One could hear the muffled thud of the gallop of horses running through the grass over a ground that brimmed with water. Erk was leading the march towards the group of corpses that a moment ago were running in search of a better life.

Having closed the distance, it was already possible to see the bodies embedded with the arrows. One in particular catches his attention being on his knees and not sprawled on the ground like the others, this used to happen when people died instantly and fell to their knees in a position like that.

But getting close enough to make out all the details, Erk notices that the kneeling body was not a corpse, but rather a young woman kneeling motionless in the midst of death.

He dismounted, signaling to those with him to stay away with a wave of his hand, not wanting to scare the surely already terrified girl with soldiers and their swords.

His clothes were worn and dirty like his body, his long hair fell down his back static from the mud that covered it, his thinness was evident and if it weren't for the natural movements when breathing, Erk would have thought he was just another corpse.

He was about to say something to the young woman when she abruptly turns her head and fixes his eyes on him. Tears fell from her ash green eyes expressing feelings in a face devoid of any. Erk is captivated by those eyes without soul or emotions, he forgets for a few moments what to say and regains consciousness when he sees the child to whom those tears were surely directed.

But the boy didn't move and the arrow in his chest explained why, the poor thing was as dead as that girl's eyes.

"We'll bury them, I won't let Niva close the gates on them." He says it softly, getting closer to the girl.

Tears stop falling, but the girl doesn't respond.

“Come with me.”

She still doesn't respond. Erk looks over his shoulder and crouches down to the same level and whispers to her.

“Anyone who tries to cross the border illegally gets the death penalty, anyone. I am in charge of this place, but even in this way I must follow the laws. It's cold at night and I need someone to warm my bed, do you understand? Follow me the game and you can live.” He started running the post a few minutes ago and didn't even know the place well, much less his men whose loyalty was in doubt. He knew that the captain shouldn't break the rules if he wanted others to follow them, using the young woman for that purpose was the best excuse he could think of.

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This time his face takes on a slight change that Erk can see, but still she doesn't say anything and returns his attention to the boy in front of her.

“Ahh ... The first day and I already started my work badly.” He gets up, grabbing the girl and dragging her to his horse.

It was light, too light. His lack of strength was evident and malnutrition as the cause. She resists without being able to do anything and turns her eyes towards the boy when she notices that they would be separated.

"Pick up the bodies and bury them." He ignores the strange looks from the men. "And do it right." His words conveyed that he would not tolerate failure and the soldiers nod without complaint.

She mounts the horse with some difficulty, but without objecting, Erk stands behind holding the reins and together they watch as the corpses are carried away.

There is no conversation on the way to the fort and Erk believes that the young woman's soul could leave her body at any moment, only her breathing and the warmth he felt from her ensured that she was still alive.

As they approach the fortress, the guards on the walls with their bows in hand become visible, this makes the young woman shake and Erk puts a hand on her shoulder to reassure her, understanding his fear.

They arrive at the center, in which there was a well of water, where several curious free soldiers had already gathered before their new captain and the girl he had with him.

Dismounting, Erk finds the old man and former overseer standing by his side.

"I won't question your decisions, but it's going to get you into trouble." He warns in a deep voice.

"Very good, there is nothing to see! To your posts!” Seeing that Erk takes his warning seriously, the old man yells at the crowd, dispersing it.

Erk helps the young woman to get off the horse and when doing so, he can see her eyes again and notice that they were no longer dead. Now the anger, hatred and thirst for revenge overwhelmed them, he remembers how she trembled thinking it was because of fear. Actually, it was the anger welling up inside her.

The pain hits before he could think of anything else, a little blood spurts from his neck as she lunges, penetrating his skin with her teeth. Erk instantly pushes her away using more force than intended causing her to hit the ground hard because the fist in her stomach.

The crowd that was beginning to part finds some interest again, and this time, the interest merited drawing swords and bows.

“Stay put!” Erk shouts showing his fury.

The anger was directed mainly at the girl. Not because of the attack, but because of his stupidity and the consequences that his decision made in anger would bring.

He reaches out and smacks her face with the outside of his open hand, causing her to taste mud again.

She gets up surprised to understand what she had done and what would come later, she could tell all this from the look of the man who hit her furiously, but also with pity.

"Tie her up and bring the whip." Two men rush in and carry out your orders.

The young woman shivers slightly once and then resolve is reflected in her eyes as she is tied up with her arms up and stripped of the clothing that covered her upper body, embarrassment was the least of her problems.