"How was their situation now?" Gideon approached Cole who was deep in his thoughts after receiving a message from Asher.
"Not good." He sighed. "I think we need to set out tonight.
"Just say the word so I can spread it to everyone."
"Yes, we have to. Inform the others and choose the strongest men from the new recruits and inform the captains of each troops as well."
"I understand." Gideon went out from his presence and searched for everyone. They should be somewhere out there foreseeing the trainees.
As soon as Gideon left, Cole took a pen and a paper and wrote a word responding to Asher's message and sent the bird away.
They are currently in Marseille so if they set out tonight without any hurdles along the way, they may reach the land of Tubal tomorrow night as well. Learning that Liam was inside the enemy's basement in search for Diana troubled him deeply. Not that he doesn't trust Liam's ability but he was worried of the possibilities especially that he was all alone out there.
Meanwhile, Lemuel rushed to Mount Tebiah to check on Sarah.
Last night, when it was raining and thundering, he couldn't sleep thinking about the lady all alone in the small chamber at the hill. He was on the watch and had been thinking of checking her out but when he was near the hill, he saw the place covered with thick fog. He could hear thunders but no rain at that particular area.
He shivered greatly but after realizing it was her who caused the rain and thunders in the land, he retreated.
It was mid-afternoon when he met Sarah along the way. She was obviously weak but she was glowing!
Something changed in her but he cannot point it out.
"Sarah, are you alright?" He run to meet the young lady who only smiled in response.
"Come, I'll carry you." He turned his heel and knelt offering his back to the young lady.
"I'm fine, I can walk."
"I insist." He ordered.
Sarah hesitated for a minute but seeing how determined the young man was, she conceded.
"Thank you." She mumbled and climbed on his back.
She must be exhausted, Lemuel thought since the woman slumbered unknowingly while he was carrying her back to the main town. And as soon as they reached the house, she tucked her to bed and pecked a kiss on her forehead.
"Rest well, little squid." He smiled before leaving the room. As soon as he closed the door, Asher showed up making him jerked in surprise.
"Damn it! You scared me!" He howled while Asher remained smirking meaningfully.
"I saw that." His voice was taunting. "You like her?"
"Shut up." He passed by him. He was obviously in denial.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone what I saw." The man chuckled as soon as he caught up to him. "I promise. Hehe."
Asher wanted to taunt the man further but the chief of the town rushed to them. His eyes glints with worry and Asher knew something was wrong.
"We got a problem!" The chief was panting as he speaks. "Some bandits were seen camping at the valley of Shiloh!"
As soon as Asher heard it, they rushed to the outpost to check with their own eyes. Sure enough, they could see the enemy's tent.
Hundreds of them, that's for sure.
"I never thought they would be coming up so soon. Prepare our fighting men at once." Asher ordered.
Lemuel went back to the training base and called the captains notifying them about the happenings. Their enemies have drawn the battle line so they have to pitch their tents in the north side of the valley as well.
As soon as the captain of each group was gathered, Asher laid the plans in front of them. They didn't receive any message from Liam yet so Asher was surprised to see their enemies camping at the southern part of the valley.
He was hoping that nothing bad happened to their leader.
"We have to follow the original plan since Liam didn't send us any other instruction for today. I need everyone's cooperation and presence of mind. Don't let your guard down." He emphasized. "Once you hear the sound of the trumpet, you must be prepared. That only mean the battle is about to start."
Almost all the captains held their breaths in anticipation. Everyone must be nervous but they have to be strong for their people.
"Take heart, everyone. Your men need your courage now." Asher added. They all dispersed and went back to their own unit to meet with their own troops. Asher was right, they need to be strong for the people of Tubal.
**********
She screamed in pain as Bon's men tortured the helpless woman.
Daniel and the other slave men were being taught by someone when Bon was seen dragging an old woman in a particular tent.
"Mary?" Daniel raised his brow while watching his maidservant being dragged by the raiders. He wanted to know what's happening but it's way too impossible to asked their trainer. After a few minutes, the loud groaning of the old woman echoed in the camp. They were torturing her! But why? What did she do to deserve such? He thought.
Something must have happened without him knowing it.
"Are you sure you want to protect that woman?" Bon was beyond angry. He was not getting the answer he wanted so they increased her punishment. "Is she really worth your life?"
The woman was panting after the men flogged her. She's pretty determined so they bathed her with vinegar.
"Ahhhhh!!!!!" She was crying in pain as the liquid penetrated her wounds.
"I am giving you one last chance, where is that wench?"
"How many times do I have to tell you… I D O N T K N O W." She may be weak but her resolve was pretty strong.
"Then you made your choice then." Bon hissed and motioned the men to pour another vinegar on her.
"Ahhhhaaa!!! Ahhhh!" Her agonizing cries were once again heard all over the camp.
"Why are you so useless!" Bon kicked her hard before leaving the tent.
The young men who were left at the tent looked at the woman with pity. They didn't want to torture the old woman but they will surely be killed once they go against the wicked man.
"We are very sorry." The men uttered mournfully as they untied the woman. They took her rugged coat and covered her bruised body and led her back to the slave camp.
Seeing how miserable Mary was, Daniel teared up and cursed beneath his breath. "You will surely pay for what you did!" He promised to himself as he watched Bon walked away. "I will surely kill you with my own hands."
***Back to the hill…
Out of the blue, Diana felt a creepy chill while sitting under the tree looking at the distant village. Why is she feeling sick all of a sudden? She thought. Her heart suddenly felt a twinge of pain.
The other maidservants who has been with Mary while serving the Nahshon clan cried seeing her current state. They were surprised to see she managed to live despites the torture they did to her.
"Whoever did this to you is more than a beast! He's not human at all!" One of the ladies yelped as she cries.
"Shhh…Nina, the walls have ears. Don't speak ill towards them, you understand what I mean, right?" She feebly uttered.
The lady nodded but her tears where like a stream!
** It was already seven in the evening when a man's silhouette was seen at Mary's tent. She wanted to scream but she was too weak to do it.
"W-who are you? Are you here to kill me?" She muttered in pain.
"Shhhh…." The man hushed the woman. He was wearing a uniform like the men posted at the gates but he looked harmless.
"Who are you?" the old woman asked once again.
"I'm a friend." He whispered. "I came to give you medicine. I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to save you a while ago."
Mary slowly rose up from her bed and looked at the man's features. Even if there was a candle light inside the tent, her eyesight was a little poor due to her old age.
Liam brought out some capsule and ointment he stole from the physician's tent a while ago. Seeing how she was beaten to death, he made an effort to get her medicines for her wounds.
"Take this capsule, it should help ease the pain you are feeling right now." Mary kowtowed gratefully as she took the capsule from his hand. "Then take off your clothes so I can apply some medicine in your wounds."
"I appreciate what you are doing mister, but let me do it instead."
"No. This is the least I can do for you. I'm sorry that you have to suffer like this."
"Mister, tell me, is your name Liam?" Seeing how shocked his face was, Mary beamed. "I heard a lot of great things about you from Diana. Tell me, have you seen her? Is she safe?"
Liam lowered his head, guilt was written all over his face. "I'm sorry. If it weren't for me, for us, you shouldn't have gone through a lot. I'm sorry!"