Commander Griff sat back at his desk. He had just returned from dropping Joedan off in his cell. He was having a hard time understanding the duke's reasoning for imprisoning Joedan. From the boy's own account, he had done nothing worthy of the punishment he was receiving. Griff, being a man of authority, did not understand how the duke could so recklessly flounce his own authority. It went against everything the commander stood for. He prided himself on being a man of principle. A person who upholds the law, upholds justice. Some would call him a tough man. But he liked to consider himself fair.
A messenger arrived with a missive from the duke asking for the Commander to come to his chambers immediately. The commander closed his notebook on his desk, stood and pushed back his chair and proceeded to the doorway. Heading for the Duke's estate, the commander hurried to see what could be so important. Had the duke already decided Joedan's fate? He's already imprisoned the man, what else would he choose to do?
Stepping through the door to the Duke's chambers, the commander bowed his head and addressed the duke, "you called me, lord?"
"Drop the formalities, Griff. This is just a talk between two old friends." the duke said. "I've spent a long time pondering what to do about this situation involving my daughter and the man Joedan. And I believe I have come up with a solution." The duke folded his hands in his lap, looking deeply at the Commander.
"I have decided it is time for a change in position." The duke let it sit for a moment. He loved building the suspense.
"Change in position? I'm afraid I don't follow, my lord."
The duke raised his hand, "What did I say Griff, call me Charles, or better yet, Chuck, back like when we were just two kids playing around the city."
"I'm not understanding what your throwing down, Chuck." Griff stated, a bit more irritated this time. "Spit it out already."
"You." The duke smiled.
"Me?" Griff pointed back at himself. "What about me?"
"I have decided to change your position. I'm placing you over Joedan. I want the two of you to track down the real kidnappers and bring them to justice." Chuck said finally.
Griff didn't know what to say. "Why me, Chuck?"
"It's quite simple really, I see something in him, I want you to help cultivate it out of him. Turn him into a soldier. Someone dependable. Knowledgeable in the defense of others. You used to train the younger guardsman, did you not?" He smiled, knowing he had Griff right where he wanted him.
"Yeah, I suppose I did, but that was a long time ago. I'm an old man now," he said, thinking this would discourage the duke from his plan.
"Old? Old?" the duke slapped his knee, "nonsense. You don't look a day over forty, my young friend. Fit as a fiddle, I'd say even," the duke laughed.
"As your friend, I'm asking you to do this, because I believe it will be good for both of you." the duke paused. "But as your duke, it's not a request. It's the only other way I can think to find a way for Joedan to gain his freedom. Let him bring the true kidnapper to justice and on my word as Duke, I will release him. I will even throw in some added gold to make the time he has been locked away a little less hard to swallow."
"Is that all, sir?" Griff responded.
"Come, now Griff, don't be a grump. Humor an old friend." The duke smiled, a true smile, for his friend.
Griff bowed to the duke and stepped to the door. "Oh and one other thing, don't tell my daughter." The duke shouted after him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sound of footsteps could be heard coming from the end of the hallway. Joedan sat against the wall of his dark cell, eyes closed. Looking to his right stood the Commander. For a moment, neither spoke. Each staring in quiet contemplation. The commander reached for the keys at his side and inserted them into the lock. Pulling open the door of the cell, the commander continued staring at Joedan, not speaking a word. From his side, the commander grabbed a longsword and tossed it to the floor in the center of the cell. Joedan looked at the sword, his sword, and then back at the Commander.
"Well, are you just gonna sit there? Or do I have to tell you everything to do?" Griff spoke, bluntly.
Standing to his feet, Joedan shook his hands, still bound in chains and looked right back at the Commander. The commander entered the cell using his keys to unlock the chains from around Joedan's wrists. There was a clunk as they fell to the floor. Stooping to the floor, Joedan retrieved his sword.
"My knife?" Joedan asked.
From his jacket, Griff produced the knife and tipped it handle towards Joedan. Joedan hesitantly took the knife from Griff before putting it inside his boot.
"The duke has made his decision," Griff said. "He has come up with a plan for you to gain your freedom."
Joedan just stood silently waiting for Griff to continue. "He has tasked the both of us with seeking out the true kidnappers. We leave now."
Without waiting for a response from Joedan, the commander turned out of the cell and departed. Joedan, not sure what to think, fell into step behind the Commander and followed him down the hallway.
"I have two horses saddled in the stables." Throwing a pack to Joedan. He continued walking further. "Supplies for the journey," Griff said without waiting for a response.
Joedan and Commander Griff made their way to the stables. Entering the stables, Joedan spotted the two horses. One a solid black with a shiny coat. Another spotted with brown and white.
"The spotted one is yours," the commander spoke. "Name is Chestnut," he chuckled. "You do know how to ride, don't you?"
"Yeah, I've ridden a few times." Joedan responded.
"Good, we shall see if that holds true once we begin."
Both men tossed their packs over the backs of their horses, before stepping their feet into the stirrup and mounting the horses. Joedan looked over at the Commander, in addition to the commander's pack, he also noticed a bow and a spear.
"Our first destination is your village," the commander spoke next. "Our best course of action starts at where all of this began."
With that note, the commander grabbed the reins of his horse, lightly tapping his boots to the side of his horse and the horse started off with a trot. The two rode on for many miles. The sun came and went. With evening approaching, the commander pointed off to the side at an alcove for the two to set up for the night.
"Tend to the horses. Then when you're done with that set up the tent." The commander quickly dismounted his horse, grabbing the bow from the back of his horse, he turned and left the alcove.