As Claire remained frozen, her eyes fixed on the scene unfolding, a voice in her head interrupted her thoughts. The angle was all wrong, causing Jamie excruciating pain. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, he was rocking back and forth with pain, yet he made no more than a soft groan. Suddenly, his body slumped forward, only the firm grip of the men keeping him from collapsing onto the floor. One of the men uncorked a leather flask and pressed it against Jamie's lips. The pungent smell of raw spirits wafted toward Claire, reaching her even from where she stood. Jamie coughed and gagged, but swallowed nonetheless, the amber liquid dribbling onto his tattered shirt.