One of these single-minded (in every sense) soldiers shoved us with his spear. For now he was, thankfully, using the blunt end. I’m not really sure what he expected to happen, but clearly unhappy with initial result he prodded us again. So there we swung gently back and forth, back and forth, having various internal arguments about the most exciting and elaborate escape method, when things became even more… well, let’s go with interesting. Interesting in that way that promises imminent death or exceptional levels of pain. Someone new had entered the courtyard. Someone I had not seen in years. And certainly never on this planet.