6th August 1809, afternoon: Preparations for extraction

"Of course." Vickery considered the question. It was a delicate point, of course. He trusted his men, but even Riflemen needed the direction of an officer at times. But would either of his subalterns - they were both very new - have the skills to keep up with the Riflemen, and to remain undetected? And would they trust the men to be able to do what they needed to do, or would they over-rule them?

"I think I should like to send an officer with them, unless you would prefer to leave that party under the command of an NCO," he said presently. "Whoever is in that party, I will ensure that every member of it is armed with a rifle, though."

"I think I would prefer another officer as well, if you think you can trust him to treat the subject with the necessary finesse and discretion."

Torrington smiled ruefully.

"Which is of course to say that you yourself would be my first choice, but I guess that might proof difficult?"

Vickery tapped the map thoughtfully. "I could, although it would be very hard on my Lieutenants. I am sure they are quite up to the task, however. I shall send a steady Sergeant along, too. And of course Cotton is the best shot in the Company - I would venture to say, in the Division, indeed. He has the keenest eye of any soldier of my acquaintance, I think."

Torrington nodded.

"Thank you - I know. Whoever you think is best - I must confess that I know neither lieutenant well sofar. Will you call him in for a briefing?"

"Ahoy." Willoughby called riding up on Herrero, who seemed to decide to do a little bit of a dance just before he stopped. His front legs were lifted and curled in, in a controlled manner and his steps were rather graceful and in tempo.

"If that's a treasure map you have there, I'd like to go with you!" He said with a lighter tone leaning down to pet Herrero on the side of his neck. The animal raised his head proudly. He had been training with him ever since he got him and was able. The performance of the stallion improved a great deal, with this so did the fitness and his muscles were nicely defined under the short fur.

"On the other hand..." Vickery said, thinking aloud. "Perhaps it would be better if I came."

"No, it isn't a treasure map." He looked doubtfully up at Willoughby. "I don't know what use a cavalryman is likely to be; this seems to me to be the sort of engagement that specifically requires the accuracy and ability to hide that the Rifle regiments specialise in. And my men could hide themselves behind a cabbage, should it prove necessary."

"I asked Gwydyr whether he could keep his men nearby under the pretence of some training", Torrington quickly explained.

"Just in case that speed and firepower became necessary suddenly. the meeting point is in the middle between us and the French ... the most uncomfortable spot the bandits could find, no doubt. It would no doubt better our chances exceedingly if you would come along, though. The lieutenants both have not much experience here."

"May I remind you, sir.. that I am of the light cavalry.. of the hussars, and do scouting missions quite frequently.. as I do skirmishes." Willoughby said somewhat tersely, offended at the doubtful gaze he had received. "But.. i did not mean to ask whether I could join you...but to report .."He turned to Torrington. "That the preparations have been made and all shall be as agreed."

"I had not meant to cast aspersions upon your uniform, nor upon your branch of the Service," Vickery said. "I apologise for the misunderstanding."

He was, nevertheless, a little relieved when Willoughby said that he had not planned to join the expedition.

"No, you have merely wished to suggest that we are incapable of missions of the likes of scouting, or any where actual silence is required, though it is quite fine when we return with information..." Willoughby answered lightly though with a slightly crispier undertone and turned. He may have been wrong in believing the apology insincere, but the slight - intentional or not - had certainly caused his temper to rise.

"...I wish you good luck, ..and a successful mission." He said, with a calmer tone, this one though intended for Torrington.

Torrington, who had heard the exchange with growing unease, inclined his head and offered Willoughby his hand.

"Thank you. I hope you will have a fruitful exercise. You will understand when I wish very much that it will not have to become anything more. I will send you word as soon as this is all over."

Settling his hat more firmly on his head, he checked whether he had the required money in his sabretache.

"Shall we proceed then?"

"Certainly," Vickery said, clasping his hand behind his back.

He wondered how long it would be before Willoughby took offence at the wrong thing and ended up fighting a duel over it - though Heaven knew the Beau would come down hard on any officers caught duelling.

"We will be prepared for the worst, but hope for the best." Willoughby nodded nudging Herrero to walk a few steps backwards before he would turn him about.

"The men will not disappoint you." He added as an afterthought and then turned to leave.

"Let us rather hope that nobody disappoints the hostages!", Torrington muttered under his breath, then straightened, seeing Freddy approach with his horse.

"Well, I think I am as ready as I can be - do you have any specific approach in mind or do you prefer to develop your plan after you have seen the area, Vickery?"

"I think I should prefer to see the area first. Otherwise I shall come up with a draft of a plan and have to change it later on anyway, which means that people are more likely to get mixed up between what I have initially planned and what I have actually decided upon doing."

He would come up with his own ideas in the meantime, of course, and refine them as the situation became clearer.

"Very well. Then let us set out to the rescue. I'm afraid we will not have mucht time to spare, if the men have to walk."

Torrington took the reins and made sure that his pistols were in their saddle holsters and the requested greatcoat as well as some medical supplies and water were safely tied down behind the saddle.

Cotton was just behind Rottlaender, holding Phoenix's reins. He winked at the younger Rifleman.

Vickery grinned. "You've never seen the Rifles' pace, have you?" he said, checking to see that his telescope was secure before swinging into the saddle. "Even if we don't keep it up, it'll gain us some time."

"I seem to recall a rather blustering individual in a colonel's coat condeming riflemen, their dwaddling and "that other thing" all the way to hell and back, right in the middle of the officer's mess at headquarters, a few weeks back. After that destruction of all those poor bridges? I got the impression that it was necessary to take them all on a leash from that exhibition, but not because of their speed."

Torrington allowed himself an ironic smile.

"On the other hand, my legs still remember not so fondly my first week here, when I tried to keep up with one of your patrols."

----

Freddie grinned back at Cotton, proudly stroking Trueno's glossy neck. As soon as there seemed to be a slight lull in the officers' conversation, he announced:

"Oh, I should tell you that everything has been sorted as Lord Gwydyr promised it would. He has send his batman, but he had to go, so if you have an answer, I will run over and tell him and be back before you know it!"

Pye arrived with a rather slow moving large bay gelding that looked less than inclined to go anywhere. Perhaps it was this, the reason that he was arriving only now, as the animal wanted to stall a couple more times before it finally gave and walked steadily alongside the young rifleman.

The fact that Pye still felt nervous around the big animal was quite perfect for the horse who tried to test how much he could get away with.

"Sir, the Pferd.. .horse, this'un has been brought as you'um needed it." He said holding the reins to tightly that his knuckles had turned white  but at least the horse did not seem inclined to simply turn and walk back from where they came.

"For the hostages", Torrington explained.

"I don't want to take any chances - despite all assurances, their horses might not be fit to be ridden. Or, if it comes to that, the part of the deal that can be renegotiated."

He frowned when he saw Pye's death grip on the reins.

"Relax, Pye. He followed you placidly sofar. He won't bolt now. If he tries to step away, just give the reins a light tuck to show him that you are still watching."

He was wondering about the message Freddie had related; after all, they had only just parted from Willoughby, who had come expressly to tell them the same.

Pye relaxed his grip a little, though he looked no more certain that the horse might not try something than he did before. He studied the two officers a little impatiently hoping that they might move quickly before the horse decides that it would not want to move any longer and he would need to convince, beg, nudge and curse into moving his hooves.

He was also curious what this all was about and who they were going to save. "...that hussar has a batman?" He asked rather surprised that he had gotten one so quickly. Was it not hard to get one?

"It appears so", Torrington replied, slightly distracted.

"Since the majority of the riflemen will be walking: Do you two want to fall in with them until we reach the point where we have to go on alone, or ride?"

Torrington rubbed the gelding's nose, calming him and catching his attention to keep him from being distracted by Pye's nervousness.

Pye glanced curiously at their officer, Captain Vickery. When he would give the signal they could continue on this strange adventure. The gelding he held seemed remarkably tame at the moment, though perhaps it was just feeling bored and uninspired to do something bad. Pye would find more apples to bribe him with and if Torrington was not careful, his horses might end up so fat they won't be able to move, because Pye'd have tried to be on their good side. Same probably with Vickery's.

Trueno, bored already and reckognizing Pye as the one who always brought little treats when he wanted something, began to search through his coattails with his lips, hoping to find some treat there.

Freddie did not notice; he was in the process of recounting the strange encounter with Willoughby's "batman" in greater detail to his master, something that taxed his linguistic abilities considerably.

Pye, who had already thought that the horses would eat him and that they were dangerous animals that only waited for the opportune moment to pounce jumped sharply when he felt the lips of the horse on him and the teeth nibbling to try to part fabric and find a nice pair of apples!

He yelped in alarm and pulled around so as to hide behind the gelding, two apples he had saved for later if his gelding chose to be problematic again, fell from his pockets and bounced right up to Trueno's feet. Though the gelding, thinking that this was also his, neighed and pulled forward to snatch one before it was taken, dragging the frightened rifleman along.