Chapter 53-- For Ben

The little group perched in a circle in Ben’s loft bedroom. The Shadow Fox scanned their faces. “Does everyone understand the plan?”
Four heads nodded.
“Does anyone have anything against it? If we are caught—“
“We all know the risks, little one.” Jack cut in. “But we care for Ben more.”
The others nodded in agreement.
Sovay patted her cousin on the shoulder. “We all want to see Ben safe as much as you do.”
Robyn stood. “Alright then. For Ben?”
“For Ben!” they group chorused.
“Sovay, I’ll need your help to fix these boys up nice and pretty.”
~~~~~
Sovay and Alice strode merrily up to the jailhouse late that afternoon. The soldiers standing guard outside stopped them. “Sorry, lasses, you cannot go in there.”
Alice smiled sweetly and batted her eyelashes. “Oh, officer, we just want to give these things to our poor brother, sir.”
Sovay did not even try to attempt this method of getting her way. She was more of a yell until you get your way kind of person. However, she did smile nicely, even if she did feel like losing the contents of her stomach.
The men sighed. Surely these girls could not cause any trouble. They were so sweet. They stepped out of the way. “Do not spend too much time in there. It’s no place for a lovely lady, you know.”
Alice giggled.
Once they were past the guards, Sovay made a gagging sound. “How do you do that?”
Alice tossed her curls, pleased to be better at something than Sovay. “Practice.”
“They were not even officers.”
“I know. Just make a man’s head bigger and he shant be able to think with it.”
“Devious.”
“Thank you.”
They strode up to the jailer’s table. Alice smiled sweetly at the jailer, who look like he had already had too much to drink. “Pardon me, sir, but we would like to see our brother.”
The man regarded them coldly. “Do you now? To pass through you have to pay the toll. What’s in that flask?”
Sovay pointed to the flask she carried in the basket. “Oh this? Just some ale, sir, a good man like you would not—“
“Give it here, or I will put you back on the street.”
Sovay quickly handed it over.
He took a swig, then looked back at the girls. “Well, hurry up, now. I’m a busy man.”
Sovay and Alice quickly strode down the hallway. Alice turned up her nose at the inhabitants. “Ew. It smells in here.”
“This is a jail.” Sovay pointed to the end of the hallway. “There. They will have him in the special cell.”
“Sovay? Alice?”
The girls hurried to Ben.
“Ban, are you alright?”
Gingerly, he touched his black eye. “Eh, I have been better. Where’s Robyn?”
“Back home. Did they beat you?”
“No, just when I tried to get away. Tell her not to do anything.”
Here,” Sovay passed the bread, cheese, and cold meat to him through the bars. “We brought you this.” She handed him a flask of water. “That should take care of you until we can get you out.” She handed him a black blanket.
“Sovay, listen to me. Tell the Shadow Fox not to try to get me out or turn himself in.”
Sovay ignored him. “Is there anything else we can get you?”
“Sovay, please!”
Sovay sighed. “Ben, that’s like telling a robin not to fly. You know that. Besides, we are going to get you out of here.”
“But Sovay—“
“Do not worry. We have an excellent plan.”
“No. No plans.”
“Sorry, it’s already in full speed ahead.”
“Girls! Your time is up! Get out of here.”
Sovay patted Ben through the bars. “Just do as he tells you and do not panic.”
“What? Sovay! Alice!”
The girls quickly exited the jail. After some girlish remarks and much batting of eyelashes on Alice’s part, the duo escaped from the men guarding the jail. Once out of range, they nodded at the boy hiding in the shadows. Grinning at each other, they made their way to the River’s house.
The boy grinned and slipped from his hiding place. He wore rather ragged clothing, and his eyes were hidden by matted dark hair. Still smiling, he announced very loudly, “General Howe is a bumbling idiot. He does not know his right from his left!”
The two guards standing the jailhouse gave him a look of disapproval. He paid them no heed.
“He probably does not know which end of the rifle shoots!”
The guards called out to him. “See here, now, lad—“
“He only knows where his mouth is!”
“Now, that’s enough—“
“I wouldn’t let him lead a dog, much less an army!”
“That’s it!” They swiftly crossed the space between them and grabbed the boy by the shoulders. “A night in jail should still your tongue, boy!”
They marched him in. Groggily, the jail keeper rose to his feet. He led the way down the hall and opened the door to the large cell. The guards tossed the boy in. He landed a heap of arms, legs, and rags.
Ben moved to the door of his cell and whistled like a whooper-will. The dark-haired boy responded in kind. Ben groaned and sat down. “You never listen to me.”
Robyn ignored him. She was too busy inching away from the other people in her cell. She glanced at the small window. The sun was setting. Soon, phase three of her plan would go into action.
Ben regarded the piece of black cloth Sovay had given him. That was not blanket.

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I know, I know. But, I have a valid excuse this time. I have pneumonia. So there. Monday was a rough day for me, so I completely forgot to post.
Enough about me.
Enjoy the chapter! I love Robyn's plan. She's so sneakah. And more bird jokes. Honestly, guys.
Have a great week! See you next Monday, if lack of sleep doesn't kill me. ;)