The baron's forces return safely to Schrote. His regular infantry are filing in. To the rear, his jager and hussars are now closing up behind, having covered the withdrawal. It would seem that his ambush has instilled a caution in the following Bachscuttel troops, and they follow at a reasonable distance. In uncharacteristic fashion, whilst they watch, they don’t interfere.
Earlier, Hunchmausen had ordered work undertaken to prepare additional defences for the town. Rustling up 120 people, including the local militia, for nearly half an hour, the defenders have succeeded in creating gabioned positions for the two guns; and a reasonable selection of additional barricades, formed by barrels filled with earth, carts, furniture, and household pets [This amounts to 8 inches of additional barricades for Schrote]. This being a full day’s work for most of the locals, they are now looking forward to an early dinner, and bed by 11am.
In Schrote, two messengers are waiting for Hunchamausen. One has a missive from Colonel Rimmer, sent at 09.55 this morning.
“Baron,
At Widenlau. Will proceed to you with all speed. Cavalry ride immediately; infantry follow at best speed. Wagons and Traitor follow after. Amusing cage currently under construction in Schmallenhard.
Rimmer (Col. Brev.)”
The second is from the observer in the cathedral spire. Sadly, it would seem that Kinski has failed. It was observed that, after Kinski’s attempt to feint some feints, the enemy cavalry actually sped up. They have chased Kinski back towards Schrote. The cavalry, Hunchmausen's and the enemy’s, will arrive imminently, with the rest of the enemy force not far behind.
The baron sends hussars and dragoons to aid Kinski in his retreat.
At that moment, another messenger arrives and presents himself at the baron’s headquarters.
‘Sir!’ he says, saluting, and then wincing at the pain caused by this sudden movement. ‘Ensign Dragosani, Bremse Hussar Regiment reporting!’
‘Excellent’, says Baron Hunchmausen. ‘Now, who’s side are you on?’
Dragosani looks blankly at the baron. Then, concluding that this is probably some kind of test, or even an example of the Gelderland sense of humour, he ploughs on. ‘Sir! I have, according to your intent, and Colonel Rimmer’s orders, made contact with the Lady Ingretta and sought intelligence that might help discern the whereabouts of Emperor George! She was initially sceptical of my presence, and unimpressed by my various attempts at cajoling and flattery; and so, as ordered I … I was forced to make the ultimate sacrifice. Three times. It was … it was … a difficult task’. The ensign’s voice cracks. ‘She was a woman both old and … demanding. And also’, he winces, ‘surprisingly strong’.
The baron nods. ‘One must make sacrifices for one’s country, ensign! Now, did she have anything interesting to say?’
‘Indeed, sir. It would seem that, in terms of traditional hiding places, there are old vaults in both Kambritz and Oxfurt that are rumoured often to be used by the universities to store all kinds of things that they want to keep hidden. And also, there’s Flossen, sir. It’s an abandoned village just south of Redderblau Hill. It’s often rumoured to be frequented by smugglers and such, who often stash things there’.
‘And that’s it?’ says the baron. ‘She hasn’t any more to tell?’
The ensign swallows painfully. ‘I am only flesh and blood, my lord. There’s only so much I can … rustle up or … or … squeeze out’.
'Ha! Excellent!', says the baron. Thanking Dragosani for his diligence, Hunchmausen directs him to return to Rimmer with a request that a squadron of hussars be diverted to Oxfurt und Kambritz to make a search of the old vaults.
‘Excellent’, says Baron Hunchmausen. ‘Now, who’s side are you on?’
Dragosani looks blankly at the baron. Then, concluding that this is probably some kind of test, or even an example of the Gelderland sense of humour, he ploughs on. ‘Sir! I have, according to your intent, and Colonel Rimmer’s orders, made contact with the Lady Ingretta and sought intelligence that might help discern the whereabouts of Emperor George! She was initially sceptical of my presence, and unimpressed by my various attempts at cajoling and flattery; and so, as ordered I … I was forced to make the ultimate sacrifice. Three times. It was … it was … a difficult task’. The ensign’s voice cracks. ‘She was a woman both old and … demanding. And also’, he winces, ‘surprisingly strong’.
The baron nods. ‘One must make sacrifices for one’s country, ensign! Now, did she have anything interesting to say?’
‘Indeed, sir. It would seem that, in terms of traditional hiding places, there are old vaults in both Kambritz and Oxfurt that are rumoured often to be used by the universities to store all kinds of things that they want to keep hidden. And also, there’s Flossen, sir. It’s an abandoned village just south of Redderblau Hill. It’s often rumoured to be frequented by smugglers and such, who often stash things there’.
‘And that’s it?’ says the baron. ‘She hasn’t any more to tell?’
The ensign swallows painfully. ‘I am only flesh and blood, my lord. There’s only so much I can … rustle up or … or … squeeze out’.
'Ha! Excellent!', says the baron. Thanking Dragosani for his diligence, Hunchmausen directs him to return to Rimmer with a request that a squadron of hussars be diverted to Oxfurt und Kambritz to make a search of the old vaults.
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