The Fourteenth Key (The Chronicles of Terah Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

No matter what we tell them when we send them out, I don’t think any slavers will survive the encounter.”
    Kevin thought about what the general had said. A few minutes ago, he could have killed the slavers himself. Even now, when he thought of the three bodies left on the dock, he’d feel justified, but would he still feel that way tomorrow? Or the day after? “So basically they’d be an assassination squad.”
    Gen. Crandal didn’t say anything.
    “Have you ever sent out a squad like this before?”
    “No, we used regular soldiers in the past, but even then, if the soldiers caught up with the slavers, it was rare for any slavers to survive. They know if they’re caught, they’re looking at life in jail. If they can’t escape, they’d rather die fighting, and they do fight, using anything and everything at their disposal. They think nothing of using the captives as shields, especially the children. Raises the odds in their favor. After all, how many soldiers will put an arrow or a sword through a child to get the slaver? There are always casualties on both sides. We consider it a win when there are more casualties on their side than ours.”
    “And you think one of those squads would raise the odds in our favor?”
    Gen. Crandal nodded.
    “Did my father know about this?”
    Again, Gen. Crandal nodded. “A few years ago, Paddy, an ex-slave who’d worked his way up through the ranks to lieutenant, suggested a squad like this. He felt that properly trained ex-slaves would have the best chance of rescuing captives. They’d risk more and push harder than other soldiers because they understood the life the captives were headed for. He had it all worked out, what they’d need to know, how the squads would work, everything. I liked what he had to say, so I introduced him to your father and let him plead his case. After Badec gave his approval, Paddy recruited the first twenty men and began training them. Whenever one of those men suggested someone else who would fit in, Paddy invited that person to join, and the group grew. Right now, we have sixty men trained and ready to go, and those men are training another fifteen or so.”
    “Who’s in charge?”
    “I am. I try to get up there at least once a month to review their progress and go over plans with them, but as far as the men are concerned, Paddy’s in charge. Each group of ten men has its own leader. Paddy meets with the leaders twice a day, once before breakfast to discuss the day’s schedule, and again after dinner for a progress report. It’s not regular army, but it works for them.”
    “How soon can a squad be ready to go?”
    “If I get back in time to ride up to the camp this evening, they can be at the castle tomorrow afternoon.”
    Kevin nodded. “Would you send them out as soldiers? I’m wondering how the army in another province might react to their presence.”
    Gen. Crandal shook his head. “These guys dress like backwoods mountain men at their camp. Since they’ll be on a boat, they’ll dress like fishermen.”
    “Dressing like fishermen is one thing, but will they be able to act like fishermen?”
    “A lot of those men were fishermen before they were captured and turned into slaves. Finding enough men who will be comfortable living and working on a boat will be the easy part.”
    “And the hard part?”
    “Finding a boat and getting them on it, but I can probably have one lined up by tomorrow. Can you take us to it?”
    “Sure. Just let me know when.”
    ~ ~ ~ ~
    A couple of hours later, the bodies of the three victims were lowered into the ground. As the men from Ashmont shoveled dirt over the coffins, Kevin, Alek, and Karl drifted over to the closest house and sat down on the steps. Gen. Crandal stayed by Lt. Martyn’s side until the graves were covered and simple markers had been placed on them.
    As the men prepared to leave, Gen. Crandal joined Kevin. “I’d like to stop by Ashmont before we go home. I want to speak with