After Riera had gotten dressed with some of the spare clothing, they got back to the introductions.

"I have no family to go back to now, so Jadir is fine with me. It won't trouble you, will it?"

She looked a bit ready to cry at that, and Morrow figured she must have been traveling with her family when the bandits hit. If they weren't killed outright, then they had no value as slaves.

"Sure, I've got enough supplies that it's no burden. I'm just going to drop this guy off."

He indicated the still unconscious Jacques, to which she glared at angrily. Morrow was sure if he gave her a knife she'd stab him a few dozen times, but while he could sympathize he really needed the piece of shit alive.

"Sorry, I know you hate this guy, but if it's any comfort I promise he'll get what's coming to him when we get back to town."

"I know benefactor, but I can hardly be happy seeing him."

"Call me Morrow, but let's get going shall we? I don't know how long it will be until the dead sentries are found."

He moved to pick up the trussed up body of Jacques after re-equipping himself with his original outfit, but Riera informed him she felt well enough to walk on her own. Suit yourself.

"We need to hurry, so if it hurts too much let me know and we can work something out for me to carry you."

Riera seemed to have a nice streak of toughness, so he doubted she would take that option unless there was really no other choice, which he secretly appreciated. He didn't really like those who only complain, even if he meant his offer.

He had to leave the small cask of water behind in order to make room to carry Jacques, but he topped off as many water skins with it as he could before they left.

Jacques woke up about an hour after they left and started trying to make an unholy racket through his gag before jerking around. Morrow set him down for a moment before laying out the law.

"Let's be straightforward here, you're my captive and there's no bargaining. Shut up or you go back to counting sheep, clear?"

"MMH-!"

Simple and concise.

They took a break so that Riera could get a quick breather and he could satisfy his now complaining stomach. She hadn't said anything, but Morrow had at least a little consideration for others in him. This was bound to be tough on her even if she wasn't injured, and the flash of gratefulness that went across her face confirmed his suspicion.

His food was running low and a couple pounds of jerky was only a minimum to keep himself going until they reached the edge of the desert, so it was with some embarassment he gave Riera a couple sticks of jerky and a water skin before helping himself to the rest.

"Miss Riera, do you have any idea if they can track us or if they would even bother trying to rescue their leader?"

"I can't say for sure, but I'd guess no. Tracks are covered quickly here in the desert, and they may not even notice until dawn if we are lucky. Even then they may not chase since the others would relish the opportunity to become leader themselves."

"About what I expected then. Well, let's get going but don't feel afraid to speak up if you need a rest."

Was getting this bounty even meaningful for curbing crime? I'm not much of a justice warrior, but it rankles me that someone else will just be leader and they will continue on robbing peddlers until their new leader gets a bounty. I wouldn't have to do things this way if I was stronger.

"Hello Bandit A and B, miss me?"

What came back was curses and widened eyes as they recognized their formerly illustrious leader bound to his back.

"Aww, don't be like that. I came to fulfill my end of the bargain, and you don't want to piss me off when you're almost free, do you?"

""Please just cut us free!""

He did so, and thankfully they weren't stupid enough to attack as they went outside.

"Well, I recommend giving up the life of crime while you are still unknowns, unless you want to meet a fate like this guy?"

""We'll be going.""

Rude. They ran off like they were fleeing the devil. I didn't even do that much to them.

Riera said nothing throughout the exchange, but Morrow got the distinct impression she disapproved of letting them go like that. Oh well, he wasn't about to change his mind over every little thing.

"Okay, there's a cave about 2 hours from here if I remember right. We can sleep there during the day if that's okay with you?"

"That's fine benefactor, though I hope you checked to make sure it had no resident."

"It hadn't when I left. I used it as a stop on the way here."

Riera was even tougher than he had given her credit for, as she marched on gamely without a word of complaint.