68 Licking Wounds

The fleeing party travelled for the next twelve hours non-stop. Gavadiol and Sorrentino swung around in wide circles from time to time making absolute sure that they were not being followed. At last, when the horses could not move anymore, they had to stop to make camp. The entire time Gavadiol had poured all his attention on the journey. He did not, he could not allow himself to think of his failure, what was now the murder of some random innocent old man, or the loss of Eltak. Now, he dully collected the plate of food handed out to everyone by Ella, muttered a ‘Thank you,’ and went to sit by himself in a quiet corner. Mercifully, no one approached him. It was like they knew he needed time on his own for now. Now, his mind wandered to Lara. He had not set eyes on her since they had started this journey. She must have known by now that her butler was gone. Sacrificed himself to save the rest of them. As he spooned the hot broth without even feeling the taste, he wondered why Lara