Some bread was handed to me. I had taken the report of the last watch, and no one had exited the stable. The six fires had been tended during the night, and the net had been raised and anchored to posts. The fires would shortly, with the coming of light, be extinguished. “Free him,” I said to a nearby mercenary, indicating Pertinax. “Did you sleep?” I inquired. “There was little else to do,” he said. “I see you are in good humor,” I said. “I was a fool last night,” he said. “Forgive me.” “It is nothing,” I said. “If any remain within I feared you would die in the darkness, or, if there was a lamp, constitute a target which would be difficult to miss at the range.” “I am grateful,” he said. “Rub your wrists and ankles,” I said. “Exercise your limbs, move about. Then eat, but not much.” “You are going to enter the stable,” he said. “We will enter together,” I said.
