Chapter 21
Richard was awakened by sneaking steps and jerked up, his eyes piercing the darkness of the night. Nothing to see, nor hear. But his neck hair stood on end with the certainty that someone, or something, was observing him.
He fumbled for his knife, but even before he’d reached it in the darkness, he felt a cold blade against his throat as a whispered voice threatened, “Don’t even think about it. The less you resist, the better for you.”
Richard pressed out a throaty agreement and slowly raised his hands. Moments later several dozen dark figures approached the sleeping group of travelers and with the cordon tightened around the camp, the thieves proceeded to relieve the refugees of anything of value they owned.
A woman screamed, but the scream stopped suddenly and from then on
