Chapter Nine – Ambrosius'How many are with you?' The blue-daubed face loomed so close to Meryn that the fetid smell of his breath almost overpowered the pungent smell coming from the rest of him. The Pict worked the gag loose and Meryn moved his jaw around, wincing at the pain.
'You will tell me now… or I cut the girl.' The Pict smiled horribly, showing black broken teeth, and then dragged Nineve over by her hair. Drawing a stained knife from the folds of his cloak, he pulled her head back and pressed the uneven blade to her thin white throat. He stared down at Meryn, waiting for an answer as the blade slowly pressed harder, quickly drawing a crimson bead of blood. With eyes squeezed shut, Nineve wept silently around her gag.
'There are two others,' blurted Meryn… just boys, they're… '
