The sky quickly dimmed, the entire canopy turning a deep blue as specks of stars began to appear in the night sky.
The firewood crackled softly and steadily in the flames, occasionally releasing a faint, earthy scent.
Splinters on the wood caught fire, flying off as sparks that landed in the damp soil and were instantly extinguished.
They had found a cave to rest in before dusk.
Dinner was an unfortunate wild duck. As they were already lost, Hereward had laid down a rule to ensure no one else wandered off: no one was to go more than half a mile away to forage for food.
Besides, it had been raining recently, and not many animals would venture out in such weather.
So, catching this wild duck was a considerable stroke of luck.
Gary was in charge of cooking the wild duck. He claimed to have once been the cook for a rather prestigious Saxon nobleman.
He hummed an unfamiliar tune as he tended the fire, turning the duck to ensure it cooked evenly.
