When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 787 - 738 Recruitment and Stone Bridge_3

The next morning, Old Laver, wearing a rain cloak, could see with his naked eye that the water level had risen.

When the convoy arrived at the designated stream for crossing, Old Laver kept his head down, avoiding Bether's sullen expression.

But he could hear the rushing sound of the water.

Pulling back the hood that covered his eyes, Old Laver couldn't help but let out a "tsk tsk" sigh.

Oak branches carried by the upstream current tangled with a broken fishing net, intermittently appearing in the muddy whirlpool.

The stream, once crystal clear, now resembled a yellow python passing before everyone's eyes.

Raindrops pattered on the oilcloth, while Bether and the officers felt increasingly heavy-hearted.

Bether tapped his military boots with a horse whip, and Old Laver could sense his suppressed irritation: "Hey, you, go and see how deep the water is, roughly."

Soon after, a soaking wet man returned to Bether: "Captain, those skilled at swimming could cross, but for those less proficient, it would be difficult, not to mention needing to drive the carriage."

"Damn!" Bether vented by pounding his own thigh.

Why, during his first independent command, was he faced with such a situation?

Of all times to rain, it had to be now, causing the water level to rise so quickly; he couldn't possibly return to Feldheim in defeat, right?

The rain-soaked cloak felt heavier on Bether than armor.

"Ask the nearby shepherds if there's another route to cross the river," Bether asked the surrounding Captains Bai.

After some contemplation, Old Laver raised his hand: "Captain, I asked beforehand, if we head northeast along the Iron River, there's a stone bridge."

Bether's neck stretched and his eyes widened: "You should've said there was a stone bridge earlier!"

Old Laver hesitated: "Captain, heading northeast leads to a sloped road, and it enters the territory occupied by the Shattered Stone Plain army."

"Stop talking nonsense." Bether shook his head, "There's no outpost on the border, only rangers; they can't stop us.

If the cavalry attacks from the salt flat gathering and comes here or heads to the stone bridge, it's just a matter of time; the risk is the same."

After speaking, he looked at the five Captains Bai and the Military Chaplain around him: "What do you think?"

To most people's disappointment, the officer corps decided to continue heading north.

They couldn't return the way they came but continued north along the river.

While cursing Bether as a ruthless petty man in their hearts, the soldiers had no choice but to push the carts northward again.

This time, however, unexpectedly, they proceeded smoothly and arrived at the stone bridge a day later.

The stone bridge spanned the most turbulent section of the Iron River, with moss-covered bridge piers full of cracks.

When the first carriage rolled over the bridge, Old Laver distinctly heard the crisp sound of stones falling into the water.

The carriages passed over the stone bridge one by one, and the drivers swung short whips at the horses' rumps.

The iron-bound wheels rolling over the crevices in the bluestone slabs emitted a friction sound reminiscent of animals whimpering.

Following behind the carriages, Old Laver suddenly felt his sleeve being tugged.

Looking in the direction Kaler pointed, he widened his eyes first and then quickly approached to touch it.

It was a slice of dark red horse manure, long solidified, with little odor. It didn't seem freshly dropped but wasn't old either.

Had cavalry passed through here earlier?

"We need to report this to Mr. Bether," Old Laver said seriously to Kaler, but Kaler seemed to be distracted.

"Did you hear that?" Kaler suddenly pressed his head to the ground.

Old Laver's expression turned serious: "Hear what?"

Instinctively, he tilted his ear to listen and immediately heard the sound behind the clouds... No, it wasn't distant thunder... It was—

"Horse hooves, they're horse hooves!" Kaler jumped up from the ground, shouting to those around him.