5
Stielbek
Come evening, the sentinels would gather in the bowl-shaped nexus of channels between the tiered rises. When the sky began to darken, it fell to the fledglings to roast either a goat or a boar over the glowing coals piled into a circular pit, a chore that required regular and attentive turning of the spit. They were also required to boil and stir the vegetable broth in large iron bowls, which served as an accompaniment to the feast of meat. Shamil found this the most onerous of their chores, requiring over three hours of labour amidst air steamed to an oppressive, sweat-inducing thickness. Tihla had issued stern instructions that they remain silent throughout these nightly gatherings, and they were permitted to eat only after the sentinels had had their fill.
At first, Shamil
