Ethan raised the staff, ready to strike.
"Wait! Don't hit me!" the man yelped, ducking with his hands over his head. "I don't have any valuables, but I've got news of something valuable!"
He squatted on the ground, bracing for the blow.
Thump, thump!
Two objects dropped onto his back. The man flinched, confused, before glancing down. His eyes lit up. He snatched them up, one in each hand, and plopped down cross-legged on the dirt.
Ethan had tossed him a waterskin and a strip of jerky. Without a second thought—poison or not—the man ripped open the waterskin and gulped it down. He followed it with ravenous bites of the jerky, chewing noisily.
"Thank you, Brother…" he said between mouthfuls. "Honestly, I just wanted to rob some food and water. Haven't eaten in three days. When I saw you new trial participants, I figured you'd have supplies."
"New participants?" Ethan's frown deepened. "You're here for the trial too?"
