The flickering orange glow of the fire Isceradin had made for himself was all that allowed him to see anything beneath the cover of the trees after nightfall. It would be the second night in recent memory that he was to sleep anywhere without family, fellow soldiers, or any other human beings close by. The first night had come the day Malchus had banished him from the campaign, with his only company being a donkey from the baggage train that would carry his belongings.

Thus far, having the donkey a...