It was dark by the time Kaylan returned. Gerald lay on the bed, pretending to be sleeping as listened intently to his host. It didn’t take long for the man to climb into his own bed and fall asleep. Gerald counted to five hundred in his head, and then sat up, carefully swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. Grasping the dagger firmly in his right hand, he stood, wincing with the effort. Taking a few steps toward his host, he steadied his movement by holding onto the nearby chair. He staggered, scraping the chair along the floor, and froze, fearful that his captor might awaken. Letting his breath out slowly, he regained his composure and continued his journey. Soon, he stood over Kaylan with the dagger in his hand. He placed it at the man’s throat, ready to cut, but his hand shook, and
