6th August 1809, afternoon: Ransom

"Yes, sir... Hostages? They got more'n one, sir?" Not that really changed things all that much, if course.

He was slightly relieved to hear that Captain Torrington had caved, even a little, to what had quite frankly been almost rank mutiny, even if it had been meant with the best of intentions.

"Two and some horses, it seems. And probably eight enemies", Torrington replied, already turning his horse. He seemed to have rather forgotten that they had indeed had different opinions at the beginning. As soon as he had gotten over his initial instinctive reaction, he had seen that having the men at least close at hand would be more sensible - who knew what the kidnappers had really planned. So now he was completely concentrated on how to do this quickly and without forgetting anything important.

"So, .. wot's are you wantin' us to do now, sir?" Pye inquired, unsure whether the officer would still ride off into the direction he had meant to earlier, or whether he would return first to his tent, inform some other officer of his whereabouts and then proceed with his intention to do what the letter had asked him to do.

"Stay here until you are relieved, then sattle my other horses. And pack together what we might need to care for wounded. And bring me my greatcoat."

He was rather afraid of the state they might find Estefania in, and his greatcoat was the best he could think of to give her some decency. Urging his horse back over the ditch, he cantered towards the camp.