Ellis stirred and stretched with a soft moan. He was lying uncomfortably on the floor of a dark and creeking room. It was bumpy, too; a wagon? How did he get here? Last the young man remembered he was in Essryn buying Kishahni razorweed. He cast a spell to make himself an eagle for the return-trip. Memories flooded back: of flying, of landing to trade with tribesmen, and of raiders with nets. That's where it went black.
Now an enormous animalistic shape loomed over from the shadows. With a gasp Ellis scurried back and away from the centaur, until the shackle chafed his leg. "Shit! Oh. you're a centaur," he grew calmer, knowing his wagon-mate was at least a sapient. "I was trading some some herdsmen and a net came over me.
"I think we've been captured," he said in a small voice. The two were naked and shackled; what else could it mean? Serha was rife with slaver-warlords. "I'm Ellis."
Covering himself for modesty's sake, Ellis began exploring his prison as much as the shackles would allow. The wagon was equipped with little more than straw, some. At least four raiders were visible through the slatted windows of the cage. They appeared to be moving through farmland . shackles, and a water basin.
