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Rinaldo returned late into camp, far later than he meant to.
It wasn’t safe for Bayard to have to navigate the difficult terrain through both darkness and snow, but Rinaldo was too intent on finding Bradamante to admit it was time to stop.
Finally Bayard stumbled one too many times. Rinaldo knew they had to go back.
He hadn’t slept for a day and a half now. He rode half-dead, slumped in his saddle, wondering as the last of the sunlight disappeared if he would ever see his sister alive again.
When at last he reached the camp, there was no Martel to greet him and take Bayard to the corral. No men waiting to give him news of what had transpired during the day. No cook with a hot meal ready for Rinaldo to devour. No one to consult with over strategy.
Exhausted as he was, there was sti
