The little girl shrugged. “I was playing with Sunny and he came out of the forest and took her.”
“Where did he go?” They should be finding a place to rest, but Luke couldn’t allow a thug to take the girl’s pet.
The little girl pointed to a trodden path in the forest.
Nessa stormed down the path, her fists clenched, her back straight.
“Nessa!” Luke called, but the little girl grabbed his hand.
“Will you get my cat back?”
Luke patted her head and raced after Nessa. He caught her wrist. “Stay behind me. We don’t know how many there are or what kind of weapons they have.”
Nessa acquiesced with an unconvincing nod, her gaze focused on the path.
Men that picked on children were desperate and unpredictable. Luke had no coin to offer for the cat. Although, perhaps a good blow to the head would do. Who eats a child’s cat? A small clearing came into view. A man with long, brown scraggly hair sat on the ground, holding a screeching black and white cat pinned to the forest floor in one hand and arranging sticks for a fire with the other. Luke scanned the clearing. It appeared he was alone, but Luke couldn’t be certain.
A whimper from his side caused him to look down and see the little girl with tears in her eyes. He glanced at Nessa who swept the child into her arms, holding her tight and trying to turn her away from the sight.
When Luke glanced back, the man was rising, the cat held by the scruff of its neck. He moved toward them, a dagger in his hand. “Who’s there?”
Surprise was out of the question. Luke put his armor down and stepped through the bushes to confront the man. “That cat doesn’t belong to you.”
“I found it,” the man said, narrowing his small eyes. His face was round and his clothing was ragged, dirty, and covered with holes.
“I didn’t ask where you got it. Give it to me and I will let you go on your way without incident.”
The man looked Luke over slowly, assessing. He knew he was no match for a man with a sword. He scratched his chin. “I’ll sell it to ya.”
“You can’t sell what doesn’t belong to you.”
“Then I’ll give ya half when I’m done cooking it.”
Distaste curled Luke’s lip. “This isn’t up for negotiation. Give me the cat and you can go.”
“You’re hurting her!” the child shouted from behind Luke.
The man’s gaze swung to the girl and Nessa. Understanding dawned on his face. He hauled the cat up before him like a shield. “I’ll kill it before I give it up. I’ll rip its head off.”
The little girl screamed. The cat hissed.
Luke drew his sword. He stared hard at the desperate, starving man. “You might kill the cat, but that will be the last thing you ever do.” He twisted his sword in his hand. “Is your life worth that of a cat?” Out of the corner of his eye, Luke saw the rising sun reflect off his blade onto the trees behind the man and an idea came to him.
“I can run faster than you,” the man snarled. “I can --”
He wasn’t going to give the cat up. Luke’s muscles tensed, preparing. He twisted his hand and the sun reflected off his blade into the man’s eyes.
The man winced and put up his hand to block the sudden blindness.
Luke raced forward. As he neared, the man lifted his dagger. Luke drew his sword back, smashing the handle into the man’s head.
The man fell, releasing the cat. The terrified animal landed on its feet and dashed into the woods. With a cry, the little girl chased after it.
Luke stood over the fallen man. Nessa joined him.
The man shook his head, trying to clear it. Blood dripped from a cut at his hairline.
“You should have let the cat go,” Luke advised.
The man crawled back, holding up his hands. He had dropped the dagger somewhere on the ground. “Don’t kill me. I’m sorry. Don’t.”
Luke shook his head. He would never kill a defenseless man. He took Nessa’s hand. “Let’s go.” He turned to leave, but stopped. Ernest Wood, one of the knights Luke had taken with him to find Nessa, stood before him. “God’s blood!” Luke exclaimed. “Wood! Where have you been? How did you escape the fight with Urien’s men?”
Ernest scratched at his cheek where a scar ran from his hairline to his jaw. “I fought the best I could, but couldn’t save them.”
Luke stepped toward him, but Nessa caught his arm.
“He was speaking to Urien in the camp. I remember him,” Nessa proclaimed.
Tingles raced along Luke’s neck as he looked back at Ernest. There was not a mark on his body from the fighting. He had been speaking to Urien. Traitor! Luke raised his sword before him, snarling, “Betrayer! That’s how Urien’s men were able to overpower us! It was a trap. A trap you set up!”
