"That's the village..."
He picked out the village,it was represented by a stone cabin,and was located just outside the barren mountainous region,close to one of the three rivers that watered Millville.
"I now see why this village developed..."
From its strategic location,the village not only acted as a buffer between the mountainous region and the rest of Millville,but also as a focal point amongst all the mountainous settlements.
"I bet here is where all trade takes place..."
Johnny also noticed that on the map were several dozens skulls scattered all over the map,the closest one being about four days from their current location.
"Bandits or dangerous beast..."
He deduced as he took a last look of the map before folding and storing it.
"Time to go outside..."
Johnny straightened his clothes,these were made of common cotton before walking towards the flapping entrance of the tent,only to bump into the servant girl who had been walking in. Luckily,he was quick to grab the small copper jar she had been carrying.
"Why the long face...?"
Johnny inquired as to kill the awkward silent that had endured. He could feel the eyes in camp had all turned towards them.
"Nothing young master..."
The servant girl said as she stepped back,a rosy brush on her face. She had been returning to coarse the young master to take the medicine,after a stern scolding from the physician and the butler.
Johnny noticed her glancing at the small copper jar he was holding.
"Damn me...!"
He mentally exclaimed as he raised the small copper jar to his mouth and directly chugged it down.
The servant girl had not expected this,thus surprised.
As for those sneakily looking over,they to were surprised.
{ System Alert: You have completed the daily quest... Medication}
{Reward: 2 system points.}
"There..."
"So much for so little..."
Johnny was not happy that the system had him endure such a horrible medicine for so little gain.
He smiled at the brushing servant girl before handing the now empty copper jar over,and side stepping her,his gaze fixed on one of militia lad guarding the entrance.
"Take me to the Scouting Team...!"
"Yes young master..."
The militia guarding the entrance said as he led Johnny towards another tent,this one was a little larger than his.
On his way, Johnny observed that the camp seemed to be divided into three circles.
The center where they were,the middle section where the others seemed to reside,and the outer region where the horses were tethered. This also seemed to be common area as he could smell the aroma of baking bread coming from one of the sheds in this region.
As for the carriages,they were strategically placed in a circle around the camp.
"Not a bad set-up..."
Johnny thought as he neared the tent.
"You do understand we were sent here to die with that sickly brat the least he could do is take his medicine but hell no..."
A hoarse angry voice said but it was interrupted by a calm but very young voice in reprimand.
"Show some respect butler,that who you call a sickly brat is your young master and soon to be Lord..."
"Watch how you speak to me little scribe..."
The hoarse voice angrily said.
"Everyone,let's calm down and discuss what's of importance here..."
A ruffian but authoritative voice said.
"We are getting closer and closer to the border and you all know we'll that the Dwell Bandits control the lands we would be crossing..."
There was silence.
"How long...?"
A voice,more calm but one that Johnny could tell was full of arrogance inquired. At this time,they were only a few steps from the tent and the militia lad,who was now sweating buckets and dreadful as he to had heard everything said in the tent,just like the young master behind him,wanted to announce the young master's presence but a thin but firm hand grabbed at his shoulder,though he was wearing his iron shoulder pads,he felt the weight of that palm, so weak but heavier than the boat they had hunted yesterday for dinner.
"Don't..."
The young master's command, though a whisper,reached his ears.
Johnny being ever so attentive had picked on the militia lads body language and knew what he intended on doing.
"About four days at our current speed..."
"That close..."
"Yes,but I will have you know that that was not the bad news..."
There was more silence.
"What is..."
The hoarse angry voice could not take in the suspense further and inquired.
"The scouting team reported to have discovered tracks that they believe we're man-made..."
The ruffian authoritative voice said.
"You mean to say that we have been spotted..."
The young calmly voice commented.
"I fear so..."
The ruffian authoritative voice confirmed.
"Now we don't have to worry about the flu but a possibility of a raid...!"
The hoarse angry voice said,this was followed by the sound of the table being banged.
Johnny had heard enough.
"Treacherous..."
He cursed as he funnily looked at the militia lad before him.
"You know he is right..."
The militia lad was caught off guard by the young master's whisper.
"You are all going to die because of me..."
For a second,the militia lad was dazed.
"I swore an oath to protect and fight for my liege with my life,and that's happens to be you young master..."
"I do not care wether you are sick or not,or the reason why am going to die before achieving my dream.."
"I took an oath and am going to uphold it..."
The militia lad whispered back, though Johnny could pick his fear,dread and doubt in his voice,he also picked up resolute, respect, determination and a sense of honour.
"What's your dream...?"
He inquired in a whisper.
"To be knighted young master..."
The militia lad almost forgot to whisper.
Johnny placed his palm on the militia lad's shoulder a second time.
"So you are willing to die for me..."
He inquired.
The militia lad hesitated for a couple of seconds before his shoulders shrank.
"Here it is..."
Johnny thought as he observed the lad. He was young, probably in his early twenties,well built and from his tanned skin,he must have come from a common family,a farmers family at that.
Unknown to the young man, Johnny's questions were a test of one's resolve and affiliation, something that he had used in his previous life while recruiting his men or informants. The militia lad answer would determine the coarse of his future.
"No young master..."
Johnny was not surprised.