The Winter Queen of Havenshire

Chapter 19: FIGHT OR FLIGHT

The twins stayed inside the Longhouse with the family. Thrushbeard stood at the front door with a sword in one hand and a small ax in the other. Crow stood a few feet away from him with arrow nocked to bow. Both moved their eyes looking for something or someone to enter the clearing.

Time went slowly as they waited, but both men were trained for battle as youths.

"Perhaps we should not have come here," Crow said.

"I have a feeling this has nothing to do with us," General Thrushbeard said.

Hammer rushed out of the forest toward the Longhouse. He carried Elise as gently as he could.

"Are we clear?" General Thrushbeard asked.

"For now," Hammer answered.

General Thrushbeard moved out of the way. The Hammer entered the Longhouse. He looked to the Crow. He tilted toward the door and motioned to it.

Crow nodded. "I will see if I can help."

General Thrushbeard kept watch.

Corban and Ferine dragged by the legs one of the dead kidnappers out of the forest. The general made his way toward curious who had attacked. The two dropped him when they saw the general coming toward them.

"Do you recognize the uniform?" Corban asked.

General Thrushbeard knelt beside the corpse. He looked first at man's face to see if he knew him. There was no recognition. Then he looked at the uniform. He knew it well. He rose to his feet.

"He was an Overseer. Leave it in the forest. It's probably better to bury him, but we can do that later. Everyone needs to know."

"What's an Overseer, Ferine?"

"I don't know, Corban. I spent my life in the arena. This is all new to me."

Corban and Ferine pulled him back to forest. They rushed back to the cabin.

"When did he get to be in charge?" Corban asked.

"The moment you admitted you needed information he had," Ferine said. "Be careful, I don't trust him."

"Neither do I."

They entered the Longhouse. Everyone sat around the table except Elise who slept in her room and Rojier who leaned against the doorway to his room. His wound had healed, but he still felt a little weak.

"Those were Overseers that took your daughter," General Thrushbeard said. "What would they want with your daughter?

Both Jeffery and Carine faces turned white.

"Who are these Overseers?" Corban asked.

"They are the Lord Fonce's keepers of the peace. They enforce the will of Lord Fonce by keeping order in the wilder territories."

"Sometimes that's what they are," Crow added. "Most times they are more like their master, Lord Fonce, tyrants."

"There some very good men who hold these positions," General Thrushbeard countered. "I put them there myself."

"None of them were put out here," Crow said. "These men are corrupt. They take what they want when they want."

"He speaks the truth," Jeffrey said. "These Overseers are evil men. They will come seeking retribution."

"For saving your daughter," Corban added.

"I am grateful, and you are still welcome here. You must understand they will not forget this."