Lords of Freedom 2 - Chapter 30
Introduction
Lords of Freedom is an exciting trilogy that includes adventure, realistic action, surprising insights, and a touch of romance. (Movie rights open)
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The serialization of Lords of Freedom 2 (book 2 of the trilogy) is in progress. Lords of Freedom 2 includes many intriguing parallels with Joan of Arc, George Washington, Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox), Henry Knox, and the American Revolutionary War. Chapters of book 2 are being published weekly. Please follow and subscribe on X or Substack.
Lords of Freedom 2 - Chapter 30 - Good and Evil Plans
On Guardian’s deck, Knox stood at the rail with Hailey at his side, looking out over the placid sea. It was a calm, sunny day, with fluffy white clouds drifting overhead. Gulls squawked as they circled in the sky, answered by songbirds in the trees on shore.
“I know this is a wise move that Xan advised, but I’ll miss you dearly,” Hailey said, leaning in against him.
He put an arm around her. “I’ll be back before you know it, and you’ve got plenty to do here in the meantime.”
She nodded, prepared to begin the task of grooming the renegade stallion once Guardian set sail. Hon was staying at Safe Haven as well, to help Hailey with the horse. At the moment, she and Xan were saying their goodbyes on the bridge.
Xan’s plan was to accompany Knox and Lindsey with a squad of men to Leighford where they’d meet with Second Lieutenant Zachary and all battalion leaders not stationed at Safe Haven, along with Admiral Wainwright. The tide of the war seemed to be turning at last, and they didn’t want any more battles lost due to poor tactics.
Also, Xan and Knox had a strategy in mind to overwhelm the Kingmen army in a colossal attack in the not-too-distant future. Zachary, Wainwright, and all battalion leaders needed to be aware of the plan and move in sync for it to succeed, and this was the perfect opportunity to brief them all.
Part of the journey would be on horseback and below deck, the stables were loaded. Word had already been dispatched, and with any luck, Wainwright, Zachary, and the battalion leaders would be waiting in Leighford by the time they arrived.
Sheba and Lindsey ascended the stairs from below deck as Hon descended those from the bridge. They reached Hailey and Knox at the same time, and the two drew apart.
“We’re ready to set sail,” Lindsey said, smiling when Sheba sat down beside him.
“Very good; I’ll join Xan on the bridge,” Knox said.
The tiger gave Lindsey a shoulder nudge as Knox strode off.
“She’s surely taken to you, Lieutenant,” Hon said.
“I know, and although I didn’t like that at first, now I’m honored.”
Hon and Hailey nodded final goodbyes to the men and headed for the gangplank. On shore, they watched as Guardian set sail, waving as the ship moved into the open sea.
“Ready to tackle the stallion?” Hon asked.
“I am; let’s go,” Hailey replied. “Forrest told me earlier that his shoes are all on, and the lash wounds are healing nicely. We’ll have to be careful of the gash on his flank, though.”
“His mane and tail will be the worst, with all the burrs,” Hon said as they neared the stables. “I have something that will help, though: a salve my mother concocted that will coat the burrs and help them slide free.
Hailey lifted a brow. “Wonderful; let’s get to work.”
*****
In an abandoned farmhouse, Collette paced, pausing at the kitchen window on every pass, impatient for Henry’s return. Gerald and Kurt lounged in the parlor, playing cards and drinking ale, on edge as well, but more resigned. Curled up on a rug placed in one kitchen corner was a tabby cat.
The farmhouse was in disrepair with numerous broken or cracked windows, a badly leaking roof, a staircase too rickety to risk climbing, and an infestation of mice. It had rained on and off the past few days, and since the parlor ceiling had no leaks, they’d slept on cots there with the tabby curled at Collette’s feet.
They’d discovered the cat in the barn, and once the mice were apparent, Collette coaxed her inside with a bit of food and a bowl of milk. She was mangy and skittish, but it hadn’t taken long for the tabby to begin hunting mice, forcing them into hiding and out of sight.
The barn was in marginally better shape than the farmhouse, with an intact roof, giving the horses and carriage adequate shelter. As well, they hadn’t seen a single mouse in there.
*****
At a corner table in one of the city pubs a few days before, Gerald overheard news of the Pee Dee River ambush and the sacking of a nearby army battle camp. As he listened, glad for the concealing shadows, he realized the intel they’d delivered to General Banastre had been false—a setup. Further, he, Collette, Henry, and Kurt would soon be arrested and delivered to Banastre to answer for what he deemed treason.
Gerald had slipped out of the pub and rushed back to the manor straightaway. The four of them packed hastily and mounted their carriage, leaving Leighford to hunker down here, a place they’d secured as an emergency bolt hole.
Venturing into Leighford was dangerous, but they needed provisions and information. Henry was the logical choice for that, and Collette had fixed him up with a convincing disguise. He wore platform shoes and a pair of Gerald’s pants to make him appear taller, with a fake mustache and toupee completing the costume, along with a bowler hat and a pair of spectacles.
Henry kept his head down and said as little as possible in Leighford, listening closely for any word relating to them at the general store, the pubs or taverns, and on the streets in general. He’d learned yesterday that Knox Fox had summoned his battalion leaders to Leighford for a strategic meeting, and the city was in an uproar, eager to hail their heroes. Pathetic is what it was.
Upon hearing that news, a plan formed in Collette’s mind. When she voiced it, the others agreed unanimously. The assassination of Knox Fox during the proceedings would certainly redeem the four in Banastre’s eye and cancel out the charge of treason.
Henry had returned to Leighford earlier today, a sunny one after the drizzling storms, to get a sense of Knox Fox’s timing, had he arrived in Leighford yet, and how many battalion leaders were on site for the meeting, as well as how many more were en route? Once Henry learned those facts, he’d have a better idea of when the meeting would transpire and where.
*****
It was dusk now, and at the kitchen window, Collette felt a tickling sensation on her leg. Looking down, she saw the tabby rubbing up against her, and she crouched to pick the cat up, stroking her absently as she continued to pace.
The cat wasn’t feral, merely abandoned and wary; once inside the farmhouse with bowls of food, water, and milk, she’d tamed considerably and begun grooming herself; the day before, Collette had plucked the last few burrs from her coat and then used an old hairbrush on the cat.
“Collette, sit down; you’re driving us crazy,” Kurt remarked on her next pass through the parlor.
“I’m thinking,” she snapped. “Wondering, actually, why Henry has been gone so long. You don’t suppose he was recognized and arrested, do you?”
“No,” Gerald said. “He knows how to sneak and snoop.”
“Have a drink, sis; that’ll settle your nerves,” Kurt advised.
Collette sank onto the couch with a sigh. “Perhaps you’re right.”
By the time she polished off her shot of ale, the front door banged open. All three leaped to their feet, Collette scattering the tabby from her lap in her haste. The cat yowled and scrambled to get herself out from underfoot, skittering into the hallway.
The four sat down at the kitchen table, and Henry pulled the bowler cap from his head and set it aside, removing the mustache as well. Collette, Kurt, and Gerald leaned in expectantly.
“Knox Fox is due to arrive sometime tomorrow, as are the final three battalion leaders and Admiral Wainwright. Their meeting will transpire in the City Centre once everyone arrives. The proceedings will be closed to the public, but afterward, Knox Fox will address the Leighford citizens.”
“That will make an assassination attempt near impossible,” Collette sighed. “All those Freemen battalion leaders and whatever security Mayor Yardley provides—on top of the Leighford citizenry, loyal Freemen to a fault?”
A glint lit Henry’s eyes. “True, my dear, but Knox Fox will never reach Leighford. He has himself stationed at a seaside battle camp they call Safe Haven, somewhere west of the city, although its exact location is unknown. This means Knox will have to sail in as far as he can and finish the journey on horseback.
“From what I gleaned today, there’s a wooded grove less than ten miles outside the city, just off the main road in from the west. We can stash the carriage there, it sounds like.
“The men I overheard were familiar with the area and boasted of hunting elk from a little rise overlooking a pond where the elk gather to drink. If that’s true, it will make an ideal sniper station...for Gerald, of course.”
Gerald was by far the best marksman among them, and he shrugged in agreement as Collette and Kurt nodded assent.
“Knox may stop there to water the horses,” Kurt said.
“My thoughts exactly, but even if they don’t stop, Gerald should have a clear shot. We’ll have to move out now, though, to be sure we’re in position and on watch by morning,” Henry said.
After a bit more discussion, they began packing up, loading everything onto the carriage. Henry had rubbed the horses down and given them food and water before entering the farmhouse, and they seemed puzzled at being harnessed again so soon. It was unavoidable, though, and although travel at night was risky, they had lanterns mounted on the carriage, and there was a full moon in the sky above.
Collette was the last one to leave the farmhouse, and when her comrades noticed she had the tabby in tow, they objected. Leaving the cat behind was only logical, Gerald said. They had a mission to accomplish, one that did not include animal rescue, Kurt pointed out. Henry warned that the tabby might get in the way or distract them, Collette in particular.
Collette would hear none of it, though. She indulged their futile arguments...for about four minutes; then she put her foot down and that was that. The carriage rolled out, with the tabby curled in Collette’s lap, purring contentedly.
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