The captain frowned. "It’s nonsense. We need to be out searching for our enemies and not—"
"I formally authorize it." Balwar spoke the words slowly. Kyle nodded with a serious expression as if the Inquisitor had said something momentous. Timothy shared a look with Kit.
"You authorize it? Who are you to authorize anything?" The captain stalked to the Jesuit and stared down at him.
Balwar held his ground. "One of my orders was to take over command if I deemed it necessary. I didn’t want to do so; we are allies. But in this I must insist. I still have the written order if you need to review it."
The captain quivered, and a muscle in his jaw clenched. The man’s fist tensed. Balwar didn’t move. He held the man’s gaze. A few moments passed before the captain pivoted and stalked away without a word. The door slammed behind him.
Balwar frowned at the closed door across the room. "I didn’t join the Inquisition to lead soldiers."
"You are doing a fine job. We will smoke out our spy. At the least, it will help the boys." Kyle stood and stretched. "I’ll show you to your barracks. Well, it’s a storage shed, but Henrietta wouldn’t mind it. At least I don’t think she would."
"Be sure to post guards," Balwar rubbed his crucifix. He turned and left.
"See? He’s not a bad guy. Never thought an Inquisitor would be reluctant to order people around. Thought they’d all enjoy doing that, considering." Kyle clapped his hands, jerking Yuzu awake again. He chuckled, earning a sleepy glare from her. "There are beds waiting, as long you don’t make too much noise." He winked.
Timothy rolled his eyes and stood. Kit and Yuzu followed. The three of them yawned.
"Let’s go. But I’m not going to carry you," Kyle said.
"Timmy owes me a carry." Kit tapped Timothy’s shoulder. "But he likes to grab."
Kyle laughed. "I would too if I was him. Let’s go. I still have work to do. Don’t look at me like that, Timothy. I do work. Sometimes."
Kyle led them to a squat cabin. Two uniformed men held halberds and tried to ignore the cold. They saluted as Kyle took the low wooden stairs. Timothy shivered in his coat. Yuzu and Kit misted the air with their yawns. Wind whistled, and snow fluttered from the cabin’s roof. Kyle leaned close to Timothy. "Those boys are Tredere’s. The captain’s. I will see about getting them replaced."
"You don’t trust him?"
"We have someone pulling strings and getting people killed." Kyle’s eyes narrowed. "My money is on the captain."
"What makes you think that?"
"Things don’t add up otherwise, but we will see. I’ve been wrong before. Not often, but enough."
"I never thought you’d be good at this type of stuff." Timothy tucked his cold hands into his armpits.
"I’m a hero, remember?" Kyle threw open the door. A fire burned in a rough hearth inside.
"Warmth!" Kit and Yuzu said in unison. They charged into the cabin. Timothy had to turn sideways to avoid being bowled over. Kyle stepped aside at the last moment.
"Wait! There are only two beds." Yuzu said from inside.
"They are called cots," Kit said.
Timothy glanced at Kyle, who winked. Timothy groaned and felt the beginnings of a headache throbbing behind his eyes. "Thanks, Kyle."
He slapped Timothy’s back. "Any time. You are braver than me. Henrietta would never go for your arrangement. Don’t worry. I won’t tell your aunt." Kyle smirked and waved at the soldiers. "Let’s give my friend some privacy. Oh, don’t fret. I am a lieutenant, remember? You are just following orders." The two soldiers reluctantly followed him.
Timothy sighed and rubbed his forehead. He entered the cabin and closed the door behind him.
Chapter 6
The fires of Honheim reached for him. Timothy ran. Debris swirled in the hot wind, choking him.
I have to find Kit.
He darted down alleys that waved with heat. He cried Kit’s name, but the sounds of the fire ate his shout. He lurched down a tattered street. A large building cracked and fell toward him. Fast. Too fast to get out of the way. The bricks crashed into him.
Timothy snapped awake. His cheek burned with the fire of his dreams.
"I am too tired to carry you, woolhead." Kit shook her hand. She coughed. "Get up. Hurry. Our cabin is just a little on fire."
Smoke filled the air, and flames lapped at the walls. Timothy coughed. His eyes watered. He scrambled out of the cot and raced with Kit toward the open door. They ran a short distance before they collapsed onto the snow. Kit sat down beside him, gasping. Her cloak spread around her.
"Wh-what about Yuzu?" he asked.
"She’s not fool enough to sleep through a fire—or fool enough to stay and try to wake a log."
Soldiers rushed everywhere. Many were in their small clothes. Timothy still wore his coat and boots. He remembered walking in and falling into the nearest cot. Around them, four cabins burned. Muffled yells came from the nearest cabin. Men battered at a burning door with a log. Flames burst from the windows. Soldiers threw buckets, helmets, and handfuls of snow and water at the fire.
Yuzu appeared and knelt. She stared at the fire. Red-orange light painted her face. Her eyes were wide. "It’s Honheim again."
Kit threw snow at her. "It’s not Honheim. Do you hear me? It’s not Honheim."
Yuzu blinked several times. She slapped both of her cheeks. "You’re right. We need to help." She jumped to her feet and ran toward one of the cabins.
Kit climbed to her feet and offered Timothy her hand. "I hear Kyle over there."
Timothy accepted her help. "What do you think happened?" The men ramming the door finally broke through and rushed inside. Moments later each soldier dragged another man. Only one of the soot-darkened men stirred.
"Daeric. Who else would it be?"
"It could’ve been an accident."
Kit leveled a stare.
He held up his hands. "I know. I know. But it is a bit of a risk. What if you…"
"He knows fire wouldn’t do me in, but it could drive us into the woods. Are we going to talk or help?"
Timothy followed Kit toward the largest barracks. Men worked against the fire, but they seemed to make little leeway. Kyle stood between two lines of men who were passing helmets, pots, and buckets of snow and water to one another.
"Faster, boys. It beats patrolling in the cold, doesn’t it?"
"What happened, Kyle?" Timothy asked.
"What can we do to help?" Kit glanced at Timothy.
"Throw balls of snow at it. About all we can do." Kyle wiped his forehead on his sleeve. "You know, this hero stuff is a lot of work."
A soldier slid in the mud, caught himself, and saluted. The man wore his breeches and not another stitch. "The other fires are starting to burn out. We have—"
The cabin Kit and Timothy had left crashed in on itself.
"We also found this," the soldier continued. He held out a twisted, melted slab of metal that resembled a lock. "We found this on a chain on the outside of the east building’s door. It…it kept the men inside."
Kyle took the metal and frowned. "Get Balwar—the Inquisitor." The man saluted, pivoted, and ran. Timothy felt glad he had slept in his coat and boots.
"And get some clothes before you freeze!" Kyle shouted after. He bounced the lump in his hand. "The boys will need some fun after this."
No matter what happens, we still have to live. Timothy looked at Kit. Her hood shifted.
The fire slumped as the men’s work took its toll. The line of men parted to allow Balwar and Captain Tredere through. The Jesuit’s brow wrinkled, and a frown edged his face. "What is this about a lock, Dalton?"
"Send men out to see if we can catch whomever started the fires," Tredere said.
Kyle ignored the captain and handed the lump of metal to Balwar. "The boys said this lock was on the outside of the east barracks. It kept the lads inside."
Captain Tredere frowned over Balwar’s shoulder. "That is the lock from the storage buil
ding. It’s the only building we have to keep secure."
"And who has the keys, Captain?" Balwar looked up.
"Get the steward," Captain Tredere bellowed. "Bring him here."
Timothy shared a look with Kit.
Two of the nearby soldiers darted off in opposite directions.
Tredere rounded on Kit and Timothy. "And how do we know these people weren’t involved?"
Kyle stepped in front of them. "I personally vouch for them."
Balwar studied the captain.
One of the soldiers returned and saluted. "Captain. Sir, the steward. He was in the building that was locked. He….didn’t make it." The soldier produced a key. "This was found on him."
"I want these people under arrest." Tredere jabbed a finger at Timothy and Kit.
"Ignore that order," Balwar said. Tredere stiffened. "Dalton, pick a group of men to search for the key. If we find the key, we find the culprit." He turned toward Timothy and Kit. "For the time being it would be best if you remain under guard, not under arrest. Dalton, we will continue with the plan. I think the men could use a distraction after this." Balwar met Tredere’s glare. "Don’t you agree, Captain?"
"We need to find our traitor." Tredere left no doubts as to who he thought the traitor was with the way he looked at the Inquisitor.
"If he is smart, he is long gone. Who else had a key?" Balwar said.
"I do," Tredere said.
Balwar tilted his head.
"I do not like what you are implying, Inquisitor. Do you think I would harm my own men?"
Balwar shrugged. "My guess is someone stole it."
Kyle touched Timothy’s shoulder. "We had better get you out of sight. I think we have more people involved than your Daeric and his group."
Chapter 7
"I don’t like Kyle’s plan," Kit said for the fourth time. She sat on the low cot beside Yuzu.
"And do you have other ideas?" Timothy asked. "Kyle’s planning worked well back in Fairhaven." He returned to pacing. The small shed Kyle stuffed them had three paces of space between the cots that lined the walls. Three days ago he had led them to the storage shed on Balwar’s orders. Kyle claimed the Jesuit was worried about incidents with the soldiers after the fires swept the camp. Timothy had no doubts that something was going to happen.
Yuzu stretched a cat’s cradle between her fingers. "So this Kyle saved you before, Sis?"
"He helped." Kit rubbed her temples.
"Have you remembered anything?" Yuzu asked.
Kit hesitated. "Nothing important."
"Have you figured out why Daeric smells strange?" Timothy asked.
Kit gave him a grateful look.
I figured her memories were bothering her. Just what has she remembered? What will happen when we finally see the town? He knew she would tell him when she was ready and not before.
Yuzu’s cat’s cradle tangled. "I was wanting to ask you about that. So everyone has a different scent?"
Kit nodded. "Everyone does. Daeric, Tell, and the rest have a similar scent. I still can’t figure out exactly what it is, but it is familiar." She chewed her bottom lip. "If I can figure out what it is…"
"What do I smell like?" Yuzu asked.
"Like old cheese."
"That isn’t funny, Sister."
"It is true."
Yuzu shook her head.
They sat in silence for a time. Each turning toward their own thoughts. Timothy watched Kit, but he couldn’t read her thoughts from her expressions. Her exposed fox ears twitched but didn’t provide any of their usual hints. Yuzu fiddled with her game. Her brow furrowed and she kept glancing at Kit. Timothy often caught Yuzu with that expression while she watched Kit. Good luck trying to solve her puzzle. I’ve made little progress.
Finally, Kit broke the silence. "I can’t help but think how this would be different if we hadn’t stopped Big Al’s inn."
"We did learn which way to go," Timothy said.
"And we ended up captured again."
"Daeric wasn’t a good choice, but I couldn’t have known." Yuzu looped the yarn and set it to the side.
"Oh, yes. Daeric proved to be such an excellent guide."
Yuzu looked down and kicked her feet.
"You said he would have followed us anyway," Timothy said. "And you agreed to bring him."
Kit rubbed her eyes. "He scent addled my brain. I wanted to know why he smelled familiar. It was a mistake." She looked up. "But there is nothing to do for it now. We can only deal with what is ahead of this, and that is Kyle’s plan."
"How long is Kyle going to keep us here?" Timothy asked.
"He said until they are prepared, but you wearing a hole in the floor won’t make it any faster," Kit said. "Now sit down."
Timothy sat. There was little point in stirring the stew more.
The door banged open. The sudden sunlight made Timothy squint.
"Are you ready to join the party?" Kyle asked.
"I am not sure about this idea." Yuzu held a hand over her eyes. "If I was Daeric I wouldn’t come."
"It’s not entirely a pretense." Kyle sounded hurt by Yuzu’s comment. "The men need some time off."
"I smell pork," Kit said.
Timothy’s stomach grumbled as he noticed the scent.
"That’s because we are making pork," Kyle said. "The boys caught a good-sized boar this morning."
"So we are ready?" Yuzu asked.
Kit pulled her hood over her ears. Kyle watched the movement. "I don’t think I would ever get used to that. Or her tail."
"I haven’t either." The comment earned Timothy a kick in his shin.
"Balwar will want to speak with you before we begin." Kyle scratched his beard. "I have enough boys out of the ale barrels for our plan to work, but you will need to be careful. Good lads act foolish if they are upset and have a belly full of booze." Kyle grinned. "This should be fun. If things go wrong, you might be able to save your ladylove again like we did at Fairhaven. It’s like old times."
Yuzu looked at Kit. "I thought you said you had to save him."
Kit shrugged. "It doesn’t matter who saves whom. But Timmy owes me several times over. That’s all I’ll say."
"Women tell themselves stories, don’t they?" Kyle asked. "Balwar’s waiting."
"At least our stories are true," Yuzu said.
Timothy kept his silence and followed Kyle into the frigid wind. Freedom. He felt his shoulders unknot. Even fighting Daeric again is better than spending another day cooped up with Kit and Yuzu.
Burned-out skeletons of buildings marred the camp. Soldiers bustled about without looking at the shells. Many carried squat barrels. Others lugged roughhewn benches, tables, and chairs. The smell of meat pulled them in the same direction Kyle strolled.
"You are drooling," Timothy whispered to Kit.
"Am not." She wiped her chin. Her red hair stuck out from her hood. Timothy liked her hair longer. The jaw-length hair was nice, but shoulder-length made her look more feminine even when only a few locks stuck out from her hood. She put a hand over her forehead. "I feel so faint from hunger! The smell is just torture!"
"Never mind the bread you ate just a little while ago," Timothy said.
"She shared it with me," Yuzu said. "I wonder if we will see Tell." She smiled. "I want to see if I can make him faint."
"Women cannot live on bread alone," Kit said. "Pork is a different matter."
Timothy winced. "I don’t think that is how the saying—"
"Hush." Kit buried an elbow into his ribs.
Men piled stacks of firewood and set up the benches and tables around an open space between the barracks and the palisade. Several of the stacks were already burning, throwing orange heat across the snow. The bonfires were far enough from the palisade and remaining buildings that they wouldn’t pose a threat even if the wind kicked up. Off to one side, five men readied musical instruments. Timothy wondered how many men Kyle had held back. Three boars turned on spits on Timothy’s le
ft. Soldiers gathered to watch. A collection of barrels huddled close to the cooking fires. Men, singing off-key, tapped the barrels’ bung holes and held mugs under the ale stream. Here and there men tossed dice or played a strange game with a black-and-white-checkered board. A row of tables dominated one section of the grounds. The tables and benches faced the charred ruins of a barracks. Mugs and battered wooden plates lined the tables, but not one of the soldiers nearby disturbed the set.
Kyle stopped and watched the preparations.
"What are those tables?" Timothy jerked a thumb toward the empty area.
"It’s a way for the boys to remember those who can’t be here." Kyle shrugged. "We used to do it for a guy who would retire or stick himself by accident." He laughed. "I wonder if they set out a place for me back home."
Timothy noticed men slathering the boars with something from buckets they carried. "Kyle, don’t tell me…."
He glanced where Timothy looked. "Oh, course it is. It wouldn’t be a party without it."
"Without what?" Kit and Yuzu asked in unison.
"The boss’s sauce."
"You still haven’t figure out a better name?" Timothy asked.
"Sauce?" Kit asked.
"What’s wrong with the name? It has a nice ring. Boss’s sauce."
"What is it?" Yuzu asked.
"Heaven in a bucket."
"More like hell on your tongue," Timothy said.
"Bah, it’s good. Don’t let him tell you otherwise."
"If you have a leather tongue."
"I think I will try it," Kit said.
"Trust me. You don’t want to. He put it in our stew once—"
"Now that was stew sauce, Timothy. I have perfected the recipe. Now it’s the perfect blend of heat and sweet. It wasn’t easy for me to smuggle the ingredients with me, I will have you know. But well worth it."
Balwar crossed the field. "Is everything in order, Dalton?"
"It is. The boys have their orders. I will have to make it up to them, though."
"They are more than welcome to drink until they black out afterward." Balwar met Kit’s gaze. "All you have to do is be visible. We will take care of them if they show up."
Memory Hunted Page 9
