While Pike got no rest, the sun did come up. The bleary-eyed troops prepared themselves for the final stretch; and against all expectation, a summons came. The recruit from Hofingrad was called to appear before the Protectorate's men.

"You're its warden, are you?" Pike was asked. Clearly his plea for the witch had made no impression the night before; he remained another faceless soldier amongst the rest.

"I am, sir..."

"When we make our stop closer to the city, you will clean it and change its clothes. There's no sense for The Protector to endure its stench upon delivery. Enforcer Brox will be on hand to strip it and remove its chains that it might be dressed."

The large, imposing man to their left identified himself with a subtle acknowledgement of the order. The thought of him putting his hands on the witch was more than Pike could bear.

"I can-"

"No need," Pike was told, "Just be ready when the time comes."

Moving into position to depart; Pike failed to fall back as his friends had done. Standing abreast with Elion's former comrades, he had no thought to the vicious glares from either side. As soon as they stopped, he would be prepared to rush to the witch's side, and spare him from the humilation of being stripped by Enforcer Brox.

"Aren't you going to call him over?" asked Min, "He's putting himself right in the lion's den."

"You know Pike," Rel replied, "He's not one to be outdone once he sets his mind to something. If he wants to be the fastest to Velmund then so be it. I'll be content to watch him from the rear. Though the company around here seems to have worsened..."

Min caught sight of Elion behind them. He couldn't quite understand it; those judging friends of his had been put in their place in much the same manner as he had, and yet he was surely the pariah. He tried not to pity him, to raise his guard and sneer, but a turn of his head was all he could manage. Out of sight, and out of mind.

Emboldened by the presence of the officers out front, the soldiers didn't wait long into the journey before they started making things difficult for Pike. A shove to his side, a scattering of stones kicked in his path. What did he care? Pleading for respite would only amuse them, or even risk an escalation of their attacks. Until they got bored, he would weather whatever they threw at him. He had to get closer to the witch.

At the back, Min was trying to think of ways to pass the time. He'd exhausted most of the games that came to mind during the long days marching from Hofingrad; and rather than subject Rel to another round of 'guess who I'm thinking of', had settled on a game of 'what if'. He was still reeling from the last answer he'd received.

"But how could you just abandon Hofingrad entirely?" he asked, "It's your home! And what about Ursa? Would you leave him to fend for himself without a second thought?!"

"In this scenario, all the women are gone; so what would keep me there? If you hadn't thrown out such a stupid question, I might have not had cause to consider leaving and never looking back. What really baffles me though, is that you wouldn't think to do the same."

"And go where? Who would look after mother in my absence?"

"But, in your hypothetical, all the women are gone from Hofingrad. You realize that means your mother too, right? Or had you forgotten she's a woman?"

Min caught sight of Elion's smirk as he listened in on their rambling conversation.

"Forget that one," said Min, "It's too confusing. What if I disappeared? What would you do? Would you look for me?"

"I wouldn't have to bother looking," said Rel, "It's clear enough you'd claw your way back to Hofingrad somehow; even from the depths of the underworld. I could save myself a lot of trouble searching by just waiting for you there."

"As if you'd wait! You'd probably be off seeing the world with Pike, and never give me a second thought. You two are always thick as thieves. Don't think I haven't heard you whispering together."

"Min," said Rel, his tone more serious than his friend had heard it before, "Listen; you, Pike and Ursa... you all mean so much to me... Without you I'd never have made it this far. There is nothing I wouldn't do to keep you safe. Any of you. Even from yourselves."

Min thought he was a going a touch too far with his intensity, but he nodded his agreement all the same. Only Elion seemed to suspect the pertinence of Rel's heavy-handed sentiment; there was danger in the air, and Min had failed to sense it. 

When they came to a stop, Pike wasn't alone in rushing forward. While he ran to the carriage, Rel pushed his way through to the front of their group; inciting the tired and weary soldiers eager for rest in the process. As they made their grievances clear through angry shouts and agitated shoves, Rel lost sight of him. Pike was already standing out of view at the far side of the carriage. 

"Where is your water?" Enforcer Brox enquired, "Or were you planning to clean it as a cat cleans its kittens..?"

The looming figure of Brox eclipsed Pike's view of the carriage door. The dagger at his waist, glinting in the midday sun, his patience for Pike's stupidity wearing thin. The guard interjected, more so to prove his own worth, rather than out of pity for the gormless yokel.

"Through that thicket, there's the riverbank. Hurry and be quick about it."

A pail was handed off to him, and watchful eyes were waiting. Pike had no choice but to go as fast as he could; at least once he found the river, he'd have a better idea of their escape route. Beyond the thicket, it was only twenty paces to the water; deep enough to swim, but calm enough that they wouldn't get lost on the current. Without his armor, he was sure he could outrun them. Filling the pail, his heart pounding, and his hands losing their strength, he was half way back when Rel intercepted him.

"Don't," said Rel, a hand to Pike's chest, "Whatever you're thinking. Don't."

Pike grounded his feet and pushed him aside. "There's no time for this!" he cried, his desperate eyes rimmed with red; "You don't understand! I have to help him, now!"

In all the years of their friendship, the arguments and many differences of opinion; Pike had never looked so close to punching him. Rel stepped aside as he ran past, knowing already it was not a fight he would win.

The color drained from Pike's face as he returned. Enforcer Brox was leaving the carriage with the tattered remains of the witch's clothes.

"I'll chain its hands once you're done. For now, the shackles at its ankles should suffice. Be wary, mind you, if it takes you hostage there will be no negotiation."

Pike's fingers clenched around the handle of the pail, the closed door opening an inch that he might force his body through to widen the gap. Water ran down his hand as he stepped into the darkness, the witch's shivering naked body shining against the cold black of the carriage interior. He tried to hold him, forgetting the hard and icy steel that covered his chest.

"Forgive me!" he cried, hastily removing his cuirass and pressing their bodies together, "I came too late, and I wasn't thinking."

Tears stained the witch's face, his hands unbound were limp and painful. Broken and afraid. More scared than Pike had seen him.

"I'm here now," he said, "They sent me here to clean and dress you. But once we've figured out how to remove your shackles, we'll run. There's a river not far from here. No more talk of accepting your fate, I won't let them take you into the city. This is our final chance at escape."

The weeping, naked form struggled to raise its head. The witch's fearful eyes no longer held the quiet dignity of endurance, they were pleading and wild.

"Please," he begged, his voice hoarse and his breaths trapped between sobs, "Please, you have to get me out of here..!" 

Whatever information the Protectorate had brought with them from Velmund, it was enough to terrify the witch. Pike clutched his shaking body, feeling his soft and frantic heartbeat as it pattered against his chest. With one hand, he located the bundle of clothes, and slipped a shirt and robe over the witch's head; gently manoeuvering his hands through the sleeves, and pressing them to his lips as if to kiss away the painful scars that marked them.

"I will take you away," Pike vowed, "This world is not safe for you. I will make us a world where only happiness can find us... where we can be together."

Min was starting to panic.

Rel had raced ahead so quickly and left such a trail of anger in his wake, that he hadn't dared to follow him. He was beginning to regret it now. With both of his friends out of view, there was no telling what trouble they were getting themselves into. He sat on the ground to rest as he fiddled nervously with his fingers.

 "Aren't you worried?" asked Elion.

It was clear to anyone with eyes that he was.

"I don't think we need speak," Min replied, "My friends will return soon, and they're not your biggest supporters as it is. There's no sense in provoking them further."

"So you are friends then?" continued Elion, "Because I thought you might have wanted to help them."

"Help them?" puzzled Min.

Elion sat down beside him. "With whatever it is the two of them have planned," he replied. "Don't tell me you think they've gone to pay their respects to the officers? It's obvious they're up to something."

Min tried to pull himself up, his tired body near toppling under the weight of his armor. Elion stood and offered a hand to assist him.

"I can do it myself, thank you very much," said Min, rocking himself to his feet and peering into the crowd of soldiers. The three former friends of Elion were nowhere to be seen. They had promised no more trouble, to make it to Velmund together; and yet so close to the finish line, another obstacle was blocking their path back to Hofingrad.

"Do you want me to help you look for them?" asked Elion.

Min scoffed, before the fear of running into three disgruntled soldiers without first finding Pike and Rel came to mind.

"If you must," he said, "Since you were the one that started all this..."

Elion found him entertaining. Rather than sit alone in the dirt like the outcast he'd become, it was better to tag along and see which of his enemies came out on top when pitted against one another. His money was on the trio from Hofingrad; though his present companion was unlikely to contribute all that much to the victory. He followed him through the ranks, amused that Min would continually turn his head to check he was still there.

As they got closer to the carriage, they noticed some movement in behind a dense cluster of trees by the side of the road. Or that is, Elion noticed and pointed it out; Min was still scratching his head as to where they might have got to.

"Look, is now really the time?! The Protectorate are in screaming distance, is it worth the risk to try and start something?" bargained Rel.

"You wouldn't scream, not if you've got any honor," the soldiers taunted.

"I don't!" said Rel, opening his mouth before it was quickly covered by their grubby, panicked fingers.

"Quiet!" they hushed.

Rel had hoped to cause a distraction, that their scuffle would draw the officers' attention and grant Pike a reprieve in whatever fruitless endeavor he was trying to attempt. Readying himself to break free and let loose; it was Min's arrival on the scene that posed another kind of problem.

"Elion! Grab him!" hissed one of his peers.

He hadn't expected to be welcomed so easily back into the fold. Thinking little of it, Elion gripped Min's arms while he decided whose side it was better to be on.

"What are you doing?!" cried Min, "You were helping me look!"

"You found them," said Elion, "Well... one at least. I'd say I did my part."

Taking on four of them lowered his chance of success, not to mention the hindrance of now having Min to protect. He struggled against the hands that pinned him, and hope it would not be too late. Without eyes on Pike, he couldn't be sure he was even still alive.