The Search Begins Volume 02 of An Unwanted Destiny

Forty-Eight

I peered into the swirling darkness. I saw only a few torches spread out around the camp revealing at least a hundred white tents which blended in quite well with the snow. I tried to look for the Knight knowing that he would stand out amongst the white tents and snow, but I only saw the few soldiers making their rounds. I did see a large tent in the center of the camp and knew the Knight had to be staying there.

Drak scanned the Madrian camp. "I wonder where they are keeping the girls."

"If they are really using the women for whatever they want they might have spread them out amongst all of the soldiers," I said placing a hand on the hilt of Diark. "They probably have most of them in that large tent which is most likely where the Knight is keeping them."

I really wasn't looking forward to another fight with a Knight, but I couldn't let them continue with what they were doing to the people of Winadale. I moved swiftly through the throng of Winadalins looking for Johan. I found him kneeling down in the snow, staring at the camp below with his hands clenched tightly on the sword his father had managed to find in their inn.

I glanced over at Johan's father who held a mallet used more in the kitchen to pound down meat than for battle. A lot of the Winadalins had weapons that were usually used more around their homes than for fighting. I placed a hand on his shoulder. The young man jumped, nearly poking me in the side.

"Sorry Trez"

"It is alright Johan," I said giving him a reassuring smile which caused him to relax a little. "I know all of you are pretty wound tight. As we sat at your father's inn, I looked over everyone that was there, and not many of you look like you have seen much fighting."

"True," Johan said staring at the Madrian camp. "There hasn't been a war in this region in a hundred years, but some of older men served in the Togusian army for a few years but even those haven't taken up their swords since before I was born."

"At least they have some experience. Hopefully, if we can't do this without starting a battle, their old instincts will kick in. Besides with me, Drak and Eryn we should be able to keep most of you from seeing too much fighting," I said which brought forth a smile on Johan's face. I looked at all of the men around him and raised my voice just a little more so they could all hear me. "Now when Eryn gives the signal that is when all of you start down to the camp as quietly as you can. The farther we can get into the camp the better our chances of being able to get your sisters, daughters, cousins, or whoever it is they have taken from you. Remember if you find anyone you get them out of the camp and to our meeting area as fast as you can."

Johan and the other Winadalins responded with a nod. I nodded back hoping that almost all of them ended up back with their families in Winadale. I hated it then, and I still hate it now to bring men and women away from their families for any battle. Once I was sure they were all set I made my back over to Drak and Eryn. They told me that had seen some soldiers lead a group of young women towards the large tent then the soldiers left after a few minutes. I stared back down at the camp and wished the Knight would just appear. I wanted to know he was in the camp and not outside waiting for our raid.

We started our raid ten minutes later with Eryn sending out a small series of icicles out across front lines of our group telling all of the Winadalins to move forward. I half expected to hear them all rush ahead. Even a yell coming forth from some of them but all that I heard was the crunch of our feet on the snow. We reached the outer edge of the camp without a single alarm being raised. I let out a small sigh and believed we could pull this off, especially after we made our way through the first five rows of tents and rescued fifteen women.