Gar placed a finger on the map.  "Is this the river ford we passed on our journey here?"

"You came from Sir Hildebrandt's manor in the north?  Yes, it is."  The king seemed surprised that Gar had found the intersection of road and river so easily.

"You'll have it heavily defended," Gar predicted, "and if I can see that, so can the earl.  He won't even try a crossing, though he'll mass enough soldiers there to make you think he will.  No, he'll send his troops across the river at least a quarter mile away."

The king stared at the map in surprise, then frowned and demanded, "How?"

"In boats," Gar said.

"With horses?  It would take far too long!"

Gar nodded.  "Even so.  He will send only a dozen knights by boat; the rest will be foot soldiers, but they'll be his most experienced, his best.  They'll make enough trouble for ten times their number, and draw your troops away from the ford.  Then his men will cross - but they won't be the main body of his troops, just enough to keep your army busy, and while they're distracting you, the rest of his soldiers will cross the river here and here" - he stabbed the map with the forefinger of each hand, wide apart - "the two fords.  How distant are they from the main road to your castle?  Four miles?"

"A bit more."  The king stared intently at Gar.

"Close enough to arrive before the diversion is over then.  And Insol will cross at both fords, so that he can bring his troops marching around like the pincers of a crab's claw, with your troops between them as they shut."

"You have guessed even as I have."  The king watched Gar narrowly.  "I will have troops hidden in the forest nearby, of course, to fall upon them as they come out of the water.  What else will I do?"

"Why, carry the fight to Insol, of course!" Gar said, surprised.  "Your army will be ready before his, will it not?"

"It will indeed, especially since the knights near those estates will gather there rather than here."  The king turned to Sir Hildebrandt.  "You will command the force that guards the center ford, though, Sir Hildebrandt.  Keep half your force here; send the others back to Northford."

"As Your Majesty wishes."  Sir Hildebrandt bowed his head, keeping a straight face.

The king turned back to Gar.  "So my army shall attack from north and south at the same time, fording the river and charging out upon Insol's hidden forces.  What shall they do then?"

"Catch them sleeping, since your men will cross under cover of night.  I would guess that you would send your best soldiers across first, dressed in black and moving as silently as possible, to take out Insol's sentries, so that you can catch his camps by surprise.  When they've slain or captured all his soldiers and knights, your forces will wait for dawn, then ride posthaste to attack his castle.  With luck, you may catch him before his drawbridge goes up."