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Orolan’s fears proved to be justified. By late morning, small parties of troops were scouring the fields, outbuildings and houses along both sides of the main road and one group of six had returned to the inn to pick up the fugitives’ trail.
The soldiers who pursued them were fit, used to riding and gaining fast. Orolan had a problem on his hands.
He reined in and turned his horse so that he could address them, “We cannot outrun them and even though we outnumber them, even we will not attack soldiers, unless we have no other choice.” He flashed a cheeky grin, “Not a moral stance, you understand. More because it would redouble their efforts to capture us.”
“So what do we do?” growled Sorath. “I would rather give ourselves up to the authorities than allow my family to be shot at.”
Al
