[Folwren]

Oh, my! Oh my! I just figured it out! Or maybe I figured it out. Would certainly add something interesting.

Up till now, I really hadn't figured out just how Athwen was going to escape the tunnel and trench. I had never thought that stopping was an option. But I realize that it is. If Athwen stops, but the slavers know that in just a few yards ahead the slaves probably are hiding somewhere, then only one or two men will stop to get Athwen while the others plunge ahead.

Athwen will end up being caught, I'm afraid (well, not afraid, really, because it could be some exciting writing). Dorran may go into conniptions, but we'll manage, I think.

What I am seeing in my mind is Athwen charging full tilt ahead, the slavers close on her heels. She comes to the trench. She either realizes that she's not in the write place and can't see where the safe place to jump is so she simply stops OR her horse balks at the gap and stops. The slavers come swarming up. One or two stop to take possesion of Athwen, the others leap the trench and meet the tunnel. Perhaps a couple, as Nogrod suggested, swerve off and miss it altogether because they see some of the slaves.

What becomes of Athwen at this point, I'm not sure. They want to take her prisoner? So, they tie her up and put her back on her horse to wait for their further orders......but I think before they could manage to get her tied, Dorran would have arrived. I don't know.

What do you all think?

-- Folwren