Autumn 1096 SR
By late afternoon, Charlaine’s wrists were rubbed raw, but try as she might, it was impossible to loosen her restraints. They stopped only once for water, and she eagerly satiated her thirst. The sergeant kept a close eye on her, but the others looked to be less enthusiastic about their prisoners, even going so far as to suggest they execute them. It seemed this was a regular practice, but their officer insisted that they be properly interrogated back at their base.
A call from the front of the group announced that the outpost was in sight. Charlaine strained to see it, but the dust kicked up from the horses made it impossible to see much of anything.
The morale of the group increased substantially now that they were almost home, brought on, no doubt, by the belief that t
