instance. The captivesâ hands were bound one to another, and they began their march back to Chessington in the misery of a cold drizzling rain. Gavin was satisfied that the Followersâ haven in Cartelbrook had been eradicated.
On the journey home, not far out of Cartelbrook, Gavin led the procession by a farm that was set off the road a fair distance. The house was barely visible through a row of trees that bordered the property.
As they passed, Gavin heard a faint scream and looked toward the farm. An older girl, perhaps a young woman, was running frantically across the field toward the procession of knights and prisoners. She was barefoot and constantly lookedbehind her as if some horrid beast was about to pounce upon her. Although the rain had now stopped, the ground was wet and muddy. Midway across the field, the girl tripped and fell just as the source of her fear broke through the trees behind her. Two men on horseback pursued the lass at full gallop. The girl screamed hysterically and rose up to continue her flight. Her face, arms, and the front of her dress were covered in mud.
Gavin halted his procession and wondered at the scene unfolding before him. The girl was nearly to Gavin and his men, and the men on horseback were close behind.
âHelp me, pleaseâhelp me!â the girl screamed.
Her eyes were wild with panic. She did not hesitate as she ran straight to him and clutched onto his leg. Triumph spooked slightly, and Gavin tried to settle both his steed and the girl. He looked at the approaching riders, who had slowed their pace since the girl had reached the knights.
As the distance between them closed, Gavin became aware of their daunting size and the manner in which they were arrayed. There was a dark and ominous look about them that he had never seen before. Their horses were large black warhorses that seemed to carry the load of these huge men with ease. The men wore strange armor with broad straps of leather that crossed their breastplates and partly masked an emblem Gavin had never seen. He noticed that the pommel of their swords bore the same mark. Gavin immediately recognized the long handles of the swords still within their scabbards. They were sinister-looking weapons with extra edges that protruded forward from the hilt and base of the blade.Gavin did not wonder any longer at the fear that obviously gripped the girl.
âPlease, sir, donât let them take me!â she pleaded again. Tears streamed down her face.
âWhy are they after you?â he asked.
The horsemen were nearly upon them, and the girl spoke quickly. âMy father owes them money, but when they came to collect, he could not pay.â She began to sob. âThey have killed my parents and are taking my brothers and my sister to sell as slaves. Please help us â¦Â please!â She clutched Gavinâs thigh and tried to hide behind his leg as the massive warriors approached.
The men slowed their steeds to a halt just a few feet from Gavin. He felt small in their presence. They stared at him with disdain and then at the girl beside him.
âWhat is your business, sirs?â Gavin asked.
The two men did not reply. One of the men moved his horse a few strides off to the right, apparently to get a better look at the knights. Gavin watched the man closely, and he could feel Triumphâs hide twitching beneath him. Even Triumph seemed to feel the tension created by these brutes.
Gavin stared into the eyes of the man before him, but his gaze was unnerving. Of all the marauders and powerful men of war he had fought against, he had never seen such daunting warriors as these. He had heard the legends of the existence of such men but considered himself too intelligent ever to believe them.
âIt looks like we are in the same business.â The warrior spoke in a deep raspy voice.
âThese are not slaves; they are criminals,â Gavin replied.
âSo Iâve heard,â the
On the journey home, not far out of Cartelbrook, Gavin led the procession by a farm that was set off the road a fair distance. The house was barely visible through a row of trees that bordered the property.
As they passed, Gavin heard a faint scream and looked toward the farm. An older girl, perhaps a young woman, was running frantically across the field toward the procession of knights and prisoners. She was barefoot and constantly lookedbehind her as if some horrid beast was about to pounce upon her. Although the rain had now stopped, the ground was wet and muddy. Midway across the field, the girl tripped and fell just as the source of her fear broke through the trees behind her. Two men on horseback pursued the lass at full gallop. The girl screamed hysterically and rose up to continue her flight. Her face, arms, and the front of her dress were covered in mud.
Gavin halted his procession and wondered at the scene unfolding before him. The girl was nearly to Gavin and his men, and the men on horseback were close behind.
âHelp me, pleaseâhelp me!â the girl screamed.
Her eyes were wild with panic. She did not hesitate as she ran straight to him and clutched onto his leg. Triumph spooked slightly, and Gavin tried to settle both his steed and the girl. He looked at the approaching riders, who had slowed their pace since the girl had reached the knights.
As the distance between them closed, Gavin became aware of their daunting size and the manner in which they were arrayed. There was a dark and ominous look about them that he had never seen before. Their horses were large black warhorses that seemed to carry the load of these huge men with ease. The men wore strange armor with broad straps of leather that crossed their breastplates and partly masked an emblem Gavin had never seen. He noticed that the pommel of their swords bore the same mark. Gavin immediately recognized the long handles of the swords still within their scabbards. They were sinister-looking weapons with extra edges that protruded forward from the hilt and base of the blade.Gavin did not wonder any longer at the fear that obviously gripped the girl.
âPlease, sir, donât let them take me!â she pleaded again. Tears streamed down her face.
âWhy are they after you?â he asked.
The horsemen were nearly upon them, and the girl spoke quickly. âMy father owes them money, but when they came to collect, he could not pay.â She began to sob. âThey have killed my parents and are taking my brothers and my sister to sell as slaves. Please help us â¦Â please!â She clutched Gavinâs thigh and tried to hide behind his leg as the massive warriors approached.
The men slowed their steeds to a halt just a few feet from Gavin. He felt small in their presence. They stared at him with disdain and then at the girl beside him.
âWhat is your business, sirs?â Gavin asked.
The two men did not reply. One of the men moved his horse a few strides off to the right, apparently to get a better look at the knights. Gavin watched the man closely, and he could feel Triumphâs hide twitching beneath him. Even Triumph seemed to feel the tension created by these brutes.
Gavin stared into the eyes of the man before him, but his gaze was unnerving. Of all the marauders and powerful men of war he had fought against, he had never seen such daunting warriors as these. He had heard the legends of the existence of such men but considered himself too intelligent ever to believe them.
âIt looks like we are in the same business.â The warrior spoke in a deep raspy voice.
âThese are not slaves; they are criminals,â Gavin replied.
âSo Iâve heard,â the
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