“Let her go, foul ogre!” One of Lannex’s guards cries from behind us. His voice is far away, but the fact that I can still hear it means he’s following the right path. Did I make a mistake in helping Braizen? Perhaps, but what choice did I have? I was sure to starve if I hadn’t.

Torrent slows, which eases my pain, but I’m confused. He can’t be exhausted; he’s not even breathing heavily. A few paces later, he stops.

“What in the gods' names are you doing?” I hiss, craning my head to see if the guards have caught up to us. The giant sets me down, and I feel elation and fear as my feet hit the path. Is he releasing me? Is this some twisted joke?

The male stares down at me. “You stay here. I swear to the Guard himself that if you run, you will die.”

I use this moment to catch my breath, then turn towards the oncoming guards. They’re getting closer. Torrent stomps towards two trees a short distance off the path. I grab my head with both hands and bite my bottom lip in frustration. Does he want them to catch us?

Then I see it. A small deer tangled in a thorny vine. Its leg is bleeding, and its flanks heave as it desperately kicks against the thorns. The tall male slowly pulls a small dagger from his pocket.

“Hold still, little one,” he whispers. “I’ll have you free in no time.”

The guards’ shouts grow louder, and my breath hitches. At least four of them; I can now hear distinct voices. When they reach us, we’ll die. No. This is only half true; they’re not after me. They’ll attack Torrent. I can run back to the carriage.

I sway a bit and plant my feet more firmly as I try to concentrate. If I run, Torrent will surely chase, then catch me before the guards even arrive. However, if I pick the right moment and sprint, I can meet the guards on the road and hide behind them.

“This way! Hurry!” One guard’s voice carries even more now.

I slowly turn my head to watch Torrent, who’s stroking the deer’s cheek. The animal’s round, dark eyes slowly blink at the man, a primitive sign of trust. My head tilts in awe as the massive man gently cuts through the thorny vine and then strokes the deer’s wounded leg. For the first time, I see the large barbarian’s expression soften. The deep, hard lines in his rough-hewn face are gone. He might even be a bit… handsome?

He smiles tenderly at the deer. This isn’t the behavior of a brigand, a crooked thief. To stop for anything that could jeopardize his goal, let alone a mere animal. And then, my jaw falls open. An animal! An animal in the woods!

The deer is free, but it doesn’t move; it only stares calmly into Torrent’s face.

Torrent gently pats its head, then swivels to rush back to me. He falls flat, his chin smashing into the earth. The thorny vine that entrapped the deer twists around his ankles. Multiple vines shoot up around him and plunge across his body as I watch in horror. He can barely struggle; they hold him tight, and his strength has diminished after days of hunger.