In the Shadow of the Sun King by Golden Keyes Parsons

Author:Golden Keyes Parsons [Parsons, Golden Keyes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2018-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

A sudden halt of the coach startled Madeleine awake. She heard Jean’s voice as he reined his horse in beside the carriage.

“A handful of dragoons are ahead.” He stuck his head inside the window. “Philippe!”

Philippe sat up, rubbing his eyes.

“Get your bow and quiver and come with me.”

Madeleine put her hand on her son’s shoulder to protest, but Jean cut her off.

“No time to explain.” His voice carried a sharp edge. “I need Armond and Philippe to come with me. The dragoons have a family tied up— preparing to hang them. You stay here until we return.”

Philippe pulled away from his mother, grabbed the bow and quiver of arrows, and jumped out of the carriage and onto the back of Jean’s horse before Madeleine could stop him. Armond rode up, and they galloped down the road.

Madeleine looked at her mother and buried her head in her hands. “Oh, Dieu, mon Dieu, will this never end?”

JEAN HELD UP HIS HAND TO HALT ARMOND, SIGNALING them to silence as they approached the ravine. Flames from the dragoons’ campfire cast eerie shadows upon a hangman’s noose dangling from the limb of an ancient oak. Huddled together on the opposite side of the campfire from the soldiers sat a young man and woman and a boy who looked to be about eight or nine. Three dragoons squatted around the fire. A fourth dragoon stood guard nearby, gazing outward from the fire.

Jean whispered orders. “Armond, go to the other end of the ravine. Listen, and when I signal—the hoot of an owl—you shoot the guard.”

Armond nodded.

“As soon as you shoot, start reloading, and I will shoot the one on the left stoking the fire.” Jean tapped Philippe on the shoulder. “At the same time, Philippe, you shoot the one next to him with your arrow. Armond, you should be reloaded by then and ready to take another shot and get the last one.” Jean looked at his tiny army. “Do you understand the instructions?”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“Good boy. Armond?”

“Oui, monsieur.”

Jean touched the knife in his belt and hoisted the musket in his hand. “Go,” he whispered.

Armond hunched low behind the brush and made his way to the end of the ravine.

“Philippe, get your arrow ready. Aim well, son.”

“I’m scared. My hands are shaking.”

“Mine too.” Jean held out his trembling hand for Philippe to see. “Know this, my brave little man: True courage is not the absence of fear. True courage is when one does what is right in spite of being afraid.” He patted the young boy’s shoulder. “Ask the Lord to steady your aim.”

Philippe knelt on one knee, cautiously pulled an arrow out of his quiver, and took aim.

Jean watched the guard. Armond should be at his station by now, his gun ready. Eventually the unwary dragoon leaned his flintlock against a tree, and Jean gave the signal.

The forest exploded with the blast of Armond’s musket, slamming the guard against the tree.

“Now!”

Before the other soldiers could spring into action, Jean and Philippe fired their weapons as

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