The Die is Cast

Light was creeping over the land as Naomi staggered into camp. Daisy was leaning drowsily against her, and she squeezed her again to make sure she was real.

"Naomi?" She saw Judah coming up to her, and before she could do anything, he had thrown his arms around her.

"You're okay," he said, his voice muffled by her hair. "You were right, I should have done something. I couldn't sleep all night, and this morning when Aaron came and told me they'd captured some of mine I thought - "

"Hang on." Naomi pulled away from him. "What's this about the Master's clan capturing people?" She looked around for Frances and Pippa but didn't see them. "Dear God!"

"Naomi!" She turned to see Frances coming into camp, her red hair mussed. "I made it!"

Frances was safe.

But Pippa was in Morgan's hands.

Naomi turned to Judah. "You're really sorry?"

He nodded. "I was afraid," he said. "I thought that there was no way we could stand against her, but I was wrong. You showed me that."