Frey had been moved back to replace Tayna at the trailing end of the long rope and the Sergeant guesssed that the threat of further pain rather than death would be more effective. “Walk or they’ll just have to drag you” he sneered. She again staggered to her feet, legs bowed and feet twisted on edge in agony. Yet Tayna was amazed that Frey still staggered along behind them as they climbed higher into the mountains. In contrast to the recent continuous cold and exposure they all now sweated in the hot sun as the climb stiffened, the soldiers perhaps worse off than the mainly scantily clad prisoners.
Varnia’s useless cotton blouse, rotten from damp and sweat, feel apart at the seams across her shoulders from the constant tugging off her bound arms. Her right breast fell out as it slipped down to the petty amusement of the escort. Seeing the soldier alongside her laughing she spat at him in contempt, he swiftly tore away the
