Chapter 153: Country Bumpkin in The Capitol
Adam led Freya over to a clean stretch of ground by the crackling campfire and set her down gently atop a folded travel blanket.
Toby pulled a thin metal lock pin out of his ranger satchel, then knelt beside the tangled iron chains wrapped tight around her wrists and ankles.
He twisted the small tool slow and steady inside each lock, until sharp cracking sounds cut through the quiet woods, and the heavy restraints clattered down onto the dirt.
Freya stared down at her bare unchained hands, her whole frame shaking.
Hot tears spilled fast down her cheeks, and she pressed her palms to her face, quiet broken sobs shaking her shoulders. She could barely speak through her crying for a long moment.
Toby swept the scrap pieces of broken chain off to the side, then leaned forward with a soft warm smile.
"Hey, you're safe now. None of us will let anyone drag you away again. I know what it's like to get caught by slave traders too, y'know."
