Chapter 91

Dinton nodded, but he did not look convinced. Then he said, “Tero, we cannot take him back like this.”

“No, we cannot, but we can at least get him out of this putrid swamp. Go back and tell Kajal that we will be sleeping outside the camp tonight. We can stay on the outskirts until first light.”

“Right away, Tero,” Dinton replied before running back toward the camp that was already set up.

Tero looked down at his friend’s body and heaved a sigh. “I am sorry, Ga’briyel,” he said, his voice catching and tears burning his eyes. “I am so sorry you must go through this again and again. I wish I could do something for you, but I cannot.” He reached down into the water, picked up Ga’briyel’s sword, and slid it into its scabbard. Then he hoisted the body over his shoulder and carried it out of the marsh onto dry land. He stopped several paces from the line of guardsmen on watch and gently laid Frank on the ground. Then he sat beside him, his back against a tree, and waited for Dinton to return