I was lucky enough to avoid that fate, so I have only witnessed the process. I cannot say what it was like.

... Most of those who were branded—and not promptly executed—were those who were taken away and made slaves in the Enemy's territory. They were rescued only about a year ago.

[By him and his friends, personally, but he isn't sure if he should say that part. Either way, compared to them, he and the rest living in Deltora were perhaps lucky, as an oppressive regime is still better than the horrors in the Shadowlands.]