Chapter 2: In the House of AguilarDarkness had fallen before the coffle of Aguilar reached its destination. He allowed them to go slowly, showing no signs of impatience when they lagged, and had finally ordered Cragen and another of his men to carry the barbarian girl after she fell repeatedly. Jaelle’n managed not to fall, more by sheer determination than anything else.
After they entered a walled compound through a wide gateway, the huge iron gates clanged shut behind them. Inside they found a small oasis of green grass. A fountain splashed in the center, more heard than seen, while roses and other flowers Jaelle’n did not know sweetened the air with their perfumes.
The women—nineteen of them now—stopped. Cragen went down the row and one by one unlocked them from the chain. Aguilar sto
