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Chapter 25

Author: Gail Poole
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

The next morning they awoke hot and sticky in the tent. It was going to be a hot humid day and the sun was just peaking over the horizon. No sooner had the bugler finished morning revellie than the commander, the officers and the trainers were all going down the line and pulling men out of their tents. Will could hear them coming their way. He quickly grabbed Seline’s clothes and the two blankets. He stood up hunched over in the tent and wrapped the blankets around her. At the mouth of the tent he stuck her clothes in her hands and told her to head into the woods to get dressed and then come back quickly. Seline ran out of the tent and darted into the woods. Will had stuck her hat on her head, over her newly cut hair, as she ran out. She got into the woods and out of sight just in time the sounds of hooves and the groans and shouts of men could be heard just out of sight.

Seline stopped and leaned on a tree and pulled on her pants as she listened. “Where is your brother boy?” The com
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    The commander was true to his word and was there waiting for them at the training field when they arrived. “I am glad to see that you are taking me seriously. Take your spots right there in the center of the front row. I want you where I can see you.” He turned and walked back to where there were an array of weapons displayed on a makeshift table. He selected what looked like a large stick with a spear on the end. He brought it forward with him and stood waiting at the front. When all the rest of the soldiers had arrived and taken their places, The commander stepped forward. “This is where it all starts. We do not have a lot of time here. I need every man here to listen and learn everything that we teach you as if your life depended on it, because it does. If you do not learn you will not know how to defend your self. You will not know how to use the tools that we will give. You will meet the enemy and they WILL kill you. I am not one to waste words and I am not one that wastes time.

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    The morning moved on like this with Seline finding out that she was good at almost everything that she tried. They used the rifles for every scenario that they practiced. Seline was surprised at how well she did but scared at the same time. It was one thing to do this in practice where no one will get hurt, she knew that she could not hurt someone else. By the time they went to lunch, she was exhausted. As she walked to find Will, many of the other men were coming up and patting her on the back or shaking her hand and introducing themselves. Will came up from behind her and grabbed her upper arm as she finished shaking hands with an older man named Ryan. Will dragged her off to a quiet spot by a tree, out of ear shot of most of the men. “Are you out of your mind! You are supposed to be keeping your head down and blending in so that no one will notice when you disappear. What the hell was that?” Will looked like he was about to pull his hair out. He ran his hands over his face. “You r

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    Will and Seline were led inside by a young but strong looking boy. “Are you two working here also then? I am Oliver. I am one of the stretcher bearers. They wanted strong young men for that job. I guess that is what you are here for.” He says as he turns to Will. “You must be here to assist the surgeon. I hope you have good hands, steady nerves, and an iron stomach. I saw some action with the small unit that we had before we came to the training camp to train all of you. It was gruesome, but a few of the men did make it.” The youth saunters on through what appears to be a grouping of several tents that are all connected together. they passed through a few areas with empty cots not set up and what looked like supply storage. There was also an area that looked like a make shift surgery. The last was a small area with men laying in the beds. Most were asleep, some were moaning, a few were looking at them as they walked through. At last he came to a set of tent flaps and raps on the tent

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    By the end of the day Seline was exhausted and did not think that she would ever be able to eat pork again. She also smelled awful as the meat had gone rancid and that was why Henry was allowed to use it to practice on. She needed a bath. She stunk terribly. She definitely did not want Will to see her this way. She would have to sneak down to the river to wash when everyone was at dinner. She got in the dinner line as fast as she could and brought her food back to the tent and placed it inside. She grabbed what she would need to wash up and headed off through the trees to the edge of the river. She really would like to wash her uniform, but she only had one so she would not be able to go naked while it was washed and dried. When she got to the river she found a secluded place that was surrounded by reeds. She figured that she would not be seen and she would be able to hide under the low hanging tree branches that had lots of leaves. After she had taken the uniform off near the edge o

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    Seline woke the next morning to Will shaking her awake agian. Apparently the officers were going to make it a habit to go down the rows of tents and roust everyone every morning. She quickly got her clothes down from the tent poles and put them on. It was just in the Knick of time. This time when the officers got to their tent they did not just wake them the ordered everyone to line up on the field without delay. The soldiers headed off sleepily in the direction of the training field. A few of the men who had tried to slip off to relieve themselves were quickly ushered back into line. It took no time at all for everyone to be lined up and waiting on the field. One man, who Seline had seen been herded back toward the field from the woods, decided to relieve himself right there, causing everyone around him to complain loudly and give him a wide berth. None of the officers said anything. They simply stood at the front and looked out over the men. The commander stood to one side with a fe

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    Seline skipped breakfast that day not having much of an appetite, and it seemed that the rest of the camp did not either as there were not many men in line when she passed. Will had been even more silent than he had the last few days and Seline knew that the scene that they had just witnessed was weighing heavily on his mind. He felt it had been his responsibility to get her out of here that first night, and he had failed in that. Now she was in even more danger and he had no way to safely get her out. The things that she was having to endure daily were things that he had wanted to protect her from. Seline let him brood with his thoughts and decided to talk to him that night. They walked together out onto the training field once again. Staying as far from the two hanging figures as they could. When everyone returned to the field training began. It was much like the training from the first day, but this time the reviewed what they had learned and then added how to properly use the bayo

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    Seline wanted to find a way to let Will know that she would have to stay in the medical tent that night. At dinner time, she took the opportunity to seek him out and let him know. Will was still being very silent. It was not like him and this bothered her. Had she done something wrong? When she asked him about this, his response was “Not here and not right now. We will talk later.” Will returned to what he was doing with Oliver. Seline had no appetite yet again, and did not eat dinner. She grabbed a few blankets from their tent and went back to the medical tent and set up her cot. After Henry went through rounds with her and told her what she needed to monitor and look for, he announced that he was going to bed and she was to take first watch. Seline did her rounds and then was bored sitting there alone since all the patients were asleep also, so she crept into the doctor’s office area hoping to find a book to read to pass the time. She looked through the papers on the top of his des

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    Heading out of the medical tent, Seline walked to the breakfast line. She was hoping to see Will there, but there were not that many men in line this morning. She hoped that nothing else had happened. After quickly eating her breakfast, She decided to head over to the tent to see if Will was still there. As she walked down the rows of tents, Seline was amazed to find that most of the men were still asleep. The officers had not gone through and rousted everyone like the previous days. She found Will still asleep in the tent. When she woke him, he surprised her by reaching up and grabbing her in a fierce hug and kissed her ferociously. They held each other close, staying like that for a few minutes. When they finally broke apart, Will grabbed Seline’s face. “I am so sorry. I did not want this for you nor did I mean for you to be stuck here like this with all these awful things going on around you.” Seline shook her head. "This is not your fault. You stop blaming yourself right now! You a

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    Frozen in place for the second time tonight, Seline did not move. “Name yourself sir.” Seline Answered the firm hand on her shoulder. The hand dropped down the side of her arm and spun her around. To her great relief it was Will. She quickly looked around and seeing everyone was asleep, stepped forward to wrap her arms around him. Will grabbed them in mid motion and shook his head. Instead he took her by the hand and led her to the side of the tent. Will lifted the flap and ducked under pulling Seline behind him. “Come back to the tent with me. “ Will beckoned. Seline followed him in the dark to his new tent space. Once inside he pulled her to him and wrapped her in his arms. “I have missed you.” He said with a squeeze. Seline snuggled into his arms. She could tell that he had even bathed and shaved. He smelled of soap and leather. He released her and leaned down and kissed her oh so gently on the forehead. “ That doesn’t hurt does it?” He asked looking at her forehead with some con

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    Seline spun around at the voice and it made her head swim and her legs go weak from the vertigo. She grabbed the nearby tent pole to steady herself. The Captain rushed over and grabbed her arm and helped her to the chair meant for Henry to keep watch in. He was asleep in the cot at the far end of the tent. The Captain took a seat on the end of the cot next to her that was vacant. He looked at her expectantly. Seline was not sure how much to say or even what to say. How much had he guessed and how much had she given away? The Captain followed Seline’s gaze to the sleeping Henry. “Don’t worry about him. We expected him to sleep. He always does, and this way we can talk frankly. I need you to tell me what is going on.” Seline continued to look away from him. Afraid if she looked him in the eye that he would see right through her. She slumped in her chair. Recognizing her body language, the Captain sat back and folded his arms. “How about we start with how you got in this state.” He wa

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    She looked around her and found Will squatting next to her looking concerned. “Are you okay? They have had people out looking for you for hours. “ Seline scrambled to her feet. “What do you mean for hours? I must have fallen asleep. “. Seline was holding her head. She had a pounding headache and getting up too fast made it worse. “The captain came and found everyone in our company and sent them out looking for you. He said it was a training exercise. I take it that this was not a training exercise?” Will looked at her and had a smirk. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her on the forehead. “Are you okay?” Seline nodded slowly and snuggled into him. “I was supposed to meet with the captain before my shift at the hospital. I was feeling sick and came out here. I threw up and then decided to sit just for a second then I would go back. I must have fallen asleep. Other than a headache I am fine.” Will held her at arms length to look at her. “You have been sick to your stomach a lot l

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    The Captain and Seline walked to the line for lunch. It was long since everyone just got out of training and it was the camp wide break time between training and their regular duties. “I have paper and pens back in my tent. Can you read and write?” The Captain asked. It was a valid question. Many of the men here were poor farmers and did not put any value in reading or writing. “Yes. “. Seline did not want to give away too much but she knew that by reputation the Evans family were among the wealthier farm families and they all knew how to read and write. “ Good. I will have you work as the scribe as we go through the map of the camp and reassign all the officers. “. The Captain nodded to the cook as he received his food. Seline grabbed her plate and followed the captain back to his tent. They sat on up turned wooden crates and ate their food in silence. Once finished, the captain brought out the maps and they began. She managed to convince the captain that she should stay right wh

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    After finally eating, which seemed to settle her stomach, but only made her feel more drowsy, she made her way to where the medical tent used to stand. Henry and the Doctor were standing in front of what appeared to be a pile of logs and a giant heap of fabric. “Oh good your here. We are going to be setting up the new tent. I am afraid it will be just the three of us as Oliver and Will have been reassigned to overnight guard duty since they have increased the security. Very good suggestion by the way Corporal.” Well at least Seline now knew where Will was. She was exhausted and sore and worn out and still had the whole day ahead of her. Now she had to help rebuild the hospital tent. Seline kept putting one foot in front of the other through sheer will. The doctor let Seline and Henry do all the manual labor while he supervised. He seemed very happy with their work as he was in a good mood all day despite the slow going. One by one Seline and Henry dug the holes and put up the heavy p

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    The bugle blared loudly not far from their tent. Seline awoke to the tent flaps being thrown open and she was being dragged out by her arm. Will was no where to be found. “Rise and shine Corporal.” A voice said from behind her. She regained her wits and turned to see the Commander standing behind her in the dusky morning. The sun had not yet risen. “Where is your brother?” The Commander demanded. Seline looked around her and then back at the tent. “I don’t know. Maybe he had to relieve himself. Is something wrong sir?” She looked back at the Commander to see if he would give a reason for this continued early morning harassment. He smiled at her with a knowing look. “You should be an example now Corporal. You should already be up and ready to go. Let’s move it. Out on the training field.” The Commander turned and walked back down the row without checking any other tent. “I’m sure glad I didn’t get on the Commander’s bad side.” The man from the next tent said as he walked away shaking h

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    “Did you hear nothing that I told you earlier?” Will said in an angry whisper. His face was turning red he was soo mad. Seline had only seen him this angry one other time when they were younger and that was when his brother had partially sliced through his girth on his saddle so he would fall off as a joke. Only his father was soo angry he got a whipping with the belt. It was his father’s saddle that he had borrowed and he was furious. Seline looked him straight in the eye. “ I remember everything you said. I think it may be what you haven’t said. Something is clearly worrying you and you are not telling me everything. So tell me. What is going on?” Seline raised her hand to cup his cheek and he turned his face away angry. “You really don’t understand what I tried to do back there. I was trying to keep you safe. They want you and they know exactly where you are they just need to get rid of me to force you to marry Mr. Dells.” “How exactly was you being captured in an enemy camp, tha

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    “Excuse me corporal Evans and private Evans. The Commander has ordered you both to his tent for debriefing immediately.” Came a familiar male voice from outside the tent. It was Sterling. The young cook’s assistant. Will popped his head out of the tent “Thanks Sterling. We will be there shortly. Oh and we are both just privates.” Will added. Sterling gave him an odd look. “Oh no sir. Maybe your brother has no had a chance to tell you since you got back, but he was promoted to Corporal. Please pass on my congratulations.” Sterling turned to leave looking slightly confused, but not saying anything more. Will brought his head inside the tent, but did not move for a minute. "What is he talking about?" He turned to look at Seline who had grabbed the nearest blanket to cover herself. "Sorry. You did not give me the chance to tell you when I got back to the tent. The Captain promoted me for saving you. Well and for asking the cook to get some food for all the men that came back and not just

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    “Your work both with the other men and on your own was exemplary. You were able to free your brother, who I am told was not with the other captives. The other two men you were with thought that they were working him over to get information like they had done to the other men when we were spotted. You kept your head unlike most of the other men that had family there and as a result you were the only one who got out with them. Moments like at the creek and again this evening with the cook. Getting all the men food instead of just raiding the cook tent like the other men were there to do shows that you respect chain of command. I want you as part of my team. I am promoting you to Corporal. It is just the beginning for you I think. You have the makings of a good officer. Don’t disappoint me. For now we will keep your schedule the same except you will report to me after morning training and before you head to the medical tents. Am I clear?” Seline did not know what to say. “Yes Sir. Thank

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