"They will." Kit lifted her chin.
"The lieutenant will give you a signal to go toward the east gate."
Kyle held both hands to the top of his head. "This is the signal."
"Rabbit ears?" Yuzu asked.
"Fox ears. I’m supposed to be drunk, remember?"
Timothy shared a look with Kit. You’d better not accidentally tell anyone, Kyle.
Balwar cleared his throat. "If things go wrong, run back here. We will have enough men somewhat sober to take care of things. No plan works after the first shot is fired. So count on being back here."
"Except my plans. Right, Timothy?"
Timothy smiled. Strangely, Kyle’s plans do mostly work.
"I won’t let them get my sister. Not this time," Yuzu said.
Balwar tucked his hands into his robes. "Have you found out anything else about our missing key?"
Kyle shook his head. "Not a thing. Also, the captain is nowhere to be found."
Balwar frowned.
"He is probably just pouting—I mean working—in his cabin."
"Maybe. I think I will take a look. Remember what you are to do," Balwar said.
"Remember, you have to address the boys first," Kyle said.
Balwar sighed.
"You know what to do, Timothy," Kyle said. "Go have some fun. From what you’ve told me, it sounds like you could use a party."
"Wait, Kyle. You didn’t plan this for us, did you?" Timothy asked.
Kyle grinned. "Just have fun. I won’t let anything happen to you." He winked and walked away, shoving the Jesuit ahead of him.
Music and laughter fluttered with the flurries falling from the gray sky. All the bonfires burned, throwing enough heat to push the cold down to cool even where they stood.
"Daeric had better come," Timothy said.
"He will," Kit said.
"No drinking." His voice sounded sterner than he meant it to sound.
Kit glared at him for a moment before putting on an innocent expression. "Only a little, Daddy? Ale and pork—pretty please? It’s not like I have a big, bad man after me." Kit’s voice boiled under the singsong, childish tone.
Timothy groaned. "Sorry. This just has me worried. I—"
Yuzu crossed her arms and leveled a glare similar to Kit’s.
Kit seized Timothy’s coat collar and pulled him nose to nose. "I said I won’t have you treating me like a child again, didn’t I? That you would regret it. Didn’t I?"
"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…my nerves dance like a yearling. I don’t want to see you get hurt."
"This plan has me just looking pretty for the hunter. As if I was some princess in a castle or a fox in a cage. Don’t want me to get hurt. Am I some precious glass that breaks at a touch, Timmy?"
"N-no."
Kit jabbed a finger into his chest. Her other hand tightened its grip. "You are lucky I like you, but don’t treat me like some helpless twit who does not know how to take care of herself."
Timothy straightened his shoulders and grabbed her wrist. "I didn’t mean it like that. I only want to—"
"What?"
"Protect you," Timothy said.
Yuzu rolled her eyes.
Kit frowned. "I don’t always need or want your protection. I will not be treated as a child."
"I don’t see you that way. I have a debt to repay."
She let his collar go. "You can’t help who you are. Sorry. My nerves are dancing like your whatever-type-of-sheep-it-was too." She sighed. "I like you for who you are."
"I like you for who you are too." Timothy said.
"Ugh. Let’s eat before I lose the rest of my appetite," Kit said. "I forgive you for being stupid. Charmingly stupid and good-hearted stupid, but there had better not be a next time."
Timothy let out a long breath.
"My sister is forgiving, Timothy," Yuzu said. "Do all men have the silly idea that women need protection? If you ask me, men need women to protect them. I’m going try this sauce." Yuzu wandered toward the cooking pits.
Timothy rubbed where Kit had jabbed her finger.
"Forget it. Let’s go before Yuzu eats all of it," Kit said.
Timothy scanned the celebrating men. They gathered in clusters around makeshift tables. Only a few held weapons and acted alert. I hope Kyle’s men follow orders. Kyle was always lax in that regard. Most were well into their mugs. A bell clanged, and a voice bellowed over the din. Balwar and Kyle stood in front of the cooking fires. The soldiers rushed to form haphazard ranks.
Balwar waited until the men stilled. He rubbed his thumb on the crucifix that hung from his neck. "You have faced many hardships and lost many friends. Tonight we celebrate their lives rather than mourn their deaths. Pray with me." Balwar touched his palms together. Most of the soldiers mirrored him.
Close to the roasting boars, Yuzu folded her hands and bowed her head. But she kept looking at the sauce-slathered pork. Kit stood with a hand resting on her cocked hip. Timothy caught her gaze and shook his head. She frowned. Several soldiers glanced at her.
"I won’t. Not in their way, Timmy."
"At least look like you are," he whispered. "We already have enough trouble."
She sighed, folded her hands, and bowed her head.
Balwar’s voice rang out. "Réquiem ætérnam dona eis, Dómine, et lux perpétua lúceat eis. Requiéscant in pace. Amen."
Kyle lifted his head and gazed at the soldiers. "It would be nice if we could understand what we are praying, right, boys?" The soldiers laughed. "But what does it matter? We have beer, music, and pig with my special sauce. Let’s remember those who owe us money and can’t repay. Now go eat. That’s an order."
The men broke ranks, moving toward the casks and boar. Music lilted the winter air. Balwar said something to Kyle that made him laugh and clap the Inquisitor’s back. Together they disappeared into the crowd.
"What are you grinning at?" Kit asked.
"Kyle. He treats everyone the same. I can see him cracking a joke to a king and clapping his royal back."
"As long as he doesn’t tell anyone I’m a fox, I don’t care what he does."
"Somebody’s hungry."
"And tired of being hunted." Kit glared at several young men who watched her from their table.
"Kyle’s plans work. Somehow they always do."
Kit shrugged. "Time to try this sauce." She stalked toward the closest cook fire.
Timothy matched her pace. "That may not be a good idea. The sauce…Kit, the men won’t like—"
Soldiers saw her coming and backed out of the way. Several made awkward bows and gestured toward the front of the queue. Kit flashed her teeth.
A man thrust out a blue-and-white-pinstriped arm, barring Timothy’s path. "What are you doing? Get back at the end."
"But I—"
Kit smiled over her shoulder. "You heard the man, Timmy. It’s not fair of you to walk in front of these hungry, hardworking soldiers."
Timothy sighed. Well, we wanted Kit to be visible. Besides, I already know how that will taste. His stomach grumbled. He schlepped toward an empty bench butting against the palisade, not far from the musicians. A bonfire nearby pushed away the cold. The musicians began to play a bouncy tune on a worn flute, drum, and a strange stringed instrument Timothy had not seen before. He flopped on the rough bench and scanned the crowd. Kit pointed at a metal bowl heaped with pork. A soldier ladled Kyle’s sauce over it. Her cloak and skirt moved. Her tail wouldn’t be wagging if she knew what she was in for. Timothy watched for any hint of red or bandana among the soldiers. He rubbed his head.
Men danced in the cleared space, mugs held aloft as they twirled around locked elbows. The dance pulled at memories of Honheim’s festival.
Yuzu plopped beside him and balanced a wooden platter on her knees. Sharp, spiced scents tugged at Timothy.
"This seems like a lot of work." Sauce smeared a corner of Yuzu’s mouth.
"The celebration?"
Yuzu gestured with a sl
ab of pork. "Coming all the way out here. Is there really a home for Sis in these woods? I mean, Honheim was my home, but other than wondering about Mira, Colt, and Hoss, I don’t think much about it."
Timothy watched Kit speak with a group of men. They jostled a young man with blushing cheeks. Kit held her meal in one hand and covered her mouth with the other. Her straight back told Timothy she was irritated by the men. Likely for keeping her from her food. "Kit’s a fox. Imagine how you would feel if everyone you met thought you were a demon or wanted you because you were the last of your kind?"
Yuzu chewed for a moment. "I’m lucky to have a fox for a sister." She paused. "I have imposed on you two. Honestly, I didn’t know what to do after Honheim burned." She frowned. "It was like I lost my parents and Allen all over again. I didn’t have anyone to turn to. I only had you and Sis, and I didn’t know you. I still don’t. Not really."
Kit held her plate high and slipped around the soldiers flocking around her. A younger soldier stopped in front of her, removed his cap, and bowed. She glared at him and said something that made the man back away in a hurry. His buddies laughed. The throng of men around Kit made Timothy nervous. Any of them could be Daeric or Jan in disguise. Kyle should have ordered the men not to wear their caps.
Kit finally escaped her admirers and stalked toward where Timothy sat. Another knot of young soldiers enveloped her after only a few steps.
The Inquisitor told her to be visible. I don’t think that will be a problem.
"I seem to be smitten by Telly, but I’m not." Yuzu pulled the meat into strips. "I think he’s cute, but he’s a little young. I also don’t know him. Not like I knew Allen or the children. "
"He doesn’t seem to be a bad person. He helped us, right?"
She nodded. "Maybe with time. I—I want to thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to come with you. I would be homeless."
Kit pushed through the men. Her straight back and heavy steps spoke of her irritation. "We are homeless," Timothy said. His stomach mumbled.
Yuzu laughed and shook her head. "You know what I mean. So thank you." She popped a strip of pork into her mouth. "These last few days have been nice, when I managed to forget we were being hunted by Daeric. Sis and I were able to talk, like I always imagined sisters could."
Nice for you maybe, Timothy thought. "I’m glad you could…talk. I was worried you would…never mind."
"Would what?"
"Rip into each other. Kit has always been hot and cold like that."
Kit pointed away from her. The men scrambled to follow the direction she pointed.
"I noticed that, but it seems to work. You fell in love with her, didn’t you?" Yuzu sucked sauce from her finger and smirked.
Timothy cleared his throat.
Kit stomped to the bench. "I am going to kill your friend, Timmy. I am going to murder him."
Yuzu laid her plate aside. "I am going to find drinks." She smiled at Timothy and scurried away.
Kit sat and laid the platter on her lap. "What was that look for?"
Timothy shrugged. "You are the one who taught her those things. You tell me. Why are you going to kill Kyle?"
Kit tore into a slab of pork. The red sauce made her look as if she was eating the meat raw. "This is good. Because he told all the men to ‘look after me.’ As if I am some princess. It is bad enough you try to do that, woolhead."
"Considering the situation, it’s a good idea."
"I can handle Daeric."
You haven’t been able to so far. "Kyle may not look it, but he knows what he’s about. His tricks and traps work. Remember his traps when Treblin was hunt—chasing you."
"I recall them being a little helpful." Kit held out a thick slice of meat. "His sauce is good, at least. Eat some."
Timothy held up a hand. "I had enough of Kyle’s cooking a long time ago."
Kit thrust the steaming slice at him. "Eat. I need you strong…as strong as your scrawny self can be. I won’t have you getting sick again."
Timothy took the meat. Hot sauce slathered his fingers. Kit glared at him until he took a tentative bite. Spicy, but not hot enough to sear the wool off a sheep. It’s….good.
"If Kyle’s plan goes half as well as his food," Kit said around a mouthful, "we might be able to see my home in the next few days."
Yuzu returned with three steaming mugs. She gave one to Kit and one to Timothy before sitting. "Kyle told me to tell you he’s looking, but there’s no sight of anyone yet."
"He may not come." Kit had over half her platter ate.
Timothy finished his slice and wiped his hand in the snow. "I thought you said he would."
Kit shrugged. Timothy shook his head and sipped his cider.
The musicians started a fast, drunken tune. Soldiers stamped and twirled each other, arm in arm, around the muddy field. Mugs and meat dangled from hands and mouths. Scattered through the merrymaking were a few groups of clear-eyed men. They scanned the merrymaking with steady gazes. Seeing them made Timothy’s nerves calm. Kyle bent to one group. One by one, each man stood and slipped away.
Pinstriped trousers filled Timothy’s view. Timothy looked up, and Yuzu squeaked. Kit mumbled something around another squirrel-cheek of pork.
A soldier stood from the right tables approached them. He slouched and wrung his hands as he glanced around him. He stood out against the relaxed, celebrating men.
Timothy frowned and straightened. That can’t be Daeric. He is too proud to slouch like that. He also wouldn’t draw attention to himself like that.
As the soldier neared Timothy could see locks of red hair poking from his blue cap. A young face sweated under the cap.
"Tell? What are you doing here?" Timothy asked.
Tell looked around and bent toward them. "I saw Daeric traveling this way. He is dressed like me." He looked down at his too-big uniform."Why are they throwing a party now of all times?"
"So Daeric knows. We will have to tell Kyle," Timothy said.
Tell looked at Yuzu. "I—I will get you out if something happens. I won’t let anything happen to you, Yuzy. Believe me." He blushed.
"Oh, don’t do that," Yuzu said. "Daeric is falling right into our plan."
Tell blinked. "Plan?"
Kit pulled a piece of cloth from under her empty platter and wiped her hands on it. She thrust it at Timothy. "Clean your hands. We need to go play our part in this plan."
"What do you mean?"
Kit stood and twisted, twirling her skirts and cloak around her. She bent at her waist and offered a hand with a flourish. "Will you privilege me with this dance, husband?"
Tell watched with wide eyes. He glanced to Yuzu, who shrugged. "Part of the plan is for Sis to be visible. Dancing is a good idea for that. I wish I knew someone who would dance with me." Tell jerked upright, and Yuzu laughed. "Don’t worry. Maybe in five years you will be ready."
Tell frowned. "I wasn’t Accepted, but I’m not a boy." His voice cracked.
Yuzu patted the bench. "Sit with me."
Tell’s blush deepened. "I—I can’t. I have to—I have to go."
He moved to walk away, but Yuzu caught his hand and tugged him to the bench. "No, you are sitting with me."
Timothy frowned. What happened to Tell being too young for her? He saw Kyle studying them, a smile played about his face. He walked over to the musicians and spoke with them. The jaunty tune ended. Kyle met Timothy’s gaze and nodded. Men continued to dance and throw each other for several moments before they realized the music had shifted to a slow dance piece. The crafty old ram.
"Please, husband?"
The tone of her voice made Timothy frown. "Please? Now that is dirty. What happened to fighting clean like distracting me with your feminine wiles? I thought you were mad at me."
"Weapons used too often become dull, and who said I wasn’t?"
"Normally the man asks for the dance." Timothy wiped his hands and tossed the cloth on the bench. He bowed his head and took K
it’s offered hand. "It shall be a pleasure, my lady." I will play the game.
"A fox is never led. She goes her own way." Kit hoisted him from the bench.
We shall see who leads this time.
He held Kit’s hand aloft and together they crossed into the center of the dance space. Men staggered back and cleared the area until only Kit and Timothy remained. Kyle grinned and nodded at Timothy. He’s lucky I remember those dance lessons he forced on me.
"I know you can dance some, shepherd," Kit said. "But you’d better not make a fool of me in front of all of these men. Show Daeric how a real man behaves." She took her place ahead of him. "And do not step on my feet."
"Don’t flash your tail, my wife. As much as I want to see it, I fear it would make me miss my steps," Timothy said.
A smile lit her face. "Since when have you become a smooth talker?" Kit said.
"You’ve forced me to practice enough."
Kit smiled.
The slow, lilting melody began.
Hand held aloft, Kit curtsied. Timothy offered his best bow, ignoring the glob of red sauce on her cheek. They twirled around their clasped hands. Some of the soldiers jeered.
Timothy grinned, making Kit’s eyebrows rise. So she wants me to show Daeric how a real man dances, eh?
He tugged her in to him and wrapped his free hand around her lower back. Kit’s hand pinched his neck. He ignored her annoyed look and started to lead the steps. Soldiers pounded their hands and mugs on the tables in time with the rhythm. Kit chewed on her lower lip as she concentrated on the steps.
Now.
He twisted and whirled Kit away. She twirled on her heel and caught herself just as he tugged her back. She hit his chest hard, muffling a laugh. She nuzzled and looked up. Her cheek was clean.
"How ladylike," Timothy said.
She stomped his foot.
"Unfair. I can’t do that."
She patted his shoulder. "Just dance, bookworm. I think Daeric is jealous if he is watching."
Timothy did not think about his feet. He let the music guide them. He gazed into her eyes and smiled until his cheeks ached. Her eyes smiled back, a meadow of greens laced with hints of brown speckled like patches of rich earth peeking through the grass. The wind blew, wrapping her cloak around them both.
Step. Step.
Memory Hunted Page 10