He pulled his horse around and jumped it into a gallop towards the forest, but not before I had thrown my daggers. I knew that they had landed, when I heard him cry out painfully, but he remained in the saddle and was gone from sight within moments.
I ran through the forest to get to Flin. I had to stop John and destroy that book! Reaching the hiding spot where I had left Flin I found him saddled and ready along with the girl and her protector.
The man was completely frantic. "You are late! It has begun! They will come hunting for you!"
"What are you talking about man?" I yelled as I reached out and shook him violently trying to make sense of him. For a moment he was more afraid of me than anything else and he blurted out the truth.
"The she devils come and get you! They torture you and then drink your blood while you live!"
Iciness closed in around my heart at his words and as the full realization of John's treachery came to light. I let the man go and fairly leaped onto Flin's back pulling him around towards the camp, but the man blocked me from continuing.
Tears in his eyes he held up the little girl in front of him, "Please! You are a good man! You take my Zarsha with you! So she not become a she devil too!"
I couldn't resist the plea in the man's eyes and I leaned down and grabbed the girl up into my arms and then ducked Flin around the man and galloped for the other camp.
I pulled up in the trees and left Flin tied to a tree in the dense thicket of the forest with a slip knot. I left the girl in the saddle. I pointed a stern finger up at her as I said, "You stay right there!"
Eyes wide with fear she nodded vigorously and I regretted my harsh tone of voice immediately. I hadn't made it three steps towards the camp when I picked out the sounds of pain mixed in with the raucous celebration of the women's high pitched squeals and cater wails.
I made it to the edge of the clearing without being spotted and stopped in my tracks unable to believe the savagery of the sight that met my eyes. My three companions were tied upright spread eagled between tall poles I hadn't noticed before. They were completely naked and covered in blood from hundreds of nicks and cuts. Most appalling of all was the sight of the women and what they were doing to the men's bodies.