Sold

The Prince

Shawn's POV

"Raise!"

All of us raise our muskets as we aim at the targets in front of us that are made of sacks stocked with hay.

"Fire!"

We all pull the trigger as some of us miss, some come close, and some hit the target.

"That's it for today."

All the soldiers depart, going into their tents as I put the sling of my musket around my shoulder.

"Soldier! The Colonel asks to speak with you," A higher-ranked soldier walks over to me.

"Yes, sir," I said. I salute him and start walking over to the Colonel's tent. "Sir, you asked to speak with me," I speak once I enter.

"Yes. Sit," The Colonel says.

I do as he says as I take a seat at a chair at his desk right across from him.

"Did you know that a member of the Elite Circle was announced dead?" The Colonel speaks.

"No, sir, I did not know," I said.

"The Major was in Tennessee. Do you know what happens there?" The Colonel speaks.

"No, sir," I said.

"There are traitors in Tennessee who help slaves escape. Our suspicions are on them but the problem is, is that we do not exactly know who these traitors are," The Colonel says.

"And what does this have to do with me, sir?" I ask.

"I kept you for myself for a reason. I saw the way you fought back and I needed someone like you. You and I, along with a small group of soldiers will go to Tennessee and investigate what happened there," The Colonel says.

I don't want to go but I know that I have no choice. "Yes, sir," I said to him.

"We will be leaving in two days at dawn. You are dismissed," The Colonel says.

I stand up and salute him as I walk out of his tent. "Maybe this trip to Tennessee may help me in finding my family," I whisper to myself. I walk over to my tent and enter to see my bunkmates.

"There is the barbarian," One says.

I roll my eyes and ignore them as I throw my hat on my bed and sit down on it.

"You never got anything to say do you not?" A second says.

I bite my tongue, knowing that if I do say something they will tell the Colonel and he will brutally punish me, not that I can't take it, I will take anything if it means being strong for my family.

I lean my musket against the wall and lay down on my bed as I cover my face with my hat.

I didn't realize that I fell asleep and when I wake up, it's dark outside.

I look over to see that my bunkmates are in a deep sleep in their beds.

I slowly and quietly stand up as I walk outside of my tent. I could escape, I know I can, I know that the Colonel is asleep but I also know that they are patrols on duty.

I walk over to the campfire and serve myself some water in the kettle that has been boiled. I down the water as I wipe my chin clean. "I will find my family, no matter what it takes," I whispered to myself.