Chapter 26

But his empty stomach rebelled at the mere thought of pulling out the stake. Defending himself when his own life was in imminent danger was one thing. Even though this man was now dead, tugging out the stake against the serrations that were meant to help it stay in the ground seemed worse.

He would hold that thought. He might have to do it, but it didn’t have to be his first task.

A denser line of trees in the direction away from the road lured him. He was parched. The sun was overhead, so it was midday, and unless he’d been unconscious for an entire extra day, he must still be in Sheburat. He’d drunk nothing since last night, and that line of trees indicated a creek.

It was. A sizeable creek at that. Marcelo drank his fill, relieved himself, then picked a few handfuls of berries he recognized to be safe and ate them.