you flank either side and see if you can gain any information."
"Let's do this!" Fizza whispers.
"But don't go too far behind their lines! And if you're caught, call out to us. Lady Ayo and I will come to your aid."
You nod and make your way as quietly as you can around the right side of where you saw the soldiers.
You think it's impossible for them to spot you, but as you're creeping through the forest you hear a voice coming from behind a tree right next to you. "I'll just have a piss, then we can get this over with." With a jolt, your frightened feet carry you in the opposite direction until you spot a boulder to hide behind.
It's some time before you catch your breath and get the nerve to peek over the boulder. And what you see does not comfort you.