When morning came I woke to the smell of breakfast and thank the Goddess, coffee. Melanie had probably been up at least a couple of hours already getting breakfast ready for the camp. She seemed happier now more than ever having all these younglings to care for. I joined her by the fire and like a mother she turned to greet me with coffee freshly poured into a cup. I smiled in thanks for the pleasant greeting and simply stood there enjoying the bitter brew.
Halfway through my cup I started to survey the camp, looking over the younglings I noticed that they had marks on their bodies from the shackles and chains. Poor Gallus had probably been with those minotaurs the longest next to the wood elves based on how malnourished he was. I could count his ribs and his hips were sunken in,
