Joedan nodded again, going quiet as he finished eating his portion. "How long have you been a soldier?" Joedan asked.
Taking a swig of his canteen the commander wiped his sleeve, "I have been a soldier going on nearly thirty summers. I began as a ranger, hence my skill with the bow, and tracking. I eventually took over as the training officer for the city's guards, until finally settling as the commander of the prison."
Joedan knew the man had experience, but he had no idea it was this broad. Maybe, this really was fortune shining down on him. It was hard for Joedan to believe that these influential men had seen something of value in him. To think this all started because the duke chose to take an interest in him? Was the commander just following orders? No, he had just said himself, that he saw potential in Joedan.
Joedan wanted to be happy with his current circumstances, but he was having a hard time truly believing his life had taken such a turn. Thinking to himself, he wondered, "God…is this your doing?"
"We will arrive to Blanchard tomorrow. Get some rest, I will wake you when it's time for you take over the watch," the commander spoke having also finished his meal. Joedan made his way over to their tent and settled himself inside.
Back near the fire, Griff sat pensively. He was proud of the boy's progress. The boy had truly made many strides since their journey had begun. More importantly than his skills with a weapon, his true asset is his heart.
Griff had come to truly respect the young man in a very short amount of time. Thinking to himself, Griff vowed that they would find the kidnappers so Joedan could have his freedom again.
"He would make one heck of a soldier," he muttered to himself with a small smile. Setting his eyes back on the fire, Griff put another log on the fire.
*****
Ralph rode hard, the pain in his hand a steady reminder. His wrist throbbed as he held the reins. Gritting his teeth, he lowered his head and ushered his horse faster. He was making good time. He had taken little time to rest, hoping to get ahead of the two targets he was chasing. Ralph was going to put an end to this hell he had been thrust into. He strengthened his resolve as he continued on.
Lincoln was behind him, a few more hours and he would be approaching the edge of Blanchard. He knew he had been demanding on his horse. He had set a harsh pace, but desperate times and all that.
"Just a little longer, brother."
Approaching Blanchard, Ralph slowed his horse down. He made his way through the small village, it was getting later in the day. Not quite evening yet, but it would be soon. His eyes came upon the familiar farm from that day a few weeks ago.
This was his chance. He would set everything right.
There was an older man out in the field. Ralph dismounted his horse. Tying his horse to a nearby tree, he slid on his studded gloves. He would admit what he was about to do was low even for him.
Sneaking his way around the side of the house, he kept his eyes on the man working in the field. The man was unaware, steady working his shovel into the ground. There was a small noise and the man stopped his work, standing to full height the man turned his head.
Arms circled the man's neck as the older man struggled for breath. Ralph tightened his grip on the flailing man, lowering him to the ground as the man grew more still. Ralph grabbed the man's ankle and started to drag him back towards the house.
Working his way to the shed, he brought the man inside, securing him to a chair he found in the back. Closing the door to the shed, he quietly made his way out and up the stairs to the house.
Looking through the small window, he saw a woman working in the kitchen. Two other smaller children were at her feet. Ralph swallowed. He hated doing anything that involved kids. He tried to be honorable, well as honorable as a person like him could be. He didn't have the time to wait it out. He couldn't be sure how far behind the two targets were.
He would have to act now.
Kicking in the door, there was a loud crash as a dish fell breaking across the floor. The woman's hand had come up covering her mouth as she started to scream. The two children at her feet tried their best to huddle behind her skirts.
Ralph looked at the scene in front of him and tightened his jaw.
"I'm not here to hurt you." Ralph spoke calmly, lowering his hands in a gesture of peace.
The woman looked at him fiercely. "My husband will be here any minute and you'll be sorry you tried to break into our home, thief," the woman spoke. She was bold for an older lady. Ralph admired her spirit.
"If you surrender willingly, I will be gentle with the little ones," Ralph told her.
He knew he had the woman after he said that.
"Turn around," Ralph told her.
Taking some more rope, he bound the woman's wrists. One of the children darted out and tried to swat at his legs. The woman tried to stop her child, but he got away from her before she could stop him. A gag went over the woman's mouth and he placed her in a chair. Looking at the two children as they cowered lower to the floor, Ralph crouched down to their height.
"Don't fear me, little ones. It's not you, I'm after."
Taking a cloth, soaked in a strong smell, he wrapped the cloth over the closest face, child going limp as he brought them to the floor, one after the other. Tying their wrists once he had them down on the ground.
Ralph turned to the stove. There was a fresh meal waiting, having just been pulled from the oven. Ralph grabbed a piece of the meat and bit into it. The woman's eyes wide as she watched Ralph eat in her kitchen.
Ralph looked back at her, "I'll be back in just a minute," he smiled at her.
Stepping back down the front steps of the house he headed towards the shed, grabbing the older man by his elbow, he picked him up. The man had regained consciousness. He tried to speak, but it only came out muffled. Ralph paid him no mind as he led him towards the house.
Placing the older man down at another chair at the table, Ralph turned back to the woman, "told you, I'd be back."
Taking a seat himself, Ralph kicked his feet up and placed them on the table. Leaning back on his chair, hands clasped behind his head, he said,
"Now, we wait. Tell me, where's your eldest?"
He saw the eyes widen in the two adults. Ralph smiled. He had found the right house.