Part LXIV

The commander of the troops looked around the room and then his gaze landed back on the few remaining people hiding under the table.

"Search through the whole house. All the people you will find, bring them to the hall." Having said that, he moved away. Joel and the others were led out of the room into the hall.

"It's fine Ann, don't worry." Joel was patting the little duke's head and tried to smile softly.

Few maids were still crying, one even asked.

"Are they going to kill us?"

Joel felt as the little duke shivered a bit under his touch.

"Shut up, you are scaring the kids." Joel hissed, making the women close their mouths.

They were all ordered to stand in one line. Joel was holding hands with his "little daughter" hoping to calm Nathaniel down with that. It took a while till the whole mansion was searched through.

The white haired commander was sitting in the hall and constantly watching all of them. Joel felt tense, he felt as if that man could see through his disguise with ease. Additional four people were found and all the troops gathered in the hall. The commander stood up.

"We are looking for the duke's son. As soon as we find him all of you are free to go. We only need that child. Nobody has to die today." His loud and clear voice echoed in the hall. At that very moment Joel knew it was over. All those scared people will surely turn them in. Joel was holding Nathaniel's hand and a sudden calmness came upon him. Nobody said a word, it wasn't necessary. The workers simply looked at Nathaniel and Joel. That much was enough.

The commander smirked and with a few steps approached them.

"Dressed like a girl to escape. Tsk, tsk what a shame." Then he looked up at Joel.

"Are you his nanny?"

"Yes sir." Joel answered immediately.

"Did you dress him like that?" He investigated further.

"I did." Joel admitted without a second of hesitation.

"Didn't help." He remarked with an unpleasant grin on his face.

"Unfortunately." Joel concluded.

"Take him." The commander ordered his men.

Joel was still holding Nathaniel's hand. The child was trembling a bit. The little duke must have been scared. Joel was pushed aside so hard that he landed on his butt. The child wasn't screaming or kicking or crying. He was behaving like a real duke. Joel got back on his feet and ran behind the commander. He threw himself to the ground kneeling in front of the commander.

"Sir, please let me go with him." Joel begged, trying to look as innocent as he could. "It's just a child. Please sir. I'm begging you."

The commander for a brief moment looked at the kneeling nanny and bowed slightly.

"What if I told you you will face the same fate as the child if you go?" He crooked his head a bit and was watching Joel's reaction.

"So be it sir. Please let me go." Joel added in a hushed tone.

"Remarkable. Good, take her with the child." He waved his hand and Joel raised from his knees.

"Thank you sir for your kindness." Joel smiled, making everyone startled and ashamed of their betrayal.

As Joel was passing next to Theo he whispered.

"Inform the duke."

Nathaniel was all clingy the whole way out of the mansion till they reached a coach. The windows of the coach were covered and as they sat in, it was totally dark. Joel was still carrying his knives with him, those idiots didn't check him. Good. he must be ready to figure out a plan to escape. As soon as the door was closed Nathaniel started to sob quietly.

"It will be fine, Nathaniel." Joel lifted the child and placed him on his lap. " I won't let them do anything to you. We will escape and find your dad." Joel was patting the child's back.

"You promise?" Nathaniel spoke between sobs.

"I do. After all, your father personally sent me here." Joel started humming a well known lullaby to calm the child down. It didn't take long and the little duke calmed down and even fell asleep from exhaustion and all those negative emotions he had to face.

The coach was shaking and Joel kept holding the child. In his head he was thinking about all possible ways to get away from here. In the darkness time was standing still, only the breathing of the child and the sound of rattling wheels. Joel almost fell asleep himself.

The carriage finally stopped, the door opened.

"Out.' Short command made Joel move out of the dark coach still holding the child.

Joel looked around. They were in front of a huge house. All the troops were placed around and Joel was led in. The commander was sitting at a table in a big room. Two men were preparing something to eat for him. Nathaniel woke up and Joel placed him on the floor.

"I need to go to the toilet." He whispered into Joel's ear.

"I'm sorry sir, we need to go to the toilet." Joel asked the commander.

"Ned take them."

A tall man took them to the next room. There was one bed and a bucket. Without saying a single word the door was closed.

"Use the bucket Nat." Joel immediately approached the window. It was on the first floor so it wasn't that high. There were no guards either. He can make a rope and drop the child down.

Nathaniel sat down on the bed, his head was lowered.

"Are you alright Nat?" Joel sat next to him.

"Yes sir. I'm fine." he answered quietly.

"Call me Joy, remember I'm your nanny now." Joel reminded him.

"Yes, you are. My old nanny left me."

Joel sensed the sadness and distress in his tone.

"I won't leave you. Trust me. I will find a way to get us out of here." Joel hugged Nat again and the child hugged him back. It was a warm and pleasant feeling to hold a child like that.

Somebody opened the door to their room.