Jerico stood, groaning as he did. His platemail groaned along with him. He wished to oil it down, but could not. He refused to even take it off. So far the other men hadn’t demanded it of him, and he didn’t want to risk losing it now. As he stepped out, still shielding his eyes, he realized it wasn’t daylight that hurt him, but burning torches at either side of his door.
“What is the hour?” he asked.
“The stars are out,” one of the two lugs grumbled behind him, still guarding the door. “What hour you think it is?”
Jerico turned and smiled at the yellow and red blob that his eyes showed.
“Ever so helpful, Griff.”
“It’s Adam.”
“Sorry, can’t see your scars too well.”
It seemed like Adam grinned, but then a sharp pain struck Jerico’s throat. He collapsed to one knee and coughed.
“Take his armor,” Kaide ordered as Jerico fought to regain his breath. “I don’t want it turning a blade should we need to subdue him.”
Jerico tensed, and he almost resisted. In the end, he knew it was pointless. Half-blind, hungry, and disorientated, he would prove no challenge. Lifting his arms, he let Adam tug at the straps, pulling his armor off.
“Careful,” he said. “You’ll dent it.”
“It seems dented enough by your own travels,” Kaide said as the breastplate thudded to the dirt. “You should feel better not carrying that around, anyway. Now follow me.”
Jerico’s sight was finally coming around, and he glanced about the forest dwellings. He saw the light of fires burning in several homes, and a few more outside in a ring. The sound of laughter met his ears, so he figured it couldn’t be too late into the night. The amount of people he heard and saw surprised him. At least a hundred formed this motley bunch.
“Did something happen to Sandra?” he asked as they returned to where the woman had been kept.
“Just be quiet,” Kaide insisted. He pulled the band from his hair, releasing the ponytail. Shaking his hair free, he sighed and put a hand on the door. “Behave yourself, and respond kindly. Sandra has woken, and she wishes to thank you.”