by D. J. Holmes
***
“These extra horses were a good idea, Jacquemin. We are making record time. We should be at Rouen in a short while.”
“Look over there it looks like a group of French soldiers just starting to remount their horses, Pierre.”
“Let’s ride over and see where they are going. Maybe we can get them to go with us.”
Jean adds, “Yes, the more soldiers we have the better it will be for all of us, including Jehanne.”
As the soldiers begin to remount they watch as Jacquemin, Pierre and Jean ride toward them. Still on his horse Jacquemin says, “Hello. My brothers and I are on our way to free Jehanne. Who would like to join us?”
Charles Martel, who had just joined this half of Jacque’s troops as they rested by the stream a few minutes earlier answers, “The troops that you see over there are my troops,” as he points to them. “The other soldiers follow Jacque d’Arc. We are all on our way to take Jehanne from the English.”
“Good. Where is, Jacque?”
The Captain who was left in charge of the men answers, Jean’s question, “We are just getting ready to leave to join him once again.”
“Why didn’t you continue with him?”
“If we wouldn’t have rested, our horses would have fallen beneath us. I see that all three of you have brought several horses.”
“Yes. We came from Lyon, and have been riding for three days. We needed to make it in record time.”
“That is excellent time!” the Captain expresses with admiration, “you must have ridden through the night.”
“We did. Have you rested long enough?” Jacquemin asks.
“Yes. We were all just getting ready to ride again.”
Anxious, Pierre asks, “Then can we be on our way? We are losing time just staying in one place. You can talk as we ride.”
Trying to soften Pierre’s comments, Jean announces, “We are Jacque’s sons and Jehanne’s brothers. Would you mind if we joined you?”
“We would be glad to have you. But don’t you need to rest? You have come a long way,” the Captain asks.
Pierre shouts, “THERE IS NO TIME TO REST. HER LIFE IS ON THE LINE!” With that, Jacquemin, Pierre and Jean turn their horses to the road they had been riding to Rouen.
“They have the same spunk that their sister has,” Charles Martel comments with pride. “We had better hurry or we won’t see them again until we all meet at Rouen.”
Every soldier begins to ride, trying to stay up with Jehanne’s brothers.
