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Piety and Infamy	By : MarianTheBlackadder Category: M through R > Patriot, The Views: 2093 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Patriot, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Two days after this rather full day of running through south Carolina,
being captured by both sides, and then taken back with a scolding from everyone
along the way, Heather sat quietly in her room writing in her journal. William
had warned her not to write him letters, for it could fall into enemy hands and
put both herself and Tavington in danger. Yet she kept a book of letters in
journal form that she would write every day, and wrote down all the thoughts and
words she wished she could tell him. They had spoken of many dreams during those
two weeks they spent that General Cornwallis�s plantation, and she couldn�t
help but dream of them every now and then. Especially with the reality they were
both enslaved in for the time being.


She was started when she heard the slamming of doors followed by
thundering footsteps past her door and down the hallway. Quickly she put down
her quill and closed her journal. Rushing to her door she opened it and hurried
outside into the hallway to see what was going on. Just in time to nearly be
knocked back into her room by a passing solider bumped into her. �I�m sorry
. . . .are you alright Miss? Sorry!� He said not even waiting for a response
as he turned and continued to run down the hallway and disappear into
Cornwallis�s office.


�A TOWN! AN ENTIRE TOWN MY LORD!! Burned alive in a CHURCH!!!�
Heather�s heart sank as she heard the shouts of the out of breath officer,
whose voice was laced with pure horror. �Woman, and CHILDREN ALL OF THEM
BURNED ALIVE! BY COLONEL TAVINGTON�S MEN!!!� There was no mistaking those
words, they rang crystal clear in her ears. The words were followed by a series
of hisses and the words �Silence!� The doors to Cornwallis�s office were
shut and bolted to keep any other words inside the office and out of the rest of
the headquarters hearing.


Heather just stood there in the hall in complete shock. The look that had
swept across her face at the words that were shouted through the hallways still
remained as time seemed to stand still. William couldn�t have ordered such a
horrible thing, could he have? Civilian women and children? There must have been
some sort of mistake. He had always been a perfect gentlemen around her and
spoke of having several children of their own. If what they said was true, and
he did order something of this magnitude there must have been a reason. He
wouldn�t have done something so horrendous without reason. She knew him better
then anyone, and he was simply nothing like that. Looking back down the hallway
where the double doors had closed, she began to walk towards them but stopped
herself. She didn�t want to get any closer even though she wanted to know
more. The solider had to be mistaken.


In Cornwallis�s office the officer was getting a scolding for what he
had just done, �Hold your tongue Captain! Have you taken leave of your senses
to come in shouting such gruesome information in that way?� The general hissed
at the foolish solider as he walked towards the double doors, hoping silently
that Heather was either asleep or at least had not heard. Turning his attentions
back to the main who was trying to catch his breath, �Calm yourself, then say
what you have come here to tell me.� The officer nodded and took a few deep
breaths trying to regain his composure.


�A Town . . . . Pembroke, . . . . just beside the
Santee river . . . all of them are dead, every last one.�
Cornwallis waited as the man took a few more breaths trying to find his words
again. �. . .Colonel Tavington, ordered his men to lock them all in the
churching meeting house there, . . . . . . then ordered it set afire . . . . and
burned it to the ground. Women, children, old people . . .all burned alive.�
He looked at the General like he had seen a Ghost and shook his head, �No one
. . . no one survived, sir.� Terror was in the officers eyes, feeling a deep
anguish from seeing such a scene with his own eyes, and then learning from one
of the dragoons how it came to pass.


The General listened silently until the Captain finished his account.
When he was finished, Cornwallis turned away from him and walked to the large
window behind his desk looking out towards the courtyard of the fort. This was
perhaps the line Tavington should not have crossed. Burning women and children
alive in a church was not something that the court would approve of, much less
the King himself. They were, after all, brethren that belonged to England. These
people had as much British blood running through their veins as any one of the
soldiers in the Kings Army. It was a nightmarish way to die,
even more so when your family, loved ones, and long time friends by your side.
His eyes turned down a moment before speaking, �Thank you Captain. It will be
dealt with soon enough.


The Captain couldn�t believe the Generals reaction to such news. It
didn�t even seem as if he was angry or upset with it as if it was a small
insignificant insubordinate offence, rather then the murder of an entire town.
�But . . .But sir, all of Pembroke, every last one . . . .� He began wanting
to protest, even though he wasn�t sure what he was protesting.


General Cornwallis turned and looked at him, �That will be all,
Captain. Return to your post immediately.� He said in a tone that left no room
for argument. The Captain saluted before leaving as he had been ordered.
Cornwallis looked towards the window once more before closing his eyes and
rubbing his temples. He could feel a dreadful headache taking form behind his
eyes. Ohio was quite a large bit of land that was a gift from the King himself.
Here he was trading it to a butcher, in exchange for such inhuman and brutal
actions that were being showered upon civilians. It seemed that Colonel
Tavington took their arrangement to release every form of indecency upon whom
ever he chose.


Cornwallis turned shaking his head and walked to the closed double doors
of his office. He opened them exiting intending to retire to his chambers,
however as he stepped into the hallway, he looked up to see Heather standing
before him. The look on her face told him instantly that she not only heard the
soldier�s frantic message, but there were many unanswered questions, and
confusion in her eyes. The General paused for a moment not sure how to handle
this situation, and at last decided it was best not to deal with it at all. He
closed the doors behind him, and said nothing to Lady Tavington as he made his
way down the hallway and disappeared into his chambers.


Heather saw him turn away from her and walk away, and she could hardly
believe it. She wanted to know everything that man had told him about Colonel
Tavington, if there was more to what he had reported and what was going to
happen to William because of it. Yet he said nothing, he walked away leaving her
at a loss without even the comfort of knowing if William was alright, or even if
there was a reason that could be seen for such a shocking accusation.


Heather felt completely helpless and feared that there was something even
worse that he didn�t wish to tell her. Perhaps William had been wounded, or
worse. Her eyes turned back down the hallway that led to the main foyer. The
Captain had walked passed her leaving in that direction. Giving one more glance,
Heather turned quickly gathering her skirts and hurrying down the hall hoping to
catch the Captain that had brought the news.


Once in the foyer, she looked around to see that the Captain had already
begun to descend the steps to make his way back to his horse and return to his
post as he had been ordered. Running as fast as she could, she pushed her way
through the heavy doors and called out to him. �Sir!!! Wait! Please wait!�
The Captain stopped and turned seeing her running towards him. Slowing down she
walked up to him releasing her skirts taking a few deep breaths.


He gave a bow to her slightly, �Yes my lady? How may I be of service to
you?� He questioned not sure why she would want to speak with him.


�Sir . . . you have brought news of Colonel Tavington?� She
questioned to clarify that he was the subject of this visit and didn�t make a
mistake. The Captain couldn�t help but look at her curiously, what sort of
interest could she have in the butcher? But he couldn�t help be disgusted at
the mention of his name.


�Yes my lady, news of that Black-Hearted scoundrels murderous ways.�
At this moment, Heather didn�t care what he called him or even this man�s
opinion of him. She had more important matters to worry about at this instant.


�Please good sir, you must have seen him?� She inquired anxiously.
The Captain was beginning to wonder where this was going, and why she would be
asking these sorts of questions.


�Yes my lady, I was in the dragoon camp only this morning.� Taking a
breath she walked towards him a little closer gently putting her hand on his
arm.


�Was he . . .was he alright? Was he hurt in anyway? If there was a
battle, was he wounded?� Someone was actually CONCERNED for Tavington�s
health? Who the heck was this woman? She was scared of what the answer might be
and waited not being able to breathe until she had an answer.


� I couldn�t say my lady. I was informed that he was in his tent and
refused to take visitors, it was his second in command, Captain Wilkins whom I
spoke with.� Heather pulled back a moment looking at the solider.


�Captain Wilkins? But Major Borden is Colonel Tavington�s second in
command. You must be mistaken in your information sir.� She said, half hoping
that if he was incorrect about this, that he was mistaken for a whole lot more
as well.


�No my lady, Captain Wilkins is second in command, it seems that Major
Borden was killed in the scrimmage yesterday. As I understand it, it was an ill
planned ambush that resulted in a great casualty number on both sides. All
except for Colonel Tavington were killed. Of course he was wounded, a stab
wound, or a gunshot of some sort. Well deserved I�d say.� Heather�s eyes
grew wide, as she said in a breathless whisper.


�He was . .. hurt badly?�


�I suppose so, he was in his tent the entire time I was there. It
seemed Captain Wilkins was in charge of any official matters that came into the
camp.� She did not need to hear another word from him, turning away from the
Captain she ran for the barns, not caring that her dress was nothing someone
should ride a horse in.


Since the last time she had left the fort in the same manner as some
escape convict would flee his incarceration, Cornwallis saw to it that there was
a guard on the door of the barn at all times. Without slowing down she ran past
the guard and strait into the barn, �My lady? . . . My Lady!!!� The guard
said following after her. There were a few officers horses saddled up awaiting
their riders to return to them to carry them back to where ever their unit was
stationed. Quickly she ran up to the largest one and untied it from the post
that insured he and the other horses would not run off if spooked. The guard
wasn�t sure what exactly to do as he rushed up to her. �My lady? What are
you doing? Lord Cornwallis has said nothing of your going for a ride outside of
the fort today?�


�Lord Cornwallis will be in for a great surprise then.� Heather said
as she tightened the synch before mounting the horse. The dress made it slightly
difficult but she didn�t waste time or let it hinder her, and straddled the
horse. Turning the horse towards the door intending to ride out. However the
guard reached up and quickly grabbed hold of the bridal just as she had dug her
heels into both sides of the horse. The animal jumped but the guard held fast
being jerked off of his feet. �My. . . My lady, I can not allow you to . . .
go without some sort of. . . . order from General Cornwallis.� He said quickly
almost out of breath as he continued to struggle with the horse.


Heather was frustrated and growing angry that people kept getting in her
way, and she looked down at the solider from atop her horse, �Then I suggest
you stop wasting time here and go retrieve that order which you seem so dead set
on getting, to ease your mind.� Taking the heel of her shoe, she kicked his
hand from the bridal and he released it. Before he could grab the horse again,
she took off out of the stable and into the courtyard making it through the
gates and digging her heals into the sides of the horse as she smacked both
sides of his backside with the reign to make him run faster. She passed even the
Captain and his escorts who were riding back to their units.


Heather rode past them without even a glance and it spooked their horses
nearly throwing them from their saddles. Remembering where the camp had been
just a few days ago, she took that fork in the road not slowing down. Heather
could hear shouts behind her and sound of thundering hooves. Yet she paid them
no mind, she was going to find out about William and they couldn�t stop her.


William was hurt, and in the back of her mind she was fearful that it was
a fatal wound, and she would not make it in time. That mere thought only caused
more fear and anxiety to fill her senses. The troubles that followed behind her
were nothing compared to her shaky heart, and she kept her eyes turned forward.
Heather knew she had promised everyone that it would not happen again. Yet
nothing but William was in her mind at the moment, she could only hope he was
alright.
To Be Continued .
. .
- 13
- 14
- 15
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Piety and Infamy