No trace: Part Two of The Accidental Trilogy

Chapter Twenty Two

The next morning, both men are on high alert. It does not take me long to understand why.

Soldiers are coming in this direction. American, I quickly discern. But there are others, coming from the south.

Germans. Probably fleeing the onslaught.

'We go east,' Alaric says. 'The two groups will pass us by.'

'They are too close. You two, go and distract the Americans. I will take care of the Germans.'

'Don't hurt them.'

'I do have other gifts you know. Don't let anything happen to Anthea, you understand me?'

I find them quickly; their uniforms are dirty and their eyes are bloodshot and covered in grime. It doesn't take long before I have them all doing my bidding.

Walking west, towards the coast. Once there, they can make their next move without any help from me. Watching them go, I hear a gunshot.

I move quickly without thinking, without changing forms to find them.

I slow down as I approach, they are facing the Americans, one of whom has just fired a warning shot into the air. Natural persuasion does not seem to have worked.

'I'll ask you again. Who are you?' The one, who fired the gun, is predictably, the leader of this little offshoot of a regiment.

'Like I said officer,' Alaric is perfectly calm as he answers, 'We're Danish. My name is Goran, this is my friend, Jorgen.'

'Sounds German to me,' one of the other soldiers says snidely.

Tristan keeps his face carefully schooled into blankness.

'You'll understand if I don't believe a word. Sergeant. Restrain these men.'

Neither man resist.

'Corporal, retrieve the horses.'

'Yes, sir.'

Andrea, as expected, makes a fuss at having a stranger try and grab at his reins and then rears, neighs and makes a break for it.

'Corporal!'

'Sir.' He has no trouble getting the other two though. I watch Andrea storm right by me, but he doesn't go too far. I passed a river earlier; my guess is he'll shelter there.

'I told you to retrieve the horses.'

'Yes, sir.' He looks a little out of breath.

'Sergeant, we will set up camp here. Organise the watch for the prisoners.'

'Yes, sir.'

'Corporal Anderson, tie up the horses. You and Corporal Smyth can go and retrieve the other one.'

'Sir?'

'Are you questioning a superior officer?'

'No sir.'

'Good man. Complete your orders.'

Both Corporals go off and tie off the two horses. I watch them all settle in, the Sergeant shouting about, also issuing orders on behalf of the leader before he finishes and speaks to the man in private.

'Major?'

'Sergeant.'

'Are we taking prisoners?'

'We're at war Sergeant until we hear from our superiors. They're prisoners of war, and will be treated as such.'

'They had weapons.'

'I saw.'

'And they still claimed to be innocent Danes. What do you make of that?'

'Were these weapons confiscated?'

'Of course, Major.'

'Then we need not think about that. However, there was that third horse, carrying weapons. There's another one out there, and we must remain on our guard until he is discovered.'

'More patrols are coming out of the city, he'll be discovered soon.'

'Let's hope so.'

Let's hope not.

I go and find Andrea exactly where I expected. He bumps me in greeting and I give him a well-deserved scratch behind the ears.

'Good boy. We're going to have to arrange a rescue now, you realise that.'
He snickers in a sort of reply. 

I hear the Corporals crashing around, and I figure I better circle back to the soldiers' camp before we are discovered.

I mount Andrea merely to disguise the tracks and trot away from the two, directing Andrea to cross the river.

Thankfully he is as quiet as it is possible for a grown horse to be. The two Corporals both still follow what noise remains and I lead them on a merry dance around the campsite. They return to it at dusk. I don't blame them.

I listen to them report to the Sergeant and then to the Major, both of whom are disappointed. More so when they realise that horse and apparent owner have been reunited.

This rescue will definitely require planning, it's not just the horses, Alaric's and Tristan's weapons have been seized and other personal items, I quickly surmise. The anger I feel when I see the Major fingering Alaric's necklace is confusing and I quickly push it away.

I make Camp with Andrea not too far away, thankful that I have slept the previous night and so able to remain awake for however long this takes.

The next morning, I tidy my camp, make it look unused and ready Andrea for another day of stealthy riding. The soldiers know that I am on the loose, they will all be on high alert.

I approach the Camp, and watch as they too, dismantle their equipment, 'rouse' the prisoners - as I suspected, Alaric and Tristan both stayed awake - who were then ordered to walk between the two Corporals, both armed, but even I could see, uneasy with firearms.

I did a quick headcount. One Major, one Sergeant, two Corporals, four privates, and my friends. All accounted for and present.

For now, at least.