It wasn't her name that interested him, though he'd heard it before. Vedette Uthral. She'd been in no training that he'd ever heard of, or that Gerbold had ever heard of. The fact was that she was part of Ithunvel's inner circle. Despite the fact that their rank was equal, she could invent a story and have him destroyed if he angered her. Rumor said that she was unlikely to use such power; then again, rumor had said that for others of Ithunvel's most trusted captains, and that had gone rather poorly for all concerned. Being a general's son lent him certain privileges even among peers. This was not such a situation. At the best, angering her enough would lead to his dismissal. At the worst, it would lead to his death - not by the headsman, but by some knife in the dark.
Politics in Faustben were not often conducted that way, but they were when it mattered.
What truly made him curious was her observation. Forgive her? For not knowing fellow soldiers were out on patrol, as they should have been? That told him, almost instantly, that she was up to something. Who could have said if it was in the best interest of Ithunvel or not? These captains with their latitudes were given much freedom, and not enough oversight. Ulbarich did not consider it his duty to watch anyone or report on anyone, but something was off about her presence here. No, it wasn't her presence that was off. It wasn't her that was off. It was hot blood rumbling in his ears, making him hear a challenge when there was none. Making him hear a threat when there was none.
"They don't travel easily, the Einhajar," Ulbarich replied dryly; a few of his men barked a laugh. "We were guarding a merchant caravan. For any other detail, that might have meant filling their bellies with wine, but I believe in making a man stand a post. We lost two when the highwaymen struck. We took two of theirs in return. And a good many more in this encounter, I should think - Carolmin? Carolmin, damn you, where did you go?"
"Here, sir," the second stepped out from the shadows of a dreaming pine. "Algam took a scratch, sir, but all of our men are accounted for. Of the bandits, at least fifteen dead. Should we-"
"Leave them," Ulbarich met Vedette's eyes, with a smile. "For the crows. We'll need to ride hard if we're going to catch them. May I offer a horse, Captain Uthral? Your supplies appear to have abandoned you in the wilderness."