Willis and Hern both quietly moved around the outside of the tents to make their way to Seline. They both moved in next to her. Willis had drawn his pistol. He directed the other two to go around each side of the tent, while he lifted the side and slipped under and into the tent. Seline made her way around the front. She met Hern at the opening. They entered the tent and saw 10 dirty faces looking back at them. Seline was relieved that they had found the men, but she did not see Will. Panic began to set in and her throat was feeling tight. She leaned down to the first man and began to untie him. She whispered in his ear. “Where is WIll and there should be one more of you. We were told that there were 12 men taken.” The man shook his head, and looked sadly at her and said “He was burned alive because he would not talk. They tortured him pretty bad first. I am sure he was grateful when death finally came for him.” Tears ran hot and fast down Seline’s face as she started to untie the nex
“I am not sure. Seline, Mr. Dells was here last night. The man in the center of the camp was a sacrifice.” Will said grabbing hold of her face and looking her straight in the eye. Seline sat back on her feet and just stared. Both of their heads turned in the direction of the front of the tent. Will held a finger up in front of his lips and pointed to the back flap. Will and Seline crawled around the boxes to the back of the tent and slowly lifted the flap. Peaking out from under the bottom of the canvas he checked to see if the coast was clear. Seeing no one, he quickly crawled out and then held it up to let Seline do the same. Will grabbed Seline’s hand and quickly made off for the forest behind the camp. Seline realized that they were running in the opposite direction from where she had come from. They were running away from the enemy camp and away from the camp they had been at. Their feet were rustling through years worth of dead leaves and could not help but give away their posit
Seline looks around. There were just a few men left. They were all on foot now. They had lost nearly everyone that they had rescued and they also lost some of the soldiers that had come to help free them. Seline was saddened to realized that it was mostly the men that had family members that they were trying to save, that did not make it. She had a heavy heart as they all walked back to the camp in silence. They did not have anyone scouting ahead this time, and they were all on their guard for any noises in the woods. As they moved through the woods there was not a sound. No birds, no rustle of little animals, nothing. The walk through the woods was much longer and more taxing on foot than when they rode in on their horses. Will and Seline kept close to each other. She desperately wanted to reach out and hold his hand just to be able to touch him to reassure herself that he was alright, and there with her. It felt almost as if it was a magnetic pull. They would sometimes walk close en
Seline and Will headed back to their tent. Will went inside immediately and laid down and fell asleep as he had not been able to do so the night before. Seline headed right out into the woods to relieve herself as she had not been able to do so since before she left camp to find Will. After she was done she went and sought out some food only to find that the cooks were already gone for the day. She was there with many of the other men that she had traveled with through out the day including the blustering man, who was once again blustering about how the cooks were ignoring their duty. “They have done their duty to the camp for the day and are taking their much needed and deserved rest and are more than likely not aware that we arrived back. I will go see if I can find one of them to get us some food. STAY Here.” Seline said in as deep and booming voice as she could. She knew if that big mouth went with her to find the cooks no one would eat. Seline started at the tents nearby knowing
“Your work both with the other men and on your own was exemplary. You were able to free your brother, who I am told was not with the other captives. The other two men you were with thought that they were working him over to get information like they had done to the other men when we were spotted. You kept your head unlike most of the other men that had family there and as a result you were the only one who got out with them. Moments like at the creek and again this evening with the cook. Getting all the men food instead of just raiding the cook tent like the other men were there to do shows that you respect chain of command. I want you as part of my team. I am promoting you to Corporal. It is just the beginning for you I think. You have the makings of a good officer. Don’t disappoint me. For now we will keep your schedule the same except you will report to me after morning training and before you head to the medical tents. Am I clear?” Seline did not know what to say. “Yes Sir. Thank
“Excuse me corporal Evans and private Evans. The Commander has ordered you both to his tent for debriefing immediately.” Came a familiar male voice from outside the tent. It was Sterling. The young cook’s assistant. Will popped his head out of the tent “Thanks Sterling. We will be there shortly. Oh and we are both just privates.” Will added. Sterling gave him an odd look. “Oh no sir. Maybe your brother has no had a chance to tell you since you got back, but he was promoted to Corporal. Please pass on my congratulations.” Sterling turned to leave looking slightly confused, but not saying anything more. Will brought his head inside the tent, but did not move for a minute. "What is he talking about?" He turned to look at Seline who had grabbed the nearest blanket to cover herself. "Sorry. You did not give me the chance to tell you when I got back to the tent. The Captain promoted me for saving you. Well and for asking the cook to get some food for all the men that came back and not just
“Did you hear nothing that I told you earlier?” Will said in an angry whisper. His face was turning red he was soo mad. Seline had only seen him this angry one other time when they were younger and that was when his brother had partially sliced through his girth on his saddle so he would fall off as a joke. Only his father was soo angry he got a whipping with the belt. It was his father’s saddle that he had borrowed and he was furious. Seline looked him straight in the eye. “ I remember everything you said. I think it may be what you haven’t said. Something is clearly worrying you and you are not telling me everything. So tell me. What is going on?” Seline raised her hand to cup his cheek and he turned his face away angry. “You really don’t understand what I tried to do back there. I was trying to keep you safe. They want you and they know exactly where you are they just need to get rid of me to force you to marry Mr. Dells.” “How exactly was you being captured in an enemy camp, tha
The bugle blared loudly not far from their tent. Seline awoke to the tent flaps being thrown open and she was being dragged out by her arm. Will was no where to be found. “Rise and shine Corporal.” A voice said from behind her. She regained her wits and turned to see the Commander standing behind her in the dusky morning. The sun had not yet risen. “Where is your brother?” The Commander demanded. Seline looked around her and then back at the tent. “I don’t know. Maybe he had to relieve himself. Is something wrong sir?” She looked back at the Commander to see if he would give a reason for this continued early morning harassment. He smiled at her with a knowing look. “You should be an example now Corporal. You should already be up and ready to go. Let’s move it. Out on the training field.” The Commander turned and walked back down the row without checking any other tent. “I’m sure glad I didn’t get on the Commander’s bad side.” The man from the next tent said as he walked away shaking h