Alana crouched on her tent, by herself, sitting with her body curled, but her thoughts were miles away from the camp, beyond the small defensive fence, on the town square. Her stomach turned within; she felt weakness in her limbs, and tears bathed her cheeks. Guilt pressed over her mind like a multitude stomping her underfoot. Ira had been whipped and remained chained against the pillars. And it was her fault.

She did not want her to be hurt anymore, but the mayor had said they wouldn't release them until they all yielded to the giants. What would the soldiers think? They would not kneel, she would show weakness, and what would Ira think?

There was always a solution. That, she knew.

She tensed her fists. She could attempt what she had done months ago. Could it be feasible? Why had she been so adventurous and brave only a few months ago, and now she feared for her life? Images of battle rang constantly through her mind, of arrows piercing her body and reopening old wounds. They bore on her mind like open sores.

And she placed a hand over her own belly, gently, over the life that was becoming.

Suddenly, she heard steps around the tent. She lifted her head and remained attentive, eyes narrow on the entrance.

A hand passed through, manly, tan, and calloused. She moved back. If she had a weapon with her, she would brandish it in defense, notwithstanding feeling vulnerable and weak. She looked around for small items she could use, like the iron nail she stuck in Larius' eye. Yes, maybe she could pull that off again with a bronze nail clipper.

But it was Elkas, and he entered silently, with a finger over his lips.

Alana stared with a frown.

"Elkas? What the devil are you doing in here!" She hissed, then stood up. "Get out."

"I need to talk," he whispered.

"We talked already, get out! I did not tell you to come into my tent. What are your people going to think?"

"Relax, they know. They're outside, guarding us."

"What in Hades?" Alana raised her hands.

"We have to make sure the Suevians are not hearing," he cleared his throat. "I have a proposition."

"Elkas, please stop."

"It's not what you think. It's about Ira."

Alana released a long breath. She looked around and sat in front of him. She lowered her voice even more.

"Tell me. Do you mean… A plan to release her?" Alana asked.

He nodded.

"I thought you'd never ask," she smiled. "Tell me your ideas, and I'll tell you yours."

"Well, Raxana's brother is trying to make smoke signals, but I doubt the bandits will catch them." He cleared his throat and lowered his voice even further. "I'm going to go get Ira. We managed to steal a few knives, and I have some swords that we kept inside. There are four Suevian soldiers patrolling our camp. They take turns and just walk around, looking for anything suspicious."

"Why didn't you tell me you had weapons? Let me have one."

"Sure," he said with a sigh and passed her a small curved dagger. "And I'll go."

"Wait, wait," Alana said, checking the dagger. It was the usual pugio, standard army issue, encased in a sheath of hardened leather. She drew it - eight inches of slightly corroded iron that hadn't been taken care of as it should have. Its body was shaped like a gladius or the body of a female figurine. "Good enough. But do you see how they are guarding us? If they see you, they will find you and punish the rest of us. They could even catch you. I saw the four soldiers too, but they can see each other. If they notice something wrong, they will spot you."

"They won't catch me."

"If only Kassius was here to guard us with the sigil," Alana sighed.

"What sigil?" he asked.

"He had one not to be seen. I didn't really believe back then, but just to be sure," she said, lifting her head.

"Give me another idea then."

"You're used to battle in front, not stealthy stuff," Alana scratched her chin. "Kassara gave us some ideas on that. Because if you try to incapacitate one of the soldiers, he may scream and they'll get you. That would alert the whole squad. But if we have a solid plan to infiltrate..."

"You said 'we.' You mean you want to come with me? And what do you mean, 'infiltrate'? I say I'll hide until the guards are not watching, run to the side of the camp, and climb the walls."

"Climb the wall? That ditch is covered with spikes. Can you even climb it? It's like six yards tall," she cleared her throat. "Listen, what if we dress up and go in through the main door."

"Are you kidding me?" Elkas scoffed. "How do you want me to do that? They won't let me in."

"If they don't, we'll try something else. I mean, give them an excuse. I know, they have taverns inside, so you can tell them you're going to the tavern to get a drink."

"Do you think they'll let me in, just like that? If they do, they'd keep their eyes on me like archers."

"Well, we can do that. But we can also do magic," Alana said, scratching her chin. "I'm thinking of something. What if I come with you? Hiding."

Elkas raised an eyebrow, and Alana stood up, walked to the corner, and put on her cloak and a blanket that reached down to her feet.

"Do you have a winter coat?" she asked. "A big one, I can hide behind your cloak and when you enter the bar, I'll get close to Ira and let her go."

Elkas started laughing with his big white teeth and shook his head.

"This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard," he muttered between laughs. Then, he opened his eyes wide and pointed at Alana. "If they catch us, it'll be worse."

"It would be, but... Do you prefer attacking up front?"

"Well, if there's a way of telling the odds. It's a bet, but this idea is frankly stupid. No offense."

"Let's try!" Alana said, jumping to her feet. "Just find a big coat and..."

"This is the dumbest thing ever," Elkas scratched his head. "I'm just picturing it in my mind, and it would look terrible."

"Elkas, let's give it a try." "Are you walking behind me? I will look like I have four legs. What if Askar and you impersonate a horse?" he added sarcastically.

"Alright," Alana said. "If you think it won't work, what about impersonating one of them?"

"My hair is too short to imitate that bun. Besides, I'm taller than most people here, they would tell."

"What do you think?" Alana asked with a smile and her chin resting on her hand.

"Fine," he said, looking out into the night. The noise of crickets filtered through. "Hey," he whispered outside. "Adna, bring us that long overcoat."

"What?" Adna asked from outside the tent.

"Yes, quickly."

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Adna returned with a long overcoat made of wool and passed it through the curtain. Elkas straightened it and shook it off, a cloud of dust emerged from it, then put it over his shoulders.

"Wait." Alana jumped to her feet. "Take it off again."

Elkas complied, and Alana stood back to back against him. Her head leaning against the middle of his back.

Elkas sighed again, frustrated.

"Alright," he said, and put the coat on, covering her face with it too. "Are you comfortable?"

"I can't see, but let's try to move," she said, trying to keep her legs pressed to his. The coat, however, smelled rancid.

"Hell, it smells terrible," she sighed, trying to breathe as little as possible. "Alright," she muttered. "Ready."

Alana heard the curtains being pulled and someone walking in.

"What…" It was Adna's creaky voice.

"Don't laugh, please," Elkas muttered.

Adna cleared his throat, and Alana heard him chuckle.

"Well, you look like someone is hiding on your back and she's very uncomfortable.

"Are you happy, Alana?" Elkas asked.

"It's really dark in here."

"Can't you hear their music? They've been playing since before dawn. It's still a feast for them. For some reason. It won't be dark at all," Elkas said.

"Alright," Alana said, and turned her face to the other side, now, her cheek was pressed against Elkas' bulgy back, and the outside of her knees against his calves.

"Now it looks like he grew a hunch overnight," Adna said.

"See?" Alana muttered, trying not to breathe in the sweaty smell that oozed from Elkas' tunic, worse than the smell on the coat. His back was hard, and each one of his muscles bulged like a mountain.

"Well, let's go," he said, stepping forward. Alana followed the rhythm of his legs; when his foot touched the ground, she stumbled forward. She had to stay close to him in order to advance without any problem. They tried again.

"I don't think this will work…" he said, stopping his movement.

"Let's try. If not, Adna may keep an eye on us. I think we should act fast."

"Fine, most have their daggers still. Adna, you can direct them."

"I already alerted them," Adna winked one eye."Perfect," Elkas said as it was time to try their luck. Elkas moved, Alana still in the dark, breathing slowly and trying to match his steps. Her vision grew even darker as he stepped into the night, and she heard both the singing of crickets and the chanting of people behind the walls, the clinking of vases and laughter of men. If she focused a bit more, she could even hear screams of pleasure.

Elkas started moving forward.

"Alright," he muttered, "there are two guards chatting near the entrance. Don't make a sound."

"Understood," Alana whispered, still trying to take small breaths and draw as little attention as possible. They walked on for what seemed like an eternity, and the noises of the feast grew louder with every step.

Suddenly, Elkas braced, and she stopped her movements, attentive to any sound. From above, she could see timid lights illuminating the grass below, and heavy steps drew closer, accompanied by the clanking of metal.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" said a voice, threatening, and in a coarse Suevian accent.

"Eh, how are you, brothers?" Elkas responded. "All is well with me, I was just interested in the feast. It seems like the people are having a lot of fun like last night."

"Yes, barbarian," the guard responded. "And it's not for you, now go back to your sty and lie there, unless you wish to swear allegiance to our brothers."

"Oh, that," Elkas said. "You know, I'm not sure yet, you know, maybe tomorrow, but I'll let my friends know. Come on, just let me in tonight. I swear I may change my mind."

"You know," another Suevian guard said, in thick Itruschian. "We can't let you in."

"Come on, it looks like fun. Listen, man, I just want a drink."

"Go back to your tent, you infidel," said one of the guards.

Elkas sighed.

"Well, you asked for it." He reached for his bag. Alana felt Elkas pulling his jacket, and then his hand moved next to her hip, where his leather bag hung. He reached for it and put his hand inside. Alana wondered what he was doing. The coins inside the bag clanked.

"What is that?" the guard said. "Ah, you are trying to bribe us?"

"This money is not even good here," the other guard added.

Alana let out a small sigh. Things were not working as expected. She tensed, handling the cold hilt of her dagger.

"What was that?" exclaimed one of the questioners.

"What was what?" Elkas said.

"I just heard something," the guard yelled. "A sigh, or something."

Alana felt her body tense up. She swallowed.

"Who just swallowed?" said the guard.

"It wasn't me," Elkas said, lifting his hand and pulling the coat against Alana's skull.

"Yeah," Alana heard the voice of the guard ever closer. He was stepping just outside, close to her, and he was circling around Elkas. She felt his body tense up as well.

"Let's register him!" said the one with the high voice.Alana lowered her arms. There was no way out. She had to get ready. She had trained for months. But she was pregnant then! Panic surged up her spine and made her lose her breath.

Suddenly, a fresh breeze caressed Alana's face, as the coat let go of Elkas' arms and revealed her in front of a short Suevian guard. The man stared in shock, the light from a nearby flame sparkled upon half of his pale face.

He reached up for her hair, and instinctively, Alana reached for the knife under her belt and pushed it into the man's chest. He tried to block it with his hands, but blocking a knife was foolish business. He lost his balance and fell to the ground, Alana held on, not to fall with him, as blood started to filter through the gambeson and tunic, staining his clothes and her hand with blood.

She turned around, and Elkas had already unsheathed the dagger beneath his robes. He evaded the soldier's attack and stuck it into the man's neck. He reached down and unsheathed the man's sword. Another guard prepared by lowering his lance, his black teeth under the dim fire made him look like a monster from below, then he lunged at Elkas. He dodged and attacked with his sword, but the guard blocked.

"Help!" Elkas shouted, and dozens of Gadalian warriors stepped out of their tents, unarmed but ready to attack.

Alana looked down at the man she had just killed. His eyes had lost their lustre, and his mouth was wide open. She looked back, the gate was open, and the path into the village was empty, now that Elkas struggled against the guards. Crouching and keeping her body from approaching the light, she dragged the guard's body across, for six yards, took out his bloodstained tunic and belt, with a sword hanging from it, and put it on. The Suevian knot protruded from his head. It wasn't that hard to replicate, she removed the brooch that held it together, grabbed a tuft of her own head in front of her forehead, slightly to the right, tied her hair around it and secured it on the brooch. It fell lightly on her side. She wore her cloak and pranced back to the path, then ran into the village, hiding between the first small houses with blackened windows she found. She crouched between two houses, looking at the path that extended from the side into the town square.

The houses were silent, and probably empty, and yet she heard the sound of revelry, the banging of drums, lyres, and horns on the other edge of the village. She glanced from the edge of a round house of wood and hay, scanning the landscape around, rapid steps rushed through the rocky path, and she saw a guard running to help their comrades at the gate. That was probably a good sign, Elkas was not yet down.Please note that the following text has been proofread for grammar, punctuation, and clarity:

She advanced with her back against the wooden walls, attentive to any sound, and praying in her mind. Now, she was more vulnerable than ever. The pain of the arrow that had hit her weeks prior was still burning in her back, and the knowledge that someone was growing inside her fed her mind with a sense of both guilt and dread. She took a deep breath and held the soldier's sword in both hands, close to her left cheek, and advanced in the dark.

Soon, she reached the source of their feasting and glanced at a wide open-air shrine that had once belonged to Mercury. The sacred tree stood in the middle, and burning flames illuminated the scene. Dozens of women danced, men and women drank grape wine, and an array of treasures was on display. Among them, Alana glanced at the Sword of Ares, with its green light coming from the sacred Emerald, among the pile of enemy swords. Was it a kind of ritual to thank the giants for delivering them into their hands? Alana blinked in disbelief.

She had to get past that area, but the road in front was illuminated by the bonfire and wooden posts lightened with open flames. She had to be either quick or slow and innocuous. She decided a small person running could be a bad omen but noticed many of the people in the dancing crowd were wearing their armors. She took a deep breath and started walking through the main path.

From there, she caught a glimpse of a human figure tied to the post. She started walking faster when she suddenly heard a cry that made her jump in fright.

"Look, there!" said a voice from within the vast crowd.

The multitude in the shrine groaned in awe and curiosity.

"Oh, by the gods, they are fighting the rebels."

The crowd rushed out of the shrine, and she kept striding, her face low, showing the bun on her face, trying to look like one of them. She passed through the illumined area and walked again towards the dark, where she narrowed her eyes.

Ira was still bound, her hands tied above her head, her face and neck forward. Alana's heart raged both in compassion and rage.

From the corner, she saw two guards standing in the dark, their faces directed towards the road. She took a long silent breath and moved to the side, hiding behind the stall of the cheesemaker's house. Alana knelt behind it and waited.

The guards glanced curiously at the other side but would not leave their posts. Alana kept her head low and decided to circle the building. The wooden house was small, but the back was covered with a huge lawn.

Suddenly, a loud bark echoed around her and made the hair on her neck stand. A spotted white dog jumped from the back side. Its eyes sparkled almost yellow in the dark, and its white fangs shone like sharp knives. She also jumped a foot away, and the dog barked in fury, its roar hammering her ears.

"Damn dog," cried one of the soldiers on the other side of the house.

Alana kept her back against the wall. The dog barked furiously, snarling and showing its demonic teeth. "Shut up, you damned animal!" scowled one of the guards.

Alana kept her back pressed against the opposite wall and moved swiftly, staring at the enraged Alaunt.

"Hush, little dog," she whispered, but when the dog jumped, she blinked in fear. The dog stopped mid-air, and the collar and chain that held it rattled.

Alana swallowed and kept walking around. She got close to the other side, where she could see the pole to which Ira was still bound. The light did not hit that section of the square. The soldiers were still with their eyes turned toward the exit. She took a deep breath and walked on the edge of her heels, making sure her boots did not make a sound.

Alana advanced, and from there, Ira's hands and back could be seen. They were not moving at all. She hoped they were still fine.

"Hey, who's that?" screamed a rugged voice. Alana saw the soldiers pointing at her. The flames reflected off their chain-mail and the axes in their hands. One of them held a large bow, nocking an arrow and aiming at her.