Chapter Thirty-Five: The Baker, The Soldier and Their SecretsKlaus staggered up to his waiting horse, held onto the reins and waited. The animal whinnied, alarmed, stomping at the ground. Klaus breathed hard, his head down, hand pressed against his side where the wet rag oozed blood. He had tried to staunch the flow and had, at first, succeeded, but with every step the wound would open anew. Klaus knew he had lost too much blood. He needed to rest, to regain his strength. Eat and drink something. Anything.
Moving through sheer instinct, he managed to climb into the saddle and steer the horse through the brittle, scorched scrub. He clung onto the beast's neck, forcing himself to remain conscious. He had no water and his tongue felt huge and painful in his mouth.
At last, he came into the
