When Beldren woke, the shed was dimly lit by the sun. His empty stomach clenched and growled. His dry throat felt tight and scratchy. Though he worked up a mouthful of saliva, the thick, warm fluid did little to quench his thirst.

His friends hung, their legs bent and their bodies dangling by their arms. His own shoulders screamed from having done the same and he wondered how long they were supposed to live like this. There had to be a way to escape

A slave brought ...