Hidden between the rocks that jutted from the wide rolling hills was the encampment. It was a ragtag collection of tents and spears placed in the ground as a means of defense should any ill fall upon them. Yrminas was lying down on a sack filled with hay, clutching his side with a groan while the other hand was clutched around a clay tankard. He dranks from the thin soup within, the men had the luck to find some wild onions in a forest nearby and cooked them. There would be less hunger today than usual.
He cast an eye around, most men were gaunt from starvation. They were huddled near fires or brushing the steeds they had gone into battle with. As a whole they may not have been much to look at. Angry, desperate or grieving were the most common expressions. These were men that had seen more than their fair share of the war and now were repaying the enemies of the Riddermark for perhaps they had nothing else to lose. This did not take away their inborn pride, nor wasn't there any laughter or song while they were together. Yrminas did smile as he repeated the words of the last poem in his head once more, it sustained him as much as anything they could have at this time. He drank from his soup.
Two men armed with bows came through the small trails running between the rocks, they reached to the leader of this quickly formed eored, his name was Berudric. The youngsters bowed before him and with a gesture he made clear they didn't need to. "A band of hillmen is making passage several miles east from here. They were on foot, maybe a hundred of them roughly counted.", these boys were all smiles, clearly looking up to the broad warrior, this man replied with authority ever in his voice, "Had they any captives? Did they bring goods with them? Signs of orcs or anything else prowling around?", the same three questions time and again. The rumor had it that Berudric was still looking for someone and refused to give up without seeing the body. Nobody had dared raise this question with him ofcourse, nor would most if only out of sympathy or respect. The boys were all smiles, "They seemed to have a cart pulled by four oxen with them! We could not see what was inside. We could not see, hear or smell anything else that would get between them and us. That is all." Berudric held his hands behind his back and placed one foot forward, his chest swelled and gazed at the scouts.. "Very well. Admirable work you two, get your supper."
The second in command, Aerebald he was called leaned and whispered something in Berudric's ear. They removed themselves to a quiet corner. Yrminas could not be bothered to keep paying attention, he had to admit that he was tired. Tired as he never had been before. An exhaustion like only men could feel this was.
He closed his eyes for a moment and while the camp around was as active as it needed to be he fell asleep before he could take notice himself.
