Chapter 2.
"what?" replied harry hoping he just didn't hear it right, "sir, I want to go ho-" before Elijah could even think of finishing the sentence the commander launched his body across the small table at Elijah to put his heavy hand over Elijah's mouth, the other hand reached up towards his own mouth and made a shhh gesture Elijah still in shock didn't make a sound just sat there with harry leaning over the table staring into his eyes as he pulled himself back to his seat. They both sat in silence Elijah because he was worried of what he had done and harry because he was anxious and nervous, harry stood up walked over to the entrance flap of his tent and looked out it was about midday "comeback in the middle of the night" as harry said this his eyes were shifting from side to side looking all around the tent but mainly around the entrance he had just walked from.
Elijah was worried with the way harry reacted to what he had said from being friendly and encouraging to suddenly like a conspiring slave about to kill his master, this only helped to put Elijah on edge when people would shout his name and he would jump out of his skin, later that night when everybody had got in their beds Elijah waited a while he couldn't tell if it was 1 minute or 4 hours all he knew was that everyone was asleep. Elijah got up so slowly that he thought he was going to be late for breakfast as he stood up he wrapped himself in the darkest pieces of cloth he could find to help him get by without been seen, as he did this one of his friends only a meter behind him said "what are you doing?" Elijah heart pumping started to mumble out any words he could remember as he turned around and felt a wave of relief wash over him as he noticed his friend was sleep talking, he made his way to the tents entrance if anyone would of woke up all they would of seen was a man dressed in black cloth almost floating through the dark almost like a wraith. As he made it out he turned to his left as this was the way to the main tent area and would be quicker to get to Harry's tent he went in between tents and through when he dared, he spotted patrols and easily avoided them until he got to where he needed to be.
He looked around before looking down towards his feet shuffling, he was in deep thought before he noticed the figure in the entrance of the tent before him looking at him, "you coming in or what?" the voice brought Elijah back to reality and made him jump he looked at the figure, he nodded and then started to walk forwards the tent moved to the side and continued to hold up the flap so he could pass by, "Elijah" at this Elijah turned around to harry but he continued to speak not allowing enough time for Elijah to even say a word "I have asked around and also read into what little files we have here" as he said this he waved an arm around to a table with two chairs by the side and small parchments neatly held down on the table by less than ornate paper weights, "you're the son of a noble are you not?" Elijah nodded proudly but also holding back at the same time "what has that got to do with what I want?" harry sat down and poured a drink into two wooden cups and put one on the table close to the other chair, Elijah sat down and picked up the cup and started to examine its contents "it's ale" Elijah looked towards harry as he put the cup against his lips and began to drink, "now back to where we were, what it has got to do with what you want is if you do what you want you will not get what you want" harry said this and looked at Elijah he noticed the dumbfounded look on his face "what?" said Elijah, "if you run home, they will charge you with cowardice" harry said this slowly to make sure he understood, "but can't I just ask to leave?" asked Elijah "they would deny it, your best bet if you really want to get home and keep your dignity and life is to get injured enough to be sent back" harry said this as though it was the easiest thing to be done, "you want me to injury myself?" asked Elijah almost incredulously, harry then said something that would shock Elijah "either that or run away? You won't keep your noble status and get a criminal record but you could always say you are someone else and make a new life?" Elijah was dumbfounded yet again "but how would I get away? Not only will I have to find food and water but also make it back safe across possible enemy territory and then find a boat back to England!" Elijah said all this as though he was been asked to journey to hell and back, "that or you have to fight this war and survive" harry said this with the most serious face Elijah has ever seen, Elijah had left the tent after pleasantries were done and went back to his bed and lay there in silence till the darkness creeped into his vision and took him over, at last he thought peace and quiet.
