Morrow had identified the tent he thought Jacques would be in by his spying during the day. It was the largest of the tents set aside for sleeping, and closest to the center of the group. Let's just hope Jacques isn't trying to be clever. Otherwise I probably wouldn't have time to search them one by one.

He did his best impression of looking like he belonged there as he strolled to the tent in question. There was no active patrol, but if someone went out for a piss looking like just another bandit might save him more than tip-toeing like an obvious assassin. He pulled back the white tent flap and was rewarded with the fact it's occupant was still sleeping. Unfortunately it seemed Jacques, if that was indeed who it was, had company.

A naked woman covered in welts was bound in the corner of the room for obvious purposes, and more importantly to Morrow she wasn't quite asleep yet. She turned to groggily stare at him and Morrow could only think 'Oh shit'. His body responded before he could really think the implications through, and he dashed across the tent floor and covered her mouth before she could yell.

"Be very quiet. If I uncover your mouth you can't scream or we are both in deep shit, hear?"

Thankfully she seemed a little clever as she started nodding, and since he didn't have the heart to silence what was obviously a captive he let her go. She whispered back.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?"

He ignored her as he moved to the still sleeping form on the bed roll. It was Jacques all right, looking very similar to his wanted poster except for his similar nakedness. Morrow wasn't one to care for that though, so once he was in position he clamped down on the guy's mouth with his hand.

Morrow had to give it to him, being woken from sleep like this must be disorienting, but Jacques responded with admirable aplomb. Rather than trying to force away the hand now gripping his face, he went for a knife he kept under the roll of cloth he was using as a pillow.

What followed was a silent grappling contest as Jacques tried to stab him from a poor position. With one arm occupied, he had to do a little Twister before he managed to pin down his knife arm with his leg and club Jacques into unconsciousness with his other arm. Rendering someone unconscious is not the easy business of movies, but after 4 solid hits to the head he went silent. Morrow had acquired a few more shallow gashes to his arms from the experience, but they were nothing to his current body. I better not have killed him after all the trouble I went to...

Thankfully he was still breathing, so he tied him up and put a rag in mouth. Now for the exit plan. He stared at the girl who had watched hopefully in the corner as they struggled, and figured he probably had to do something about her as well. She looked too injured to do more than limp though, which meant he'd have to carry her as well as his prize.

"Alright, we don't really have time to get you dressed here, so bear with me."

He grabbed Jacques' knife and cut the leather cuffs holding her in place before putting her over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. It was probably uncomfortable and embarrassing since she was naked, but he was no blushing virgin and they couldn't afford to be picky. Managing a princess carry or carrying her on his back was simply impossible in these circumstances.

He looked around the tent for any obvious loot he could bring with him, but Jacques turned out to be dirt poor. He didn't count them, but jiggling the purse gave an unsatisfying jingle, so Morrow figured most of the band's loot went towards keeping them supplied out here. Makes sense I guess. A small band like this one simply doesn't have the manpower to hit caravans and the like, which is where the real money is at.

He grabbed his prize and hoisted it over his other shoulder before leaving the tent. Pretending to be just another bandit wouldn't fly again, but nobody bothered noticed as Morrow weaved along the same route through the tents that he'd come in on. After making his way back up the dunes to where he left his gear, he couldn't believe how relatively smooth it had went. Well, except for the snag with the woman. Speaking of which...

"You can talk now. What's your name miss?"

"Thank you for your help, my name is Riera. I was part of a caravan taken two days ago, and well...you saw what happened."

"I see, do you have somewhere to go or would you like to go back to Jadir with me?"

She blushed a little before looking down.

"Thank you benefactor, but can I get some clothes first?"

Oops, forgot about that.