die

all, a chill current of air flowed into the hollow and she started shivering. She rubbed her arms again, but it didn't help. Her teeth chattered.
"Paks," said a voice out of the dark; she nearly yelped. But it was Canna's voice. Paks scooted around to her side.
"What is it?"
"I woke up and heard your teeth—take this cloak; I don't need it."
"I don't want you to get chilled."
"I'm warm enough. Don't be silly; take the cloak." Canna heaved up and began unwrapping herself from the second cloak. Saben woke up.
"What's going on?"
"Paks is freezing, and I'm giving her back her cloak."
"It's time for me to take a turn watching anyway. Warm up, Paks; I'll wake you later."
"Th-thanks." Paks rolled into the warm cloak, and lay beside Canna, shivering for awhile. She fell asleep as soon as she was warm. She woke in a panic, with Saben's hand firmly over her mouth. Before she could move away from his hand, she heard the reason for it: horses somewhere nearby. She touched his wrist, and he moved his hand away. She looked at Canna. Canna looked back without moving. She had heard the horses too. A heavy wet fog lay between the trees; their cloaks were furred with moisture.
The horses came nearer. She could hear the jingling bits, the squeak of leather. And voices. "There won't be stragglers out here—we'd have found 'em holed up in that woodcutter's hut in this weather."
"Or else they're already far away."
"No—we hit late enough, they'll have been close in. The only thing is those brambles, the big ones, but Palleck's squad went over that yesterday."
"Shot arrows into it, you mean. Those lazy scum wouldn't pick through thorns. But I agree, that should have flushed anyone out. Still, if he wants us out here, here we'll be."
"Right enough. I won't argue. I wonder though—I thought we were going to lift the siege at Rotengre. What's he want to come up here and take a bunch of mercenary prisoners for?"
"I don't know. One of his schemes, I suppose. You know how he hates 'em. I don't doubt this Duke Whoever, the Red Duke, will "