"I don’t know," Yuzu said. "I’d rather have someone who
knows what he is doing." She blushed.
The tangled branches suddenly opened to reveal a mountain.
They were close enough that he could see deep fissures cutting across the rough
stone. White mist hid the peak. Yuzu tugged the mule to a stop. Timothy and Kit
paused to gaze at the crags.
"That is where we are going?" Yuzu’s voice quivered.
"It looks…really high."
"You could always turn back," Kit said.
Yuzu craned her neck. "And go where? I…I don’t want to
be alone anymore."
"Kit’s home is someplace in these woods, near the base
of the mountain," Timothy said. "Where it is anyone’s guess. Least of all hers.
Unless you remember something, Kit."
Kit shook her head.
He didn’t blame her. The forest around them looked
much the same as when they first entered. There wasn’t any sort of landmark
that could trigger a memory. There were only the pines packed tight around an
old road and darkness. Timothy could understand how people believed the forest
was haunted. The darkness and the stories of the foxes that carved a home in it
were enough to convince the Church to act. And yet, the paving stones that
peeked from the snow blanketing the ground suggested a prosperous past not that
long ago. The footprints from the soldiers who had passed the night before
suggested that past prosperity would remain in the past. The Church still
remembered and watched.
"Kit, do you think the Church is here because
someone is still around?" Timothy paused as an idea struck him. "This would be
an ideal place for the Protestants to hide. What better place than a place
where foxes—I mean out here."
Kit glanced at him. "Protestants? Who are they?"
"They are people who resist the Church," Timothy
said. "They have some disagreements with the Church’s teachings."
"I do too," Kit said.
Yuzu laid a hand on the side of the mule. "We had a
few in Honheim. The priest and city guard didn’t take to them preaching in the
streets. I didn’t see the fighting, but I heard they killed the priest that
confronted them."
"They were violent?" Timothy asked. "That is the
first I’ve heard."
Yuzu nodded. "I heard about fighting in other cities
too."
Kit chewed on her bottom lip while she listened. "Do
they hunt foxes?"
Yuzu frowned. "Why would they? Foxes are long gone."
"I think they are too busy to worry about foxes, one
way or the other." Timothy brushed snowflakes from his cheek.
"I guess we will find out. This road has to lead somewhere."
Kit started walking. Yuzu shook the reins at the mule. He huffed and regarded her
with a dark eye before tugging the wagon into motion.
They traveled for a time before the forest suddenly
ended. A wide swath of pasture opened to a gray sky. After spending so much
time among the trees, the familiar sight of open fields made Timothy smile.
If
only it was grass instead of snow. Just a few sheep grazing would complete the
picture.
A low stone wall lined the field. A rough homestead squatted
against the wall opposite of where Timothy stood. The road ran a few yard away
from the entrance. The cabin looked welcoming after his long trudge through
falling snow.
"It is too quiet," Yuzu said. "It looks like no one
is home."
Yuzu is right. It is too still.
No
smoke drifted from the chimney. Snow had drifted against the entrance.
Kit crossed into the field, her gaze locked on the
cabin.
Timothy followed. "Do you hear something?"
Kit shook her head. Behind them, the creaking of the
wagon broke the silence.
"Do you remember something?" Timothy asked.
As they neared, Timothy realized the cabin had
deceived him. It was little more than a shell. The logs were black from fire,
and most of the roof was missing. Through the remnants of the window he could
see the entire back half of the structure was open to the elements. He stopped
just outside the entrance. Kit ignored him and strode through the snow-drifted
entrance. She paused in the center of the room and stared at the darkened
fireplace.
"I don’t like this, Sis," Yuzu said from her perch
on the wagon. "It reminds me to much of Honheim."
"Was this your house, Kit?" Timothy asked.
She stood still for several moments before shaking
her head. "No. At least, I don’t think so." She shrugged. "Honestly, I don’t
know what to expect. I’m hoping something will trigger a memory I guess."
"Seems like a long journey just on the off chance to
trigger a memory though," Yuzu said. "But then, I remember the time I walked
down Baker’s Street and smelled Donbury’s special sweet bread. Are you looking
for something like that?"
Kit nodded. "I don’t remember much of my childhood."
She looked up at the shattered ceiling. "I had hoped something might help me
get in touch with it." She looked at Timothy and smiled. "I’ve dragged Timothy
all this way on a slim hope at best."
"I promised to come with you, remember," Timothy
said.
"You did. Although I never asked you why."
Timothy grinned. "You’re cute."
Honestly, I am
still not sure why, but there’s no point thinking about it now.
"As her husband you had better think she is cute."
Yuzu’s giggle ruined her effort to sound stern.
Kit raised a finger. "Don’t think I am going to fall
over you out of gratitude. You’ve been nothing but a pain. A useful pain, but
still a pain."
Timothy shrugged. "Showing me a little gratitude
would be nice."
"I haven’t hurt you yet, have I? And I won’t show
you to type of gratitude you are looking for. Especially after your accusation
just a few moments ago." Kit brushed past him. "But I am grateful. Let’s get
going."
Only about one hundred yards separated the house
from the evergreen darkness. Timothy glanced back at the pasture as the woods
engulfed them once more."Do you want to go back to being a shepherd?" Kit
asked.
"Maybe. I miss the open space." He inhaled the scent
of the woods. "But it isn’t that bad out here."
"The woods scare me," Yuzu said. "Anything could be out
there." She looked into the dense canopy. "Or up there watching us. When do you
think Daeric will return?"
"There you are, Timmy. You have one helpless girl to
defend. I will be sure to defend you, of course." Kit’s chuckle sounded forced.
She leaned close to his ear. "I feel like someone is watching us since we
passed that big tree back there." She nodded at a large oak well behind them. "The
fur on my tail is standing up."
"Could it be just Daeric?"
Kit shook her head. "It’s not him. It could be the
reason why he hasn’t returned yet."
"You’re right. He normally isn’t gone this long. I
hadn’t been paying attention."
"Obviously. Don’t look around. If there is someone there,
we don’t want to let them know we know about them. Act natural."
"Thanks. I am glad someone is watching my back." Timothy’s
voice carried.
"Nice way to act natural, Timmy," Kit whispered.
"It is hard when you know something is going to happen.
Do you have any plans?"
She shook her head. "I…don’t know. I’ve never smelled
or felt anything like this. Daeric has always smelled strange, and this is stronger."
Timothy felt sweat run down his back. "You are not helping
my worry any."
"What are you two whispering about?" Yuzu asked.
"Yes, what are you whispering about?" a deep voice asked.
Two brown-clad men dropped from the branches overhead.
One more appeared from the woods behind them. Each wore a green bandana over his
wild hair. Matching scarves hid everything but their eyes.
"Pretty mice, Jan. And look at all their supplies." one
of the men in front said. He twirled his stoat boar spear and planted it into the
ground.
Kit growled, pulled her knife, and pushed Timothy against
the wagon wheel. Yuzu turned and rummaged in the wagon with one hand.
"Look
at her hair," the other man said.
"The black looks good too, Krill."
"Stay on task, boys," the third man said. He sounded
older. "We have our mission."
"I’m not some soldier who follows orders, Gert." The
man called Krill straightened. The spear blurred in his hands and stopped on his
shoulder. "It looks like we have some spunky ones here."
Yuzu stood on the wagon with a thick oak branch held
in both hands. Kit pressed Timothy against the wheel. She held her knife protectively
in front of her.
Jan and Krill strolled toward them, seemingly unconcerned.
The third man, Gert, leaned on his spear and watched.
I won’t be helpless. Not again
.
"Kit, I can—"
"Hush," Kit said. "They cannot have you."
Krill sauntered, wearing a grin. He casually jabbed at
Yuzu with the butt of his boar spear. Yuzu slipped around the thrust, twisted, and
swung her club.
Crack!
The man bellowed and staggered backward. He shook his
hand, his grin gone. Their casualness troubled Timothy. Either they underestimated
the girls, or they were that capable. Timothy’s heart thumped as he watched the
man called Jan. He stalked with dangerous grace, spear held ready.
They are capable,
Timothy thought. Kit continued to press against him. The mule rolled its eyes
and stamped.
"Kit—"
She growled deep in her throat.
Krill advanced on Yuzu again. He stabbed at her with
the tip of his spear. She jumped from the seat of the wagon, rolled, and swept Krill’s
feet from under him.
Jan circled around Kit, wary. "I am not the idiot Krill
is, girl."
Kit crouched. "Stay behind me, Timothy."
Krill leapt to his feet, his eyes dangerous. Yuzu gripped
her bludgeon with two hands, fear smeared on her face.
The third man skirted the wagon. He clenched a worn pipe
in his teeth. He thrust a hand in front of Krill.
"Get out of the way, Gert," Krill said.
"We didn’t come to kill anyone," Gert said.
Yuzu glanced at Timothy, her eyes wide.
Jan feinted with the butt of his spear. The movement
pulled Timothy’s gaze away from Yuzu. Kit shifted but didn’t take the bait.
Yuzu yelled, pulling Timothy’s gaze back. Yuzu lay on
the trampled snow with Gert calmly tying her wrists. A blue-gray smoke ring rose
from his pipe. Krill stood a short distance away, grimacing.
Frustration welled in Timothy. He needed to do something.
"She’s mine, Gert," Krill said.
"You know how this works. We can’t have your hot head
going against our orders," Gert said.
"You old guys and your orders. Why should I care?"
"You can go at any time. I’m sure you can get along on
the outside."
Krill grimaced. "I’ll stay."
"I won’t say anything to the first commander then."
Kit’s sudden attack knocked Timothy to the ground. She
darted around Jan’s surprised jab. The man’s curse changed into a grunt as Kit’s
blade slashed down and bit into the man’s thigh. She danced back. Crimson stained
the first half of her blade. Timothy struggled to his feet.
"You stupid little—" Jan clutched his thigh.
Wild shouts echoed through the trees. It sounded like
a small army approached.
"Jan!" Gert pushed Yuzu ahead of him, toward the dense
undergrowth. "We better go."
Krill followed behind him, muttering.
Jan hesitated before shaking his head. "I will see you
again. You have a debt to pay." He limped backward, keeping his gaze on Kit as
he backed into the skeletal tangled and disappeared.
Kit growled.
Daeric galloped into view just moments after the men
disappeared. He shouted wordlessly. He leapt from his saddle before his horse skid
to a stop. One hand held his spear in a tight fist.
The sight struck Timothy as too similar to the men who
just left.
"I heard men. What happened? Are you hurt? Where’s Moonflower?"
"I am quite well. " Kit’s voice was calm. Her ears flicked
under her hood, however. "Three men attacked us. They took Yuzu…my sister."
Timothy rounded on her. "Why didn’t you let me help?
Why did you get in my way?"
Kit blinked. "You are not a fighter."
"I could have helped! If I had, Yuzu wouldn’t have been
taken!"
Kit took a step back.
"Who took her?" Daeric asked.
"I am not helpless, Kit."
Kit sighed. "You’re right, Timothy. I…I like protecting
you, how you…I’m sorry." She shook her head and glanced up. "I’ve apologized more
to you than anyone else. You should feel special." She turned to Daeric. "She was
taken by bandits."
"Did they cover their faces?" Daeric asked.
"They were bandits, weren’t they?"
Daeric frowned. "Those fools. I had hoped to run
across them before they found you. They couldn’t have gotten far."
"Who?" Timothy asked.
Daeric ignored him and swung back into his saddle. He
started back the way they came.
"They went into the trees, there." Timothy pointed.
"I know where they went," Daeric said. "This way."
Kit climbed into the wagon. "Get up here, Timothy,
before he leaves us behind. Be quiet. We don’t have time to argue."
He slipped into the seat beside her. Kit had to crack
the reins three times before the mule began moving. Daeric rode well ahead of
them by the time Kit convinced the mule to follow at an awkward trot. The wagon
rumbled over the tracks it had made not long before. The mule’s loping trot bounced
the wagon over every rock in the path. Timothy’s teeth clicked. He lurched and wrapped
her arm around Kit’s waist just before he fell off the narrow seat. The wagon lurched
and rattled. Pots clanked loud enough to warn people of their coming for miles around.
Timothy kept silent after biting his tongue when one of the wheels bounced off a
large stone. Daeric led them down paths Timothy hadn’t noticed on their first time
through. Kit radiated anger like the sun radiated heat. Her back could give an oak
tree lessons in stiffness.