Catching the Column

"No!" Maggie exclaimed, finding her voice once more. "No, don't leave us here. Please. Sir." She glanced uneasily at the Portuguese fellow who was still watching them.

'I won't, Maggie, I won't. Do you want to go back to the column then? We'll probably meet your friend on the way there.'

Fandorin gave a little satisfied smile: it did not do for women to be alone at night in unfamiliar country. He was obviously not needed here and it was best he left before Hunter got an opportunity to talk with him about Widmayer.

Maggie took a deep steadying breath. She was feeling somewhat calmer now. "Yes sir. If you can show us the way, I think I can walk now."

'No. You'll take my horse, Maggie. Firebird is very friendly. Here...' Hunter turned to von Dorn and asked him to let go of Firebird's reins, then he called the horse softly and she walked up, lowering her head to sniff at Hunter's hand, who petted her. 'See, she is a very friendly animal.'

Maggie was at a loss for a moment until Jenny gave a gentle laugh. "Go on, Maggie. Ain't you ever rode a horse before?"

Maggie shook her head and looked at the captain timidly. "No. No, I haven't. I think I might fall off if I tried, sir." And it seemed an awfully great distance to fall.

Hunter smiled. 'Oh, you won't. She'll go slowly and she is clever. Besides, I'll be holding her reins all the time, and Jenny'll be there too.'

She looked at the horse uncertainly, and the saddle. "Can I - does it need a different kind of... I mean, can I sit sideways on it, sir, like ladies sometimes do?"

George looked uncertainly at the horse. 'You'd better not, Maggie. You need a special saddle to ride like that. On this one you'd be very uncomfortable riding side saddle.'

With a horse at his side, laden with all sorts of commodities that Fandorin had ordered, he rode the other tame animal. An easy step at a time, that kept his mind at ease, but his eyes alert. He was heading towards the randevous where Fandorin had told him he were to be - basically he was heading in the direction of the army expecting to find the man somewhere on the way.

Hearing voices he slowed down at first, unwilling to come across thieves. It wasn't that he was afraid of them, but he valued to wear his clothes in that state for atleast another day. He recognised two voices, and heard the rest to be of women. Possibly harmless. Slowly he approached.

"Oh." Still she hesitated, but for some reason she was loath to appear cowardly before the watching Portuguese man. How hard could it be, after all? Plenty of fine ladies rode horses - though perhaps not the same as officers' mounts. "But, uh - George, sir - I have to bring my donkey."

"I'll bring her," Jenny said. "She's ready to drop in her tracks, poor little thing, but she'll be all right walking. I can lead her."

As they spoke, the horse and donkey turned to face the newcomer, hearing his approach before the women had.

'I can't possibly let you walk, Jenny. Do you think you could ride behind Maggie? I'll lead both animals.' George and Fandorin turned to look to the man approaching, their hands reflexively reaching for their weapons.

'Ah, that is my companion. Do not be alarmed, ladies.' Stated Fandorin and moved forward to meet Josef.

Josef lifted an eyebrow at the sight of the lasses. What business did Hunter and Fandorin have with them. Neither looked as if they were a spy, though they seemed to have ventured a good deal away from the army.

He nodded calmly and submissively towards Fandorin. "'tefacts." He said, as if to indicate he had brought food as he was asked. He did not stop till he was close enough that either horse could - but with a step - nudge the other, if they so wished.

Jenny retrieved the knife from where she had dropped it on the ground.

"Let's go then," she said, moving closer to Maggie and the captain.

George glared at Widmayer, then turned to Fandorin. 'Good, you are not alone either. Best to keep it that way.' He added with emphasis, remembering the night encounter with Widmayer. Fandorin in turn gave Josef a pointed look.

Holding Firebird by her bridle, George addressed Maggie: 'Now, I will help you get on the horse, will you let me?'

Josef lowered his gaze, feeling annoyed as he was with Fandorin's earlier lecture. A glare did not escape him, and was matched with his own for the briefest of moments. The later quickly replaced by a submissive look of one who has never been anything else in his time but a servant to banker.

He looked instead to the women, masking his curiosity with indifference. What were they doing here? He marked each of their faces, the details that made them unique. If ever he needed this , it was best that he knows. He smiled subtly and pulled the baggage horse closer to his ride.

Did Hunter take fondly to either of them? He leaned down and patted the neck of his horse, his eyes never leaving the girls. It wasn't the kind of look a man lusting would have. No...there was just the faintest trace of a cat studying its own mouse. All other was though that of a servant, as said.

Maggie nodded meekly. "Yes, sir. I'm awful sorry I - struck you, before." She looked warily at the other two men, wishing they would leave, and she let the captain guide her into the saddle.

George helped the girl up into the saddle. 'It's alright. I understand, you were frightened. Hold on to the pommel.' He held the reins firmly and turned to Jenny, extending a hand to her. 'Here, will you manage?'

Fandorin mounted too and rode up to Widmayer. 'It is good to see you in male clothes,' he said quietly. 'I think it was time we went out separate ways.'

"Yes, thank you, George," Jenny answered, climbing up neatly behind her friend. She turned to look at the other two men and gave them a civil nod of the head. "Obrigado, senhors."

".. I'm your servant, sir." Widmayer replied in equal hushed whisper, and then realised what Fandorin meant, glanced to the women and nodded calmly. He found little humour in the man's words. A sour look creapt to his face at the mention of clothes. He hadn't imagined that Fandorin would discover him amis, or that he would learn of it.

He looked at the girls. One was already atop Hunter's horse. She had looked distraught. Perhaps he was wrong and the girl did not walk away from the army but rather had been slow in catching up with it again. She didn't look like a later sleeper, obviously so. He glanced at Jenny. Another girl, and the two had a knife. He looked back to Fandorin. "...Who are they?" He whispered.

He smiled and gave a curt nod to the girl's words.

It was reassuring to have Jenny behind her. "Don't let me fall off," Maggie whispered to her friend as she gripped the pommel. The horse seemed massive compared to her little donkey, though its movements were gentle enough. At this slow pace it was actually less painful than riding the donkey had been, rushing through the whole endless day. But it seemed almost indecent sitting astride this great saddle with her skirts hitched up, especially with the captain walking right next to her leg. Well, at least it was dark, too dark to get an eyeful. No wonder ladies needed special riding apparel.

Jenny seemed to read her mind and she leaned forward to whisper, "Next time we'll borrow trousers from Danny Pickwoad." Maggie smiled and began to relax. They were nearly home.

Fandorin shrugged: 'Army women. Nothing to concern yourself about, Widmayer.'

George held the horse's reins firmly in his right hand and took the donkey's in his left, petting the tired animal's neck first. Before setting off, he turned to the two men: 'Good night to you. You really ought not be travelling alone either.'

Fandoring nodded at the words, hearing an unmistakable warning in them.

After finding that she was not about to fall off and then traveling along in silence for a while, Maggie felt the need to speak. "I'm - We're ever so grateful, captain. It is captain, isn't it?" She peered at his uniform in the darkness. "I can't really call you George, sir. Are you... what regiment are you from?"

'It is Captain, yes, but you can call me George. I don't mind.' Firebird bumped her head against George's shoulder, a little annoyed at having to carry strangers on her back, but otherwise she was walking sedately. 'I'm Sir Arthur's aide-de-camp.'

"Oh." Maggie caught her breath, and she could sense even Jenny flinching behind her - Jenny who stood in awe of no one. Then, breathing again and feeling that something more ought to be said, she added, "Really? That must be quite amazing."

George shrugged non-commitally. 'It's a job.'

Fandorin, having wheeled his horse around, motioned to Widmayer to follow him back onto the narrow over-grown path that'd been using.