A private bathroom seemed like a small ambition, but to a military man it meant much and his aching muscles cried out for the extravagance of a warm, full enamel tub and silence. He could not remember if he had ever had such a luxury in his life. Even before the military, baths were taken in a foot of tepid grubby water in front of the rest of the family. They were barely about hygiene and certainly were not about comfort. Stretching out his aching sword arm, Jacob thought he was going to enjoy being an adventurer.
The pounding feet arrived from out of the mist. Jacob had no time to brace, and never saw the face of his attacker. He felt the sharp impact of an iron hammerhead as it broke his spine and sent his sword cart- wheeling out of his hand. The second blow hit before he had time to
