The wind had turned into a howl by the time the company reached the midpoint of their return journey. Hermi maintained her position near the rear of the column, but her three trusted archers were no longer riding next to her.
She had sent them to the rear to watch over the prisoners. The five culprits had had the arrows plucked from their flesh and their wounds bound tight, yet their hands and feet were tied.
Instead of riding properly, they were slung belly-down across their horses like sacks of grain. Behind them, the 'missing' archer and the Squad One Captain suffered the same fate.
No matter how much they wailed about their innocence, Hermi had ordered them bound and gagged until they reached the fortress, just to be sure no more surprises came.
As the column entered a more winding section of the path, Hermi heard hooves closing the distance. Achille had broken rank, and soon he was pulling alongside Luca.
"Your Majesty, may I have a moment of your time?"
