Joy. Pride. Sweet success. For the first time since this adventure started, we have achieved some form of tactical victory. Our success in escaping DuChevalier can also be called victories, but this time we didn't run. This time we went into the lion's den, thumbed our nose in his face, and walked back out.

After getting "healed," Reynaldo and I rode around the countryside. Giving (coppers) to every peasant we saw, and telling them to send the musketeers in our direction. DuChevalier must have received reports of our "spotting" from all over Montaigne. The effect we hoped to achieve would be that he would disperse his squads, in a vain attempt to catch us. To give him more incentive to track us, we occasionally "borrowed" horses, wagons and other items, only to leave them where they could be found later.

Theus was with us. When we finally made the attempt to rescue William, DuChevalier had been forced to spread his forces. I don't suppose I will ever find out if he truly fell for our ploy himself or if he was pressured into the dispersion. Either way it worked. That is all that matters. I will have to remember this tactic. If the war doesn't end soon, and I am ever allowed back in Castille, I may raise a band of rangers to come back and harass the Montaigne on their own soil. If it works on a small scale, maybe it will work on a larger one.

Sneaking back into the town, where we last encountered DuChevalier, undercover of darkness, it wasn't long before we found the musketeer's headquarters. DuChevalier had "appropriated" some merchant or minor noble's house to hold up in. Hiding in the woods nearby, we watched the house for activity all the next day. Musketeers came and went. Usually they were in groups of three to five, however just before dark, DuChevalier himself left with two full squads, leaving, as far as we new only four guards. There were only four horses left in the stable.

Sneaking into the back, we found the room they were holding William in. With only one guard on him, I guess they figured one would be enough since he was chained, Reynaldo proceeded to sneak into the room and dispatch him while I stood watch. Mistake. Reynaldo is anything but quiet. Alerted to his presence the guard turned on Reynaldo. Shout out an alarm, I was forced into the fray to end it quickly. This musketeer was good, I'll give him that, but he was not good enough to beat us both. After dispatching him, we freed William. That was when the other three arrived. Drawing swords, they charged in. I simply stood back and watched, after all, now that William was free, I was not needed.

In a moment, it was over and we were back on our journey. I wish I could be there to see DuChevalier's face when realizes we took William out from under his nose. Of course, that taunting letter I left him probably didn't help his mood any. I almost feel sorry for the four guards we left unconscious at the manor. Tarring and feathering them was probably not a good idea, but hey, it sure was fun.

I feel good. Some of the weight seems to have lifted itself off of my spirits. While I still don't like Reynaldo, and he of course still doesn't like me, I think we have finally found some mutual respect. We no longer refer to each other as "Dog" and "Peacock." Instead, we have graduated to simply "Vodacce" and "Castille." This is a big step for me. Trusting a Vodacce is not easy, especially this Vodacce. As for the Highmarchman, I like him. We still argue, but I feel that I can trust him. So far, things are getting better. I can only hope these two continue to earn the trust I have in them. I wonder if they will ever realize how hard it is for me to trust them, and

to what extent that trust is developing. Probably not. They are foreigners, after all, and do not understand my culture.