CHAPTER 4

Commander Mike was sitted in the Stone Mansion living room when he relayed the news of him marrying Mary to his mother, who expressed her fear

“What nonsense? it is beyond my understanding how Nicholas Sanders would think I would marry his daughter. He is calling me out because I found her naked in the jungle, so I ought to be held responsible for having seen his daughter’s nakedness, he is using the military reputation to threaten me” Commander Mike smirked “ He wants to report me to the Generals for seeing his daughter’s nakedness. Mary Sanders is not even the sort I would marry, I do not like her at all, she is rarely out of her mother’s pouch, she is a good for nothing sissy that can hardly pick a needle by herself, she is useless. And I will never betray Evangeline, I love her too much for all this, how does he expect a soldier to marry that ninny he called a daughter” He snickered, as he faced his mother

“tis outrageous mother, how can he think of such a thing?” He laughed, discarding the idea.

Mrs. Stone shook her head at her son, clearly disapproving of his behaviour” You should not laugh at a young woman, it might bring down her self-esteem Mike, “

“Did you say Self-esteem mother? Not someone like Mary Sanders mother, she is a spoilt brat so she has a lot of pride to soak up the insult, I wonder what Jared will say when he hears this, he warned me of some drama but I did not expect it this way, I was thinking her father would come challenge me about how I found her, but Marriage Mother? Nicholas Sanders is a big fool,“

His mother eyed him warily, her eyes going teary at the name Mike had mentioned absent mindedly turning her back to him she set the ladle back into the delicious soup she was cooking, she scooped a little into a place and tasted it, nodding to herself, she brought the food down from her charcoal cooker, she ignored her son and went back to the living room after putting out the fire

“Mother, I am talking to you” He said huskily as he walked up to her, she sat mindlessly staring at him with concealed anger

“Mother, you are not answering me, I shall go back to the barracks if you continue to ignore me, I am a soldier mother, I seldom have time for your chitchats and do not worry about Nicholas Sanders I will deal with him myself” He said casually, hoping his mother would speak up with what was really trouble her, he knew she had no real interest in his trouble with Nicholas Sanders. Her object of worry was currently in some jungle somewhere chasing criminals and murderers, he had been the apple of her eye, she had never understood what made him turn into what he currently was, an unfeeling soul.

He coughed trying to grasp her attention, he watched as she sat pouting. At sixty-four, Catherine Stone was a stunning woman, though her massive hair was almost fully grey, she had hazel eyes unlike their grey ones, which they took from their father.  she still had her glow, every inch the wife of a soldier, their father had died when he was sent on some peace keeping missions by the king and she had been left to take care of the children by herself, she had been a good mother, only she had been heartbroken when the two of them had declared they wanted to  enter the force, she had been worried about their safety but there was little she could do when their mind was made up.

She had however made the twins sign her a treaty, one she made them learn by heart and made them promise to remember every morning, she had written

“ I, Michael Stone and Jared Stone promise my mother this day that I shall never, ever die on the battle field, I shall not fall by the enemy’s bullet or sword,

and if I do, my mother has the solemn right to not give me a lasting rest, she shall cut me up in pieces and send me to all the warring nations of the earth to add to the blood there(Not a befitting death)

I however, do not have that right either, I am to come back to my mother, for her love is unfailing”

Signed

Michael and Jared Stone.

She had made them sign it and had placed it on her bedstand, for her to see everymorning, she had never gotten over how her husband had left her, she had not even seen his body, she had been told he was blown off by a bomb, a bitter experience that made her go crazy and highly insecure, which was what made the brothers heed her call anytime she sent for them. Commander Mike had even married Evangeline early so she could have her grandchildren early enough but Jared was an exception, he was so relaxed Mike was available with her and would not show up at home at all.

Him, depositing Mary Sanders was the first time, he had done such a good deed, and it was the first time Mike had seen him in years, he rarely ever left footprints for one to track him not even his brother could get him, he disappeared at will and showed up at will. He knew the fact that she did not know his state bothered her.

Though he kept his thoughts himself, he wished he could tell his mother to save herself the stress of worrying about Jared, the man was so obstinate and too unfeeling to care If his mother cared for him or not. He pitied the woman that would marry his brother.

“How is he?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper

“He is okay, Mother fret not, I shall take my leave soon mother”

She nodded, asking no more questions about Jared, he noticed she had a younger snapshot of them in her hands

Smiling, he asked  ”Mother, where is Evangeline? I have been here for hours now but she is yet to be home, she is usually the eager one to see me, tis strange she is yet to be here at this hour” he asked. The memory of his wife bringing a smile to his lips, it had been long he had been with her.

“She went to visit the midwife along with the servants, I would have gone with but one of us has to stay to receive you, I was making the dinner for her, she is carrying your bairn, I want her to be as healthy as possible”

“Okay then, I shall go meet her at the midwife”

He bent to kiss his mother, but she pulled back, looking at him muddled” what are you going to do about Mary Sanders, I do not want someone such as her as my daughter in law, she is spoilt and an utterly useless person, she wouldn’t know how to boil water not to talk of lighting a stove.  It would be unfortunate of any man that ends up with her. “She said in a determined voice

Mike smirked, his handsome dimple showing” Do not bother yourself mother, “ he said dismissively, he grabbed his horse whip on the table and proceeded to leave the room

Mrs Stone muttered to herself as she saw her son out the door” It would be so unfortunate if she married a soldier, she would never be able to cope with the life and and she is too princess like, whoever is setting this marriage is setting her for a life of torture. A marriage into the Stone family is not for the likes of the Sanders” She shook her head sadly as she watched her son climb his horse

He was about leaving when they sighted another horse rider riding madly towards them  from the other side of town, the man brought the horse to a great stop forcefully, he himself panting heavily, had been riding as if his life was being threatened, The Commander looked around, there was so signs of any chasers, he turned his gaze back to the rider

The Commander sat back, “Have you gone mad, Alan? “He barked at the man who turned out to be one of his young recruits and he knew the boy it was unlikely of him to ride thus. The boy was his special breed as his dying mother had made him promise to take care of him. A dashing young man of twenty, with crystal clear  eyes and a blonde hair, and surprisingly obedient for a boy his age.

“No sir, “ Alan shook his head gravely, still sitting atop his horse

“Then why do you ride so? What is the emergency? If there is none, prepare to get caned a hundred times, upon my word you will” He threatened

He ignored, his mother’s gasp

“yes, Commander” Alan answered swiftly, still eager to deliver his message

“Then what ails you so?” Mike asked lazily, getting ready to leave, he had better places to be, he would like to hear instructions about his wife from the midwife herself, Evangeline deserved the perfect delivery, she was a good wife and she had stood by him all of those years.

“Your presence has been required at the wedding hall of Mary Sanders, Commander” The man said moving his horse few steps back as he expected the hell on fury of the Commander, The stone soldiers  was not to be trifled with, he knew the higher ups Generals were only playing with fire when they had started this conspiracy with Nicholas Sanders, it was going to end in tragedy.

“What?” Mrs Stone asked flabbergasted, she looked at her son in trepidation

“They must have all gone mad” He said as he raced in the direction of the midwife’s house

Mrs Stone groaned out in pain, Alan jumped down from his horse, he ran to her and helped her into the house quickly

He hurried to get her water, she collected the water from his hands, fingers trembling she drank it down in quick grasps

Holding Alan’s uniform tightly” Isn’t it bad if he neglects their command? Will he be punished? Will they demote him? will they kill him?” she asked wildly

“Do not mother yourself Ma, He is Commander Mike, he will surely find a way to get himself out of it” He said hopefully, but he was not so sure, his Commander could get himself out of this asides marrying Mary, it was an order, it had to be obeyed, it was the soldier’s way.

Mrs Stone burst into tears, gripping the arm of the young man next to her, “ Why must it be so? Since when has saving somone’s life being a crime, why must they bring sadness into his life. This is Mike he is not Jared, Mike is passionate and kind, he is a very nice soldier and full of mercy, he does not deserve to be troubled, he would not marry that Mary and I know it,” She said amidst tears

“Mrs. Stone you fret for nothing, the Commander would handle it” Alan tried weakly to pacify her, the young man cast his eyes on her teary face, he hated to see tears on Mrs stone, she was a kind woman, though the mother of a Commander she is ever so meek, whenever she came to camp she always makes sure she bakes more than enough cake and muffins for the soldiers, she would listen to their troubles, and lend a bandage and help clean wounds and bandage them, she was like a mother to them all. She was like his dead mother, robust and loving.

“I should go there, I will have a good talk with them, upon my dead husband’s honour, I would” she stood strongly and shoved Alan out of her way, he held her back

“You cannot mean to go, you would only make matters worse Ma, those officers are greedy, they did not hesistate to take Sir Nicholas Sander’s money, they did not even think of Commander Stone honour in the military, and you think they will take cognizance of what you say?” He asked hoping she would see reason with him. There was no way she could go there, there was every possibility, they could use her as a leverage against Commander Mike

She shook her white hair gravely, tears falling across her eyes” What then am I to do? That cold and unfeeling creature Jared won’t come home and  Mike is being forced to marry another woman,” Her eyes lit up as she remembered something

“Borrow me your horse ALan, you trek back to the camp, I need to go to Evangeline, she must not hear of this, it might affect her baby” she said anxiously

Alan had no other choise, he led her out and saddled the horse for her, he smiled that was the Mrs stone he knew, compassionate about others.

He wondered who Jared was? That name was so familiar to him, it was as if he heard it a lot in the military, a wicked Commander whose record could not be found at all in the records office, only stories of his evil nature flowing around, some of the young recruits had even thought him a myth  or a legend of some sort, no one remembered what he looked like either.

He laughed it off, no he could not be, there are several Jared’s in the world and besides, Commander Mike was not a twin and there was no record of a younger brother as well. He shook his head, he was only imagining things.

He walked back into the house lamely, pulling out the plates of carrots on the table, Mrs stone must have served her son the carrot and he had refused to eat.

He placed several sticks of carrots in his mouth and munched happily Commander Mike could take care of his issue, he was a Commander after all, he would sit back and watch the spectacle, the other Commanders had chewed on a stone and their teeth would break

“I picked that carrot for myself” A still, cold and chilling voice said behind him which made Alan jump up in fright but a hand pushed him back down, Alan brought out his gun and attempted to fight him off, but the large man crushed him easily, and took the knife to his throat,

“Do you think you can kill me?” the man asked, the voice so hard, a chill ran down Alan’s back,

“You will not kill me, I am in Mrs stone’s house, she will not rest till she seeks out my murderer, she is like my mother, she loves me a lot, Commander mike will also have your head if…” he had not fisnished his sentence when he was thrown across the room in anger, he hit the book shelf hard, breaking a rib or two, Alan groaned in pain as he sat up painfully to see  the most monstrous eyes he had ever seen, it was blue, like the dead sea, cold and evil looking, and they were glaring at him, the  man was so muscular and had wide shoulders, the mask he had one hid most of his face, only his eyes were visible,

though he could not determine the identity of the man, he knew he was not to be trifled with, he could feel the wickedness emanating off him, he could snap his head into two in splint seconds if he wanted to

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you a recruit? shouldn’t you be at the shooting range by now?” The man asked, his gaze settling on Alan’s uniform.

Alan was amazed, how could he change his personality in seconds” I had a message for Commander Mike” He answered timidly, preparing to grab his broken body and flew the house, he had not sensed another presence in the house at all, he had been so relaxed, if he continued this way as a soldier he would surely be dead before he knew it, he muttered to himself

An eyebrow corked, Alan grew suspicious the mention of Commander Mike must have gained the man’s interest, he wondered if he was the assassin that was sent after Commander Mike by Nicholas and the Generals.

“What is the message?” Jared asked impatiently, he had stayed out of town for months now, he was only back home, he must have missed them both, his mother was also not around, he always came back to her whenever he finished a project though he mostly stayed in an old room and no one would be the wiser that he was in the house not even Mike knew he came home occassionaly.

“Are you an assassin sent after Commander Mike, By Nicholas Sanders, then I will fight you to death before I tell you, cause I will tell you nothing” Alan promised bringing out his pocket gun, he winced at the sharp pain as he discovered that his hand was broken

“Shut up, what is the message? ” Jared bellowed, he was not one to tolerate dilly dallying,

“I will not tell you even if you kill me, “ Alan shouted his courage failing, his eyes wide with fear

“I will really kill you now, if you don’t tell me,” Jared barked at the young recruit, who fled at the sound of his voice. Jared watched in amazement as he tried to flee, he would have sat back and enjoyed the amusement but Nicholas Sanders name was mentioned in the message, he could not afford such luxury, it was as he had imagined, Mike was been punished for his foolish act of chivalry

Jared dragged the recruit by his broken arm in delirious anger, he ignored his cry of pain, he dumped him on the floor in front of him, he removed his mask and stared at him

He extended a hand to him in mock greeting,his mouth set in hard lines “ Commander Jared Stone to you”

Alan often boast to his friends that he would never faint but he watched himself in disgust as he wet his trousers and slipped into blissfull dreamland.