Out on the moors, the day that followed the storm was a brilliant sunny one. Little Cloud was up bright and early and cooked breakfast for his friends on an open fire. A small column of smoke rose into the sky. He closed his eyes against the sun and breathed in the air.

"Fancy a nibble, Bartram?" He tossed a roasted nut up to the raven. "Winter has a good store of food. You wouldn't think a wolf would keep a larder."

At the mention of her name, the huge white wolf emerged from the tree base, shook her fur vigorously and sat opposite him at the fire. She smiled and sniffed at the food.

"Smells good! The Onen Steren, Sorrel I mean, is trying to work out a safer route back to Silence Gorge from my collection of maps." Winter took the food Cloud offered her and gulped it back before speaking again. "I can't read maps personally," she said with a faint smile, "I don't need to, I can read the stars."

Cloud smiled. "So, we're leaving today then?"

"Sorrel wants to," Winter replied, licking her lips. "You're both ready to return."

"Yes, I s'pose we are." He held the dragon scale amulet and looked at it thoughtfully, smoothing it between his thumb and forefinger. A dragon was more impressive than an army was. He just hoped it found them soon.

#

Saoirse woke up blurry eyed and with a pounding headache to boot. Her damp clothes stuck to her skin and chilled her to the bone. She groaned and moved to rub her eyes only to find her hands chained to a wooden beam above her head. Coming fully to her senses, she saw her two companions chained next to her in the same way. They were still out in the field. What was worse was that she could see Slavemaster Noan nearby with an audience of slavers and wide–eyed Elani slaves.

"Oh, White Cloud!" Saoirse saw the worried look on her farmer friend's face as he was forced to stand in the muddy field and watch the fate of his friends like everyone else.

Noan looked down his nose at one of his subordinates as they explained the night's events. He heaved an irritated sigh and surveyed the field. Most of the new plants had been ruined – either by the heavy rain or trampled by foot.

"Shut up," he commanded. The slaver was instantly silent. Noan turned from him and approached Saoirse. He looked at her in distaste before deigning to talk to her.

"You know what must happen?" he asked. "You three must die now as an example to the others and I will be three slaves short. Look at the state of this field! My slaves will have their work doubled and as a result will curse your names when you are gone." He turned away angrily for a moment and faced the crowd before calming himself and turning back to Saoirse. "You are the ringleader. Maybe I should postpone your execution until the Lord Corrinus can be here to witness it."

She smiled defiantly and jerked the chains. "At least I will be free in death."

Noan stilled and looked thoughtful. Then he smiled, a genuine smile, and placed his sword point under her chin. "You would rather die than live as a slave? Ha! You Elani really are stupid!" He laughed and his gaze shifted to Fox chained next to her. Fox simply groaned and Saoirse swallowed hard.

"Then maybe I will keep you alive," Noan said. "And to make your suffering all the greater, I will release your two allies." Noan took a step back and lifted his sword.

Saoirse knew what was coming and a quiet voice ran through her head telling her that she should not have spoken. Cold dread washed over her and she watched, frozen, as two of Noan's slavers came up from behind him and struck her two companions dead – plunging their swords through the men's chests.

She screamed. There was a cry of despair from the watching Elani and a few started sobbing. White Cloud stared at her and gave a sad shake of his head.

Noan drew close and whispered venomously in her ear, his breath hot. "They died because of you and you will live forever in slavery with that guilt. Look at the faces of your people! They hate you for what you've done."

She sobbed when he laughed. "You made the Elani feel hatred. Silly, foolish little girl!"

The Slavemaster turned away from her dismissively and Sundi came to his master's side like an obedient dog. "Take her away. Keep her in confinement on her own and only allow her out with a guard. I think you'll find the Elani even more servile now. Today, Sundi."

Sundi unchained Saoirse and she sagged into his arms. He led her away as Noan barked out commands to the crowd.

"Get to work! Now!"

Silently, and with no harassment or jibes, the slavers directed the Elani back to their fields. Saoirse kept her eyes upon Noan's back until he disappeared from her sight. One day, she thought, one day Slavemaster Noan will beg for mercy at my feet.