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The three travelers grabbed their belongings and were shown to other accommodations by Mari. Once the children were settled with mats to sleep on and food for the night, Marshall, Cassias, and Jericho closed the door to the recreation area used for training.
Marshall studied the expressions of the soldiers before him. He remembered they had been scared but brave boys on the day he’d broken into the facility and released them. “Though I wasn’t in the field, I feel exhausted. I’m pleased you both returned,” he glanced at Cassias, “and with only minor injuries.” Pride and satisfaction had him smiling a little at the accomplished and talented men they had grown to be. “I’ll see you both in the lair in the morning.”
Cassias and Jericho murmured goodnights as they watched Marshall disappea
