Release.

Kriss watched the inn all night and into the early morning light feeling the dread in her stomach knowing that she would have to arrest her saviour. As the sun climbed higher two women exited the inn and heard one of them shout out Isabella. This was the woman they were seeking and the other woman she recognised as Magdalena a formerly enslaved person now a free woman. She silently roused her unit and they all watched the women head for the stable and then led out two captives. They led them towards a buggy and it was then that Kriss gave a signal and her unit burst forth and surrounded the four women. Isabella and Magdalena were quickly disarmed and pushed to their knees. It was then that Kriss saw who the two captives were and she ordered them quickly released. Arerto and Helena were given clothes taken from Isabella and Magda who know knelt naked and bound and gagged before Arerto their eyes filled with hatred.

Arerto hugged and thanked Kriss who was tense which Arerto sensed and asked what was the matter. Kriss took Arerto to one side and told her that she had specific orders and Arerto stopped her. "I guess my mother visited and ordered Julieanna to have me rescued and then placed under arrest " To this Kriss nodded and Arerto just smiled "Kriss I once told you that your duty is to obey orders however you may disagree with them so you must obey this order as well. I have just one favour to request of you." Kriss looked at Arerto and said yes of course and Arerto told her not to arrest her until after they had visited Hansmead to release Cheytelle. Kriss nodded her agreement and ordered two of her unit to take Helena back to camp and the rest with Isabella and Magda in tow headed for the prison mine. They made good progress and arrived mid-afternoon and found shelter in dense underbrush and waited for darkness to fall.

As the sunset, Arerto laid out her plan. She and Kriss would take Isabella and Magda to the mine as new inmates and she was gambling that no one at the mine had ever seen or met Isabella. They would certainly not have met the traitor Magda so it should be okay. Once inside they would locate Cheytelle and then escape leaving behind ISabella and Magda. The rest of the unit was there just in case anything went wrong. So Arerto and Kriss emerged into the darkness with their prisoners and headed to the prison and found the duty officer. Arerto explained that they had apprehended the two escape slaves and were returning them to the city. They asked for refuge for the night as Isabella and Magda screamed into their gags. The duty officer allowed them in and showed them where they could leave their two prisoners. Arerto watched as they were locked in the cell and she turned to thank the duty officer as he invited them for some food.