A week and a half passed. William and his men had not yet been called to active duty but he used his time to keep a strict hand on the Dragoons. A number of the men were loyalists or Scots and he hardly trusted any of them. They were no better than the soldiers he trained with back in England. His captain, Frederick Bordon, he liked little better. William figured that if he didn't care for the man, he could at least use him to do his dirty work when the time came. Bordon, like the other Dragoons, was wary of the colonel. He was a man of morals, and the way Tavington displayed his feelings toward the rebels unsettled him; but he was clever enough to obey his commander's orders without ill repute.

It was mid September. Tavington had just left a meeting with Lord Cornwallis. He and his men would start patrolling just before dawn. The lord general had emphasized courteous treatment with the Colonials. Take what was needed, deal with any traitors, leave the innocent. William had other ideas.

Wandering around the lower rows of tents, Tavington caught the scent of spicy incense burning from a tent with open flaps. In the tent was a woman wearing a grey dress, her dirty blonde hair in a loose chignon. She sat on a soft cot, attending to scented burning sticks. Noticing his presence, she looked up at him with a coy smile, tying a black shawl tightly around her shoulders.

"Colonel Tavington, what brings you here this evening," she spoke, standing to greet him.

"I have patrol later tonight. I would like to relax before I leave," William murmured, moving his hands up to where the shawl was tied and loosened it, sliding it from her shoulders. The woman's lips parted in a silent sigh.

"It will be for a price," she took a breath as William trailed hot kisses across the top of her breasts.

Tavington looked up, his gaze suddenly hard.

"We shall discuss payment later," He spoke pointedly, biting the flesh of her neck.

"Yes Sir," The woman removed his jacket and cravat, sliding smooth, burnished hands into his white linin shirt. She could feel the rough muscles of his chest and traced a scar along his collarbone.

William closed his eyes, half impatient half in pleasure and began to take the pins out of her hair. The woman's hands glided down his stomach and she cupped the bulge in his breeches. He gave a shuddering gasp and covered her hand with his, holding it to him. The woman smirked and removed her hand, pulling his shirt over his shoulder before she unbuttoned his breeches and took him in her warm hands. Tavington bit his lip, stifling a groan as he tangled his fingers in her hair. She chuckled, touching the tip of him with inviting, heart-shaped lips. The colonel shuddered and held her to him. The woman worked her way slowly up and down his shaft until Tavington couldn't hold back his moans. Pulling roughly at her hair, the colonel elicited a yelp from the woman as he pushed her away from him, pulling her up to give her an intoxicating kiss before guiding her over to the cot. The woman laid down, flicking her tongue across her lips as Col. Tavington came upon her, lifting her skirts and entered her with one quick thrust. The woman cried out in pleasure and William covered her mouth with his in a greedy, lustful kiss, kneeding her breasts with his left hand. She gripped his shoulders and bucked beneath him. William quickened his pace until he found her spot and let her cry out in ecstasy as she tightened around him; he released himself and pulled out, collapsing on the cot beside her, panting.

Letting out a sigh, the woman rolled onto her side, gently stroking William's chest, suckling him playfully. William allowed her ministrations for a moment and then lifted her off of him. He kissed her softly, biting the bottom of her lip; then he pulled away and sat up. The woman looked at him and pouted.

"Must you go so soon, Colonel?" She asked. "Stay with me and I shall wake you when the time comes."

William shook his head wordlessly, stood up, buttoned his breeches and pulled his linen shirt on. Then he handed her a couple of coins. She glared at him, rebuffed.

"You cold-hearted wretch." The woman threw the coins, hitting William in the back and he turned, taking one stride toward her and grabbed her neck roughly, pulling her close until she was a hairsbreath away from his face, his wolflike eyes glowing with fury. She gasped and tried to pry his hand away from her neck but it was no use.

"You are here for my pleasure." He shook her and her eyes rolled as she slipped into unconsciousness. "And now I am done with you…"

Tavington let her fall limp on the cot, picked up his jacket and the coins and stalked off to his tent for the rest of the evening.

At half past three, William had gathered his men at camp and headed out to the countryside. The Dragoons had been riding at a steady pace for an hour without a house in sight. Some of the horses, Asmodeus included, began to get restless with the monotonous pace and seeing no Colonial soldiers in sight, Tavington ordered a halt for a few minutes. He and several other soldiers dismounted and let their horses graze and wander before they started off again on a deer path that led them straight to a Colonial farm house. Captain Bordon suggested that they send a couple of men to the house to search it out but Tavington disagreed and insisted on riding the entire company up to the house and addressing the people personally.

"These people need to be given a proper greeting."

Bordon averted his gaze but followed his orders and the Dragoons approached the house with lit torches. A young man in a blue uniform stepped out of the house, followed by a young girl of about seventeen with curly black hair. The man held up his hands and called for peace as Tavington approached, a murderous glint in his eyes.

"Please Sir, I surrender!"

The colonel took out his pistol, pointed it, and landed a point blank shot at the man's chest. His jacket oozed crimson as he collapsed to the ground. The girl screamed.

"What are you doing?! You killed my brother!" She cried, cradling the dying man in her arms.

Tavington smirked and rode Asmodeus toward the girl until he nearly trampled her. The girl stood up to back away from the stallion but the colonel unsheathed his saber and rested it against the side of her neck.

"You will come with me, will you not?" He asked, pressing the saber against the flesh of her neck.

The girl shook.

"Colonel…" Bordon tried to intervene.

"Enough!" Tavington snapped; his captain fell silent.

"Come with me…"

"No!" The girl began to cry.

Tavington glanced behind and ordered, "Burn the house."

Bordon's eyes widened but he had already questioned the colonel once. Another time would be dreadful. Signaling to the men, Bordon ordered the Dragoons to circle the house and throw their torches. Within five minutes the fire was engulfing the house. Tavington still had the saber to the girl's neck and cut lightly into her flesh. She cried harder and tried to step away but the colonel hit her hard with the flat of his blade and she fell.

"Come with me!" He growled.

"Please Sir, I beg you; don't make me your whore," She choked.

Col. Tavington pouted.

"Pity, you so would have been a pleasure to bed…"

The girl looked up at him with furious brown eyes and spat at Asmodeus' hooves.

"Bastard."

William quirked a brow, pulled a out a second pistol and shot the girl in the belly. She fell writhing on the ground. His men watched her warily as her life left her. Bordon, disturbed by the sight, moved to dismiss the men and Tavington did not stop him. He was the last to leave the burning house, leading the men on several more raids before nightfall.