It was happening once more. Alaisdair was bemused but, at the same time, terrified. Pegasus? Hmm...where did I? Why does that name sound familiar?
The faster he ran, the less distance he seemed to cover. Finally, he realizes his quiver is still on his back. Hope tickles his heart. He reaches back and grabs several arrows, only to find them busted. Throwing them down, he reaches for several more and then several more. Each time he pulls out the arrows, he finds them broken. Not a thing to defend me. Groaning, Alaisdair thought, If only one arrow had survived the fall. If I'd not been so quick to lay my weapons down in the cave, I'd have my dagger and taken these men down. Yeah, sure. Who am I kidding? Oh yeah, that would be me.
Should I keep running, hoping I could get away? Or should I turn and fight? Flight or fight. Fight or flight? Looking back, the soldiers were gaining. If he surrendered, maybe they wouldn't kill him. Nah, forget it; I'm not outrunning them. Let's stop.
The soldiers surrounded him, speaking in a tongue he did not understand except by their hand and arm waving. They appeared to be frustrated.
Ropes materialized in the head soldier's hands. He quickly had Alaisdair tied with leads on the sides and in front and back. Then, each soldier took the lead and started walking around from where they had come. Walking was difficult because Alaisdair returned to his clumsy gait - tripping and falling several times.
The frustration level was climbing both for Alaisdair and for the soldiers. But Alaisdair could not make them understand that walking was not easy because each time he attempted to run, they would jerk hard on the leads, and he would land on his butt.
Finally, they reached the spot of his arrival. The Captain was seated atop his horse, awaiting their return. "We have a quarter-day journey and another hunting endeavor to execute again because of this squirmish. Is he fastened properly?"
"Yes, Sir." They answered as one.
"Then fall in." Turning his sorrel mount northward, the soldiers fell in behind their leader. "Forward, march!"