Ahhhhh…… The sun has almost set. The last hues of deep red are fading. The night birds have started singing. I can smell the fish cooking over the fire. Life along the river can be so wonderful.

Who’s there? It is a man, tall, skinny, dark hair, dark eyes with dark bags, bad teeth, and a large scar on his right cheek. He is wearing old drab clothing and no weapons on his belt. What? You want to share the fire. Sure, why not.

Hello Trejak, I’m Skram. He offers a foul smelling liquid. I said not thanks, he seem displeased but smiles again quickly. I offer some fish and we talk a bit. He speaks of his family and of some ruff times on his farm, he is going to the city Barter town to look for a job. I tell him of some places in the city to look for work. As I tell him of the business that might be hiring he seems disinterested.

An owl starts to hoot. Is it that late already? It is time to get some sleep, Trejak smiles. I turn to get my bed roll. Pain explodes in my head. My eyes go dark. I can hear Trejak laughing. Why?

The pain! My head is pounding. I’m moving, rocking side to side, it makes my stomach angry. When I open my eyes the sun is so bright, I can’t see. My skin and my mouth are so dry. I smell sweat and dirt. The ground is hard, it is not ground it is wood. My vision clears. I see bars? I’m in a cage!