Chapter XVI, Reading 5

Kalmyk was riding slightly ahead of his men when he saw Deru standing on the beach with his reins dangling in the mud. He spurred his horse to a run. As he approached the little, black horse his worse fears were confirmed for he saw several arrows protruding from the saddle. When he reached Deru, he saw that the animal had received a superficial wound along the flank. Someone had tried hard to keep him from escaping.
Ignoring the possible danger to himself, Kalmyk ran his horse along the beach. His troop followed his example. It didn't take them long to reach the scene of the ambush, which was well marked by the body of Leitho's dead horse. Kalmyk stopped short of the area so he wouldn't disturb any tracks.
"Gwher!" Kalmyk commanded.
"Yes sir," the big-boned trooper responded.
"You're the best tracker left among us. See what you can make of this."
Gwher dismounted and worked his way slowly around the area where Flindra and Leitho had been attacked. He found Leitho's helmet in the grass. It had been badly dented and blood had stained the inside padding. There was blood on the beach as well. He saw that two bodies had been dragged to the water. Here the tracks ended. Beyond the ambush site, the beach was clear of any tracks. It was obvious that Flindra and his sergeant had been taken away on a boat.
Gwher walked back to Kalmyk and handed him Leitho's helmet. His jaw was set hard and his eyes smoldered in anger. He had been the one to guard the young scout's tent during her first days with the troop. He looked upon Flindra's safety as a personal duty.
"They were ambushed by men hiding in the grass," he reported in a voice seething with anger. "After they were overcome by these men they were dragged to the edge of the water. They've been taken away on a boat."
Muffled curses came from many of the Rangers milling around the lieutenant.
Kalmyk chewed his lip. "It seems someone went to a great deal of trouble to capture our scouts. My guess is that they have been taken somewhere for questioning and that somewhere is probably the base camp in this swamp. "Gwher, you ride point," he ordered. "Let's go find them!"