White Cloud checked the leaves on some of the yellowed old crops that the previous Lamya slaves had left behind and squashed a corn fly larva between his fingers. He kept his head down and tried to ignore the Lamya slavers completely as they walked past on their patrols. He could see the others of his slave group working nearby, Elani he hadn't known before, but who he had grown quite fond of since being forced to share a cell with them at night.

He longed to see his son again and his wife Rebecca, who he hadn't seen since he had been carted away to work another field, or Helena, or any of his old friends from the Vale. He straightened up and made his way over to a water pump, guarded by a fierce Lamya.

"What do you want, slave?" the guard asked, looking down his nose. A whip curled at his hip.

White Cloud was in no mood for an argument. He looked at the guard and sighed. "Water, sir, for the plants."

The guard nodded and allowed him to fill a bucket, watching all the time in case he tried to sneak a drink for himself. He returned to the patch he was working and started to water the poor weak plants that the Lamya had grown.

"Psst!"

White Cloud looked up and groaned. "Saoirse, please, if they see you talking to me…"

The girl ducked down behind one of the plants as a slaver walked past. When he had gone, she popped back up again and grinned. Her face was dirty and her bobbed silver–blonde hair was dusty, but her blue eyes shone and he could not help but smile at his young friend.

"They took me to the field where your wife's working," Saoirse explained. "The seeds are shooting there now and they'll probably move our group down there so you can give your farmerly advice and whatnot."

White Cloud chuckled. Saoirse was always so full of energy, despite being manacled hand and foot. "Farmerly advice? I don't think that's what the Lamya call it."

Saoirse flung herself to the ground out of sight as another slaver walked nearby but continued to talk to White Cloud in a whispered voice. "Well anyway, that's what I heard. You'll be able to meet up with Rebecca and some of the others. We can get them involved in our escape plan."

White Cloud frowned and knelt down to speak to her. He peered at her through the stalks. "I want no part in this plan. It's far too dangerous and I definitely don't want Rebecca caught up in it."

Saoirse huffed. It had been her idea to start collecting tools and objects that would help them escape and hide them in their cells at the end of the day. She and two of the others had already collected a small pile of assorted tools, though most were broken and useless. White Cloud did not approve.

"Well," she said, "at least you'll be with Rebecca. The two of you can enjoy your slavery together until you're split again."

He frowned. "Look, you can continue spying on the slavers and listening in on their conversations but I beg you to stop stealing tools. They'll find out, Saoirse, and then what'll you do? They'll have you killed, made an example of!"

"At least I'm trying something," she whispered back harshly. "Do you know what went on last night when we were all locked up in our cells? Do you? That Noan came and took others from different groups!"

"Took them where?"

"I don't know! Away somewhere. Had them killed probably, too many mouths to feed. But they're gone. Five from the cattle field and two others from Rebecca's group in the seedling field. That's just the ones I know about. And that's not all! I heard that horrible Sundi talking, saying that they had taken Helena to the castle."

White Cloud grasped his young friend's hand. "Helena? What can they possibly want from her?"

Saoirse opened her mouth to reply but a voice from above stopped her from speaking.

"Up! Up, Elani slaves!"

Two angry-looking slavers swished their canes as they both stood, looking guilty. "What were you doing?" one of the men demanded. "Explain."

Saoirse was always quick with an excuse and for once, White Cloud was glad of it. She lowered her eyes and kept her voice humble as she answered the Lamya. "White Cloud was just showing me how to care for the roots properly, sir. Forgive me, I'm a slow learner and White Cloud was trying his best to explain to me."

One of the men smirked while the other looked to White Cloud. "Is this the truth, farmer?"

He nodded and with a cold smile replied, "She's not too bright, sir."

The slaver gave a haughty snort and peered down at the exposed roots of the plant, thin and yellow. "Well get on with it then. The previous slaves were not too bright either and look what happened to them."

The two men laughed wickedly before making one last retort. "Corrinus wants healthy crops. Fail and you'll be the first one executed, farmer."

And with that they left the Elani to their work. White Cloud stared meaningfully at Saoirse before shaking his head and turning back to his plants.