Chapter 13
Planning a Rescue
It was now the seventh day since Clair had been kidnapped, and Nicholas thought he was going insane. Even with only seven men, travel was still very slow. The journey back to Lansing took an entire day, instead of the four hour ride it normally takes.
Once in the town, they stayed for a day to rest the horses and gather supplies. At sun-up on the third day, the group set out, but only made it to the foot of the mountains. The forth and fifth days were spent making their way up to the path that would lead them the rest of the way up.
On the sixth day, Nicolas gave a speech to his companions, who included five expert trackers and bowmen, and Lord Randal, the King's son and Clair's brother. "It should only take us today to reach a cabin at the end of this trail, but we have to go by foot, because the horses can not do this with riders. Once we get to the clearing, no one is to make a sound. If for some reason you get there before me, don't do anything until I say to. Is this understood?"
"Yes sir." was the reply from the soldiers.
"Lord Randal, I need to know that you agree with my plans." Nicholas said impatiently. Rand had been giving him trouble ever since day one because he thought that since he was the King's son and Clair's brother, he should be the one in charge, not Nicholas.
"Fine, I will abide by your rules." Randal replied grumpily. He was truly worried about his sister. She was to be the next ruler of their country, and yet she somehow managed to get kidnapped! How could she be so foolish as to trust a man like this? She should know better. When I find her, I am going to giver the biggest talking too that not even father can match! I just hope that she is okay and that this bastard has not harmed or violated her. he thought to himself.
It was long past dark when they finally got to the end of the trail. Knowing that at any moment Lord Randal would try and run to the cabin and search it, Nicholas put the men to work. "It is dark, and I don't know what kind of traps that Jeremy could have put up around the cabin if they are there, so I want everyone to rest tonight. In the morning, we will keep a look out for any signs of inhabitance, and tomorrow night, we will make our move. No one is to go anywhere near that cabin, am I clear?" he got nods in return.
The sun was setting on the seventh day, but Nicholas had seen little evidence that anyone was there. The few tracks that he had seen were days old, and he dared not go up to a window in case someone was looking out of it. Nicholas decided that to be safe, he would set up a perimeter around the cabin to make sure that no one who leave or enter without their knowing. "I want two men guarding the back of the cabin. There is a door there, so make sure that you stay out of sight! If you even think that someone has spotted you, make some sort of animal noise to give them a false image. I also want two men on each side. There are window there as well, so make sure that you are also out of sight. I am going to guard the front door. If any of you see any sign of Jeremy or the Princess Clarissa, give a bird call. If I want you to move in to search the cabin, then I will give the same call. Okay, now move!"
Finally, just after it got dark, Nicholas saw the cabin door open a little. Stepping deeper into the shade of the trees, Nicholas watched as Jeremy stepped out of the cabin and closed the door. I'll wait a while and then go in to see if Clair is in there. Oh God, I hope she is still okay. he prayed silently.
After sitting there for a few hours, Nicholas was about to move in when he saw the door open again. No sure if it was Clair or someone of Jeremy hired to help, he stayed where he was. A figure poked their head out the door, slowly slipped through the crack, and closed the door quietly. From the little bit of light that the full moon was giving off, Nicholas could tell that is was a girl. This girl was wearing a very dirty dress with her long dark hair in tangles, and she was caked in filth from head to toe.