In Allen's memory, the Red Brotherhood's camp should have been nothing more than a shabby cave. He remembered charging into their camp behind his shield more than once, grabbing the gem, and running.
Yet after following the treasure map all the way here, Allen discovered a small village hidden in a valley. An underground river running beneath the mountains flowed through the gorge for over a thousand meters before disappearing into the mountains again.
Along this river, hundreds of slaves in iron chains had carved extensive terraced fields into both banks. Fully armed members of the Red Brotherhood prowled the paths between the fields, occasionally whipping new slaves whose faces betrayed their anger.
Judging by the slaves' powerful builds and scar-covered bodies, they were clearly not professional farmers.
The Red Brotherhood did not really intend to use these formidable warriors as farmers, either. Until suitable buyers could be found, they were simply making use of what they had, while achieving a few other goals along the way.
At the deepest end of the gorge stood a walled compound. There was nothing resembling a castle inside, but four watchtowers were evenly spaced around its walls. From his hiding place, Allen could clearly see the sentries surveying their surroundings.
Rather than a conventional castle or manor, it looked more like a prison.
Allen could not understand why the map he had obtained from Blade Yaven had led him here. This place lay within Sarleon's territory, which should have made it Moonshadow Foster's domain. Could there be some sordid secret between them that could not be spoken of?
Whatever the case, Allen had no intention of leaving empty-handed after going to so much trouble. But charging blindly into such a heavily guarded base was out of the question. He needed to observe and