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Twenty minutes later, Jackson, Stefan, Marjorie and his parents made their farewells and headed out into the night beneath Jackson’s burgundy shield, all bearing baskets of food and drink, and a bag full of blankets for those who chose to stay the night out there.
They walked beneath high branches, which hung over the track and partly obscured the moon and starlight. A soft wind wafted through the leaves, making the shadows dance on the trail in front of them, obscuring obstacles and forcing them to place their feet carefully. From time to time, Ivan and Vera murmured to each other, but mostly they were silent, listening for any sound of their attackers.
Once or twice, stones clattered against the outside of Jackson’ shield but it was a half-hearted attack and Stefan suspected the wo
