Memory Hunted (4 page)

They clattered for what seemed miles before Daeric reined
to a stop. The mule dragged the wagon for several paces beyond him before Kit managed
to rein in the mule.

Timothy glanced around the road. Only a large boulder
with a few icicles told him they were in a different area.

"They had to act before I was ready." Daeric muttered.
He turned to Kit. "You don’t need to worry. I will protect you. You can trust
me."

"How do you know they are—" Timothy said.                                        

Daeric cut him off. "Stay here." He rode into the
trees.

Kit’s hood twitched. She nudged Timothy’s arm.
She
heard something. This feels wrong.
Timothy strained his ears but heard only
the rustling of limbs.

 "I don’t like this." Timothy said.

"We are going after them." Kit straightened her hood
and slid from the wagon. "Protect me." She grimaced.  "As if I am some flower
to put into his pocket." She started in the same direction Daeric went.

Timothy clambered from the wagon and hurried after
her.

"Do you think the men are these Protestants of
yours?" Kit asked.

"I don’t know. Maybe. They weren’t Vatican soldiers.
Daeric talked as if he knew them or at least expected them."

They trudged through the woods, following the trail Daeric’s
horse had cut into the tangled winter undergrowth. Timothy’s heart pounded. Just
what would they do when they found Yuzu?

A stick cracked under his boot. He jumped forward,
running into Kit. She stumbled into a tree with a hiss.

"Watch it, shepherd. There’s no need to be so jumpy.
I will hear them if they tried to sneak on us."

"Oh. Yeah. I forgot."

It seemed like they crouched and weaved for hours. Most
of the leaves and plants may have been gone, but the skeletons of nettles and thorn
plants of all types grabbed at them. More than once Timothy had to stop and untangle
his cloak from a needy thorn bush. Of course Kit had no problems. She barely made
a sound as she walked. The nettles seemed to move out of her way. Timothy felt like
a ram charging through the forest.

Kit stopped and tugged Timothy to kneel beside her. He
opened his mouth. She laid a finger over his lips and pointed. A sprawling building
merged with the forest. Weathered logs rested on rough gray stone, and vines spidered
the walls. The entire structure looked to have been built around the aging sycamores.
Their white bark contrasted against the dark gray timber. Brown grasses peeked from
the snow on the roof. The building looked more like a hill of fallen stone and logs
than something made by people.

That roof would make good pasture for a few
sheep in spring.
Timothy frowned and glanced at Kit. She caught
his gaze and pointed to the building. Yellow light cut through the windows. The
light wavered through the poor-quality glass. Darkness had descended quickly in
the dense forest. Kit tugged his cloak and pointed beyond the building. Timothy
squinted.

Off to the side, a stable crouched among the trees. Several
large shapes moved in the dark interior. A few whinnies reached Timothy’s ears.
Another shaped unfolded. A man rested on an old wine cask. He leaned against a rough
support beam. A small flash of orange revealed a pipe. The man took a long draw.

Timothy glanced back at Kit. Her eyes glowed in the wane
light. He wondered how much she could see. Each passing moment made it more difficult
for Timothy. This close, he could make barely make out her expression. Her ears
flicked under the fabric.

"Where would they keep her?" Timothy whispered.

"I saw windows over there." Kit’s breath tickled his
ear. "I might be able to hear her if we get closer."

"Do you hear Daeric?"

Kit’s hood rustled. "No. It is too quiet. I doubt the
peacock knows how to skulk, no matter what he says of being a hunter. Let’s go."

She snatched Timothy’s coat sleeve and led the way. Timothy
concentrated on not tripping.

They slipped around the building toward one of the fat
sycamores. Its roots spread like a hand clutching the earth. Another cloudy window,
overgrown by ivy, shed yellow light. The ivy’s broad leaves wilted in the cold.
Kit brushed the leaves aside with a bare hand to peek into the window.

"Kit, I think that—"

She waved him off. He sighed. If she thought fleas were
bad, sumac was going to be worse. It surprised him how much she didn’t know, considering
she was a fox. In the stories foxes were cunning, wise, and all-knowing. Kit was
certainly cunning and wise, at times. Not that Timothy would admit that to her.

 "Kit, those leaves are—"

"Shhh."

 "Th-there you are," a voice said from behind them.

Kit squeaked and fell back from the window to land among
the sumac. Timothy whirled. A young face grinned down at Kit from under a green
bandana. Red-brown hair framed his face. Greens and browns slashed his coat in a
way that made parts of him fade into the woods behind. He wore only a heavy knife
at his belt.

He held up his palms. "Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare
you. Daeric is expecting you."

"Daeric?" Kit asked. Sumac rustled. She stood and shook
leaves from her cloak.

The young man took a step back as Kit leveled her glare
on him. "I—I don’t want Daeric any madder. Name’s Tell." He turned away and glanced
over his shoulder. "Please, f-follow me."

Kit frowned at the boy’s back. "I didn’t hear him," she
whispered.

"I didn’t either," Timothy said. "He was right behind
me."

"I should have. No one should be able to sneak that quietly."

"You were distracted. What did you see?"

"Not much." She stared at Tell’s back. "I don’t like
this."

Tell turned. "Please hurry. The Second Commander is waiting."

"Second Commander? Daeric?" Timothy frowned. He could
barely make out the man as darkness settled.

"We had better follow him." Kit brushed at her skirts
and started after Tell. Timothy rushed up beside her.

"The boy smells like Daeric." Kit’s eyes glowed.

I don’t think I will ever get used to that,
Timothy
thought. "He has the same scent? I thought you said everyone had a different smell?"

"It’s not exactly the same, but he has the same odd scent
Daeric has. It reminds me of dog fur for some reason."

"Daeric is a hunter. Maybe it is that."

"Maybe. I don’t know."

Tell waited for them at the front of the lodge. Skeletal
vines webbed across the building. The man watching the stable still sat on the barrel
with his pipe.
That must be Gert,
Timothy thought. He swallowed.
This
is bad. I don’t see how we can get out of this one.
He looked at Kit. She tensed
beside him and chewed on her bottom lip.

"Figured the noise was them," Gert said around his pipe
stem. "Krill’s none too happy with the dark-haired girl, but Daeric’s worse. The
boys never listen to me, except you, Tell. Tre—the first commander is quite pleased
with you."

"I, uh…thanks. If only…Jan…noticed."

"You’re a good lad no matter what he says. Accepted or
no." Gert studied Timothy and Kit. "Can’t say I much like any of this anymore. We
are not a bad sort. Not really. But watch yourselves. The boys aren’t listening
to me anymore. Except for Tell."

"Not a bad sort except for kidnapping women," Kit said.

"Better than letting Krill kill her. We don’t normally
kidnap, but Krill and Jan haven’t been listening to me." Gert shrugged and took
his pipe from his teeth. He gestured at the door. "Best be on with it. Gonna be
snowing soon. My leg’s telling me."

Tell pushed the front door open.

Gert gestured at Kit with his pipe. "Just don’t cause
any more trouble. Jan’s fuming about you sticking him."

Kit bared her teeth at the man.

Timothy groaned.
Don’t provoke them, Kit.

The door opened to a large room lined with stuffed heads
of boars, deer, and even a large cat of some type. Tell closed the door behind them,
remaining outside. A stone hearth dominated the far wall. Rough tables and chairs
scattered throughout the room made it look like an inn’s common room. Yuzu sat at
the end of a long table. She held a steaming cup, and a wolf skin wrapped her. When
she saw them, she jumped to her feet.

"Sis!"

"Sit," said the man with a bruised cheek. He stood against
the wall with his arms crossed.

Yuzu glanced at the man and withered.

"Be quiet, Krill." Daeric walked over and laid a hand
on Yuzu’s shoulder. "You are lucky She only gave you a bruise. I apologize again
for these ruffians, Moonflower. Their pranks are never gentle."

Yuzu looked at the cup she held and nodded.

Krill muttered something Timothy couldn’t make out. He
glanced at another man with a bandage wrapped around his leg.

That has to be Jan.

"There she is. My sunrise!" Daeric crossed the room.
He took Kit’s hand and flourished a bow.

"Something smells…good," Jan said.

"You were lucky, Jan." Daeric still held onto Kit’s hand.
"She would have done more than give you that nick."

Jan muttered something that made Daeric’s face
darken.

"You know your father won’t be happy about this,
Daeric." Krill, with his purple cheek, leaned on the fireplace with his arms
crossed. "He told us to give up on that plan."

"This time is different," Daeric said. "I found who
we were looking for."

Who they were looking for? What does he
mean by that?
Timothy glanced at Kit. She shook her
head slowly.

"You said that last time too, brother." Jan watched
Kit and stroked his cheek.

"You know she is different. Just look at her."

"I just know she owes me for this cut. Krill is
right. Father won’t be happy to learn you are still playing."

Daeric shook his head. "It was his idea in the first
place."

Jan thrust a finger at Daeric. "He has only one
goal, and chasing after the past wasn’t part of it."

"I want the same thing. What better way to get our
revenge than to prove them all wrong? To prove we are not—"

The door slammed open, almost hitting Timothy. A tall
man entered, his face concealed by his cloak’s hood. The figure stopped and
surveyed the room, his gaze stopping on Timothy and Kit. Tell entered behind him
and closed the door.

"Father!" Jan and Daeric said together.

Daeric gestured. "These are our latest guests. We—"

"I told you before, that is not our concern anymore.
The past is past."

"She is the one we were looking for. I know it."

"I said the past is past. It is time for all of us
to move on, son." The weight of the man’s words deflated Daeric.

I didn’t think deflating Daeric was even
possible.

The man gestured at Kit and Timothy. "Do whatever
you will with them, but no more of this. Jan, be sure Daeric does what is
needed. We can’t have his
guests
interfering."

"Yes, Father," Jan said.

"We have only one business to tend to. The Vatican sent
an Inquisitor with the newest batch of reinforcements. We have their attention."

"Finally," Jan said. "It won’t be long, Koto. It won’t
be long." He glared at Tell.

Tell’s shoulders slumped.

"About time." Krill cracked his knuckles. "I was tired
of waiting."

"A patrol returns from the south. Take care of them.
I will give you more information later. We will keep to the plan." The man
glared at Daeric until he wilted. "I must meet our Inquisitor." The man turned and
left. Tell shut the door behind him.

Jan slapped the table and stood. "The Inquisitor is mine.
Let’s see how the Vatican likes one of their own burned at the stake."

Daeric looked at Kit, his usual bluster gone. "Don’t
worry. I won’t let them harm you. Father has lost sight of what we really need
to do."

"And what would that happen to be?" Kit asked.

"Why does it involve her?" Timothy asked.

"It doesn’t matter." Jan crossed the room. "Father
left that up to me."

"You won’t hurt any of them, Jan."

Jan shrugged. "Who said I was going to hurt them. Didn’t
you hear Father? They don’t matter. We finally have an Inquisitor. An
Inquisitor! We can finally start repaying them for what they’ve done. First
this Inquisitor and then another." He grinned. "We all know the Church can’t
stand to lose. They will keep throwing them at us, but we will show them. So I
really don’t care about your playthings. But I will take care of them if they
interfere."

"They won’t," Daeric said. "They will be useful.
They don’t have any love for the Church either. Do you think I would bring them
here if they are not going to help us?"

 "As long as they earn their keep, I don’t care," Krill
said. "I still need to even my cheek and wrist with Oval Eyes."

Yuzu glared at the man.

"Save it for the Church’s men," Daeric said.

Krill waved his hand. "So you say. Do you think they
will really keep sending Inquisitors after we off this one?"

Jan jostled Daeric and pushed past Timothy. "They
will. They had better. One Inquisitor isn’t enough. Not for Koto."

"I…I don’t think she—" Tell said.

Jan stormed up to the young man. "What do you know of
her, boy? Nothing!"

Tell shrunk back. "I don’t think she…would want anybody
hurt."

"And you can believe this after she burned? Not even
the blood of the Pope is worth her." Jan grabbed Tell’s collar.

Daeric laid a hand on Jan’s arm. "He can’t remember,
Jan. Let him go. We have our orders. Now
let go
."

Timothy frowned.
Interesting.
Kit tapped her lips
again as she watched the exchange.

Jan shoved Tell away, thrust open the door, and stalked
out. Daeric turned toward the door. "Tell, see to their needs. Whatever they want.
They can take Brian’s old room. Anything they want, fetch it. Gert went to
bring their wagon. He may need help unloading it.  Krill, the supplies they brought
are more than enough payment for a winter’s worth of lodging. Now let’s be about
our business."