A trap?

It was almost a magical feeling when the shackles around his neck were finally removed and Gareth let out a silent sigh of relief. Though her really wanted to get rid of his master he had to restrain himself from harming her and tried just to focus on Ceriden and the deals he’d made with him. As Ceriden started walking he followed him closely, not wanting to leave the only person that actually seemed to be trying to help him, at least for the moment.

But then “she” appeared. Even just the sight of her fearsome looking halberd would have been enough to immediately freeze him to the spot. Though he tried not to, he couldn’t help but stare at her and as she took a step closer her almost unconsciously took a step back. He couldn’t pinpoint what exactly that made this woman appear so intimidating, obviously apart for her weapons and armour, but there was just something about her entire appearance. Her confidence and possible status where likewise unmissable when she spoke. All of this made Gareth almost instinctively start looking for any possible escape routes, in case such would be needed.

Sabina, having been taught how to distinguish between the different military ranks and so on, quickly recognised this woman as being at least a commander of sorts, stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes fixed on the stranger. Such an encounter couldn’t possibly have occurred at a more inconvenient time. She noticed the woman looking at the chains in her hands and immediately whished she’d just left them inside the stable when she had the time. She grabbed herself in wanting to tell her off, but then also reminded herself that people might have heard of her disappearance from her home and might want to take her back in order to cash in any possible reward that may be. At this thought, she decided just to turn her head slightly down and to stay quiet, hoping that this woman wouldn’t recognise her in any way.

She then heard the woman say "What is going on, Ceriden Malkaan?". Then it struck her; What if this had all been a setup? After all, Ceriden and this woman in front of them clearly knew each other somehow, so maybe they had been working together all along in capturing her? The mere thought of her made a could shiver run all the way through her body. Even if that were the case, there was nothing she could do about this now. She just had to wait and hope for the best.