18th May - Camp at Avelãs.

Wellesley looked up from the map at focussed on Dimas.

"And what does the force at Albergaria Nova know of us?"

The scout thought for a moment. "I believe they are aware you are on the march, but more than that I could not say. I do believe there is some measure of discord amongst them, however."

The General raised an eyebrow.

"Discord? How so?"

"It appears that not all those in their ranks agree with what they are told. Or, at least, there were more public disagreements than one would think usual for soldiers."

"This would be disagreements regarding us, or their Marshal's next move?"

The scout shook his head. "That I could not say for certain, sir. I might hazard a guess and suppose it is due to their Marshal, but that is only a guess."

Brandon sat in silence while the General questioned the civilian. He looked at the man, contemplating if he had seen him before and what he might know about him.
He turned to Wellesley as he requiered a map and handed one to him. Though he remained silent throughout the conversation so far, only making mental notes of the information the Portugese was giving them.

Wellesley nodded again.

"And you came across this information how, senhor?"

He had seen Dimas before near pombal - which meant that he must be travelling with the army in some capacity. A tinker, perhaps? He certainly looked the part; but a tinker who kept on turning up with information of advance French movements.

"I have been close to them, sir. They leave the most interesting things behind them, when they leave, you know. Tin cups, kettles, and the like, sir."

"How careless of them."

Even travelling close behind the French there was no way this man could know such detailed information from purely hanging around. He had to have contacts with the irregular forces.

"Thank you, Senhor Dimas, you have been most hopefuly. If you stumble across any further information I would be glad to hear it."

He nodded to Brandon, indicating that this one deserved payment for his information.

Edrington straightened himself up as Wellesley dismissed the Portuguese. It was interesting - but hardly unexpected. The next step was to find out if the French were staying there - or advancing to meet them this side of the Vouga. They might even withdraw to the Douro and Oporto...

At the moment, it would merely mean that the Rifles patrols would need to be even more alert, particularly given v Lossow's information about the difficult terrain ahead.

Knowing Wellesley's tendency to keep his plans to himself, Edrington did not expect any confidences, or orders. He would just have to be ready to do whatever was required, when they met the French.

"This does not change much," Wellesley said after Dimas left. He removed the candle sticks that had weighted the map flat and let it roll up. "Only perhaps our order of march tomorrow."

He looked across to Edrington. It was the cavalry and the Riflemen, nominally under Edrington's command, that were out front.

"I will see that this is passed on to Captain Vickery officially, but if in the meantime you wish to inform him unofficially there can only be an advantage in that."

"I think we could sent the cavalry up to the Vouga - the Portuguese perhaps, they know the country. There is only the one bridge, and if we hold that, we can be certain that the French have not crossed it in any numbers. It will be there for us when we need it."

Edrington was grateful for his conversations with v Lossow. The Rittmeister had studied the maps and had been this way - or around here, before. An eye for the country, and an awareness of what was and what was not, passable for men or horses - or artillery.

"We may have trouble on the roads tomorrow," he volunteered. "I understand that in some places there may be doubts about the passage of artillery or wagons - or at least they will not be able to take the most direct route."

"It will be," Wellesley said. "I think also we should send the Rifles up with the cavalry - it may do good to have some sharpshooters to help hold it whilst the cavalry get across."

"I'll see to it, Sir Arthur. If we hold the bridge, we can control what happens. Though I suspect the French will know we're coming and there might be some sharp action before we can take it." Edrington smiled. "Mounted Riflemen would be useful, to get them where wanted even more quickly than their march. But I doubt if Mr Sharpe would be happy..."

Wellesley smiled faintly, remembering their brief time beside the river.

"I don't suppose he would be," he said.

He thought again. The French knew he was coming. He had no word as to whether Hill had reached over to cut off the retreat of this force, but they must move now or else it would be a lot harder later on. A small battery of artillery too.

"I will have three companies of your Line to go with them too," he said. "To hold the bridge, and one company to remain on guard once we have it and the rest of the army crosses."

Which would take a long time. From all accounts the bridge was not all the big, and there was no other crossing point even close.

[OOC: Sorry if my numbers are off and I'm sending over or under-kill. Please tell me if I need to adjust it.]

Edrington nodded. "Three companies of the 62nd and the 95th, and if I send them scampering off, I'll have Captain Vickery do the honours with the forward guard as well. Once we're closer, and know what the position is, I'll bring the rest of the 62nd forward and send them across with the Rifles to hold the Northern approaches to the bridge. But you can decide that when we know just what the French are doing. "

"I'll have a word with Mr Sharpe, and ... we'll have the bridge for you when you want it."

Wellesley nodded again.

"See to it," he said. "Brandon, I need orders drawn up and quickly. We'll set out later tonight."

With any luck the French would be retreating.

"And it would do well to remind the Rifles not to get too far ahead. With any luck their retreat should be cut off further North, so there should be no need for close harrassment on our part. Shepherding will do for now."