Liam sighed when he heard the sound of horse hooves speed up and fall into step beside him. He looked over at the concerned face of Raquelle and he grimaced at her words. She offered him the sandwich and he didn’t want to take it. He didn’t want to eat when his men weren’t. But he knew she would insist until he complied and with a sigh he reached out and took the sandwich.

He shared a glance with Will, who merely shrugged, and then took the offered sandwich and unwrapped the paper from it. He took a bite and chewed for a moment before swallowing. “Thank you, Raquelle.” He was silent as he finished the sandwich and then he crumpled the paper in his hand. “I’m sorry if I’m acting so short with you,” he told her, looking over. “This is just…very hard. For me. I can’t stop worrying about her and I promised your father I would bring her home.” Liam looked down at the reigns clutched in his face. “I have to find her.”

~~~

While Alphonse was looking for clothes for the Marshal, Sam could feel goose bumps rising on her arms. She knew that he was watching her and she gazed intently at the fire, forcing herself to not turn around. She didn’t look up until she heard Alphonse coming back with an armful of brown clothing. 

Sam rose to help him untie August from the tree, but at the suggestion that the dwarf men would undress and clean him the man began bellowing something indiscernible at them. It made Sam hesitate, and she questioned if this was a smart plan. On the road he would have more freedom, more chances to kill them and escape. She had seen honestly on his face the previous night but what if it had been a trick. But she wasn't sure if she believed it was. A part of her believed he had been honest. And besides she couldn't leave him to die. 

She stopped in front of him and knelt down, like she had last night. She met his hate filled eyes and narrowed her own. “If I take that gag off will you start screaming?” He looked like crap. Pale and tired and weak from a night spent outside. She wondered if he could stand on his own (she doubted it) and watched him warily as she pulled the gag out of his mouth. The fact that he had no weapons was only slightly reassuring.

Then Sam started untying August’s bonds, her fingers fumbling with the knots a few times before she was able to pull the ropes away. She took his arm and gently pulled him to his feet. She looked up at him, her lips pursed in thought. “You smell horrible,” she commented before leading him towards the tent. Once they reached it she pulled the flap back and she looked at the cat still curled on a pillow. “Hey princess, it’s time to get up now,” Sam said, not too loudly but with a meaningful tone.