Vixen Hunted (4 page)

"She has
obligations."

Timothy's heart
lurched. Two large men wearing blue tabards darkened the street, their hands
resting on short swords. Two more men appeared to each side, hemming the trio
against the inn. Passing people gave the men a wide berth. No one wanted a part
of obvious trouble.

Kit groaned. "This
is your fault, shepherd. You just had to leave that nice inn before I could
really talk to you."

She lunged at nearest
pair. One of the blue-dressed men grasped Kit's cloak and pulled her around,
clamping his scarred hands around her upper arms. The lamb charged, her hoof
clapping against the cobblestones. She lowered her head and thumped into the
man's shin. He grunted but did not release his grip.

Tahd strode from the
shaded doorway of the nearby building. His dark clothing contrasted with the
cobblestones. The man's crucifix glinted in the harsh morning sunlight.

"A leper, you
said. She is more dangerous than a leper, shepherd. When I saw you heading this
way on the road, I thought to give my prey a little hope of escape."
Tahd's scarred face smiled. "Hope for escape makes prey easier to catch."

The mustached man
smoothed his tabard. "You Inquisitors are an odd bunch. You are lucky she
did not get away."

"She would not
have escaped me, Matthew." Tahd fingered his belt knife.

"Perhaps
not." Matthew turned to Timothy. "You have done Lord Treblin a great
service, my friend. Our lady is a little…troublesome. Always avoiding her
family obligations."

The lamb pulled at the
man's trousers. He looked down at the white, fluffy protector with a mix of
amusement and surprise.

Kit clenched her fists.
"I will not go back."

Cold sweat ran down
Timothy's back.

Matthew shrugged.
"Lord Treblin treats you well enough. Better than he should, considering
what you are."

Matthew tossed a heavy
bag. It clinked at Timothy's feet. "It is a service to forget these
events. It is also best for your sake."

Kit's eyes pleaded.
Matthew kicked the lamb away as the men closed around Kit.

The heavy bag pressed
against Timothy's foot. His body refused to move.

"Let's go. Lord
Treblin is waiting," Matthew said.

Tahd shook his head and
fell in behind the blue-uniformed men.

Kit cursed and
struggled as the soldiers dragged her down the street. Timothy could do nothing
but watch.

He slumped and looked
down at the lamb. "What could I do?"

"Baa! Baa!"

"It isn't any of
my business."

"Baa!" The
lamb nudged him.

People avoided looking
at him or the tight knot of men encircling the small girl further down the
street.

He opened the
drawstrings of the bag with shaking hands. Inside, silver gleamed. "She is
a runaway noble," he told the lamb. What else could she be for this kind
of money to be tossed at him? A nervous chuckle escaped him. "It is like
one of those stories Aunt Mae had me copy."

He took a steadying
breath and tucked the money in his pocket. "I could start my own shop with
this kind of money." A small scribery would be nice. His voice sounded
hollow in his ears. He had kept his promise and helped her. Could she be Lord
Treblin's daughter? She was pretty enough to be a noble. He shook his head to
jar his colliding thoughts. It did not matter. He had kept his promise to
protect her during the short walk to Fairhaven. Her problems did not involve
him.

Green eyes stared at
him from the back of his mind.

Timothy barely noticed
the heat or the lengthening shadows. He walked, the lamb following at his side,
and let his thoughts collide. It had all happened so fast. He had lost his
flock, had met a strange girl, and now had more money than he had ever owned.
Timothy felt overwhelmed. He should have tried harder to protect his sheep. He
should have tried harder to protect the girl. He grimaced, and his shoulders
slumped. Maybe not. Maybe it was all meant to happen as it did. Kit knew the
men, and they didn't try to hurt her. Not really. In fact, they seemed to go
out of their way
not
to hurt her. They could have killed Timothy and
knocked Kit over the head.

Who was she?

Timothy slumped against
the whitewashed wall. The lamb settled at his feet as he watched people pass.
What would Aunt Mae say? He did nothing wrong. Kit would be fine. That off
feeling he had about her now made sense. She was a noble. She had to be.
Nothing else made sense.

"Oh, there you
are! Did something happen? Where's your wife?" Kyle sauntered over.

Wan orange light
stretched into the street. Where did the day go? He could not have spent that
long thinking and wandering, could he?

"I don't know what
to do, Kyle."

"I said you could
stay with me until you are on your feet. As long as you and your wife are
quiet." Kyle chuckled.

"Kit's gone. Some
men took her. They said they were working for Lord Treblin," Timothy said.

"Well, what are
you doing here? Go get her, man! If some men took Henrietta, I would…"
Kyle clenched his fists.

"It's not that. I
think she's his daughter or something," Timothy said. Why should it
matter? He had kept his promise.

"You don't
know?" Kyle shook his head. "Women like their secrets.
Newlyweds?"

"You could say
that."

"I don't know how
you can be so calm. But then, you always were." Kyle stroked his beard.

Timothy felt anything
but calm.

Kyle leaned in.
"You want to save her. I can see it. That means it doesn't matter if she
is a daughter, wife, or even the mistress to the Pope! She isn't, is she?"
His eyes sparkled. "I always wanted to be a hero and rescue some cute
girl! Henrietta is too tough for that. I'd have to save the kidnappers from
her." Kyle slammed his fist into his hand."I know! Billy told me
about a big hunt planned for the nobles. This Treblin will be there. We will
save her then. I know, I know. I am a genius. We just need to find out where she
is. I only ask that you name your first kid after me. Well, if it is boy. A
girl named Kyle. Well…" Kyle laughed so loud that a passerby barked a
laugh too.

Timothy knew nothing
about Kit, other than she had those eerie eyes. Eyes that pulled at him.

"I am an idiot,"
Timothy said.

"About time you
noticed, Timmy," Kyle said.

A voice from across the
street rang out."So you are Timmy."

Kyle tensed as Tahd
crossed the street. Dark hair ran up the bare muscled arms, and white scars
crossed his tanned skin. A large knife, almost a short sword, hung from a heavy
belt. Tahd wore a sour expression. Timothy felt the lamb shift on his feet.

"It's Timothy.
What did you do with Kit?"

Kyle kept his eyes on
Tahd. "Timothy, this man is an Inquisitor. What is your lady love doing mixed
up with them? And why is an Inquisitor playing messenger?"

"I have my own
reasons," Tahd said. "The…Lady…Kitsune wants to see you. Come."
His mouth twisted around the words. He stalked away without waiting.

The lamb stood and
stretched. Her hooves clip-clopped against the cobblestones.

Kyle whistled.
"Lady Kitsune. Well, here's your chance to steal her away. And I had such
a good plan." He shoved Timothy. "Go on now. Keep your eyes on this
man. You know what they are like. She must be some lady to be a noble and have
an Inquisitor be her messenger. Your lady awaits. Stop moping and go!"

"All right! I
will. Stop pushing!" Timothy jogged to keep up with Tahd and the lamb.

Tahd eyed Timothy.
"Lord Treblin is a fool. He doesn't know the real value of that girl. Do
you
know, shepherd?"

Timothy swallowed.

"I didn't think
so," Tahd said.

Tahd led Timothy past
the town's market. A few stalls remained open despite the late hour. Timothy's
forced his legs to work. Exhaustion dragged at him.

They passed through the
inner wall that separated the rich districts from the rest of the city. The
rough cobblestones gave way to smooth cut stones, and a large manor loomed. A
blue-uniformed man stood at attention outside an iron-barred doorway cut into
the manor wall. A musket rested on the man's shoulder.

The man saluted and
unlocked the heavy iron lock. The door slid open on oiled hinges.

Kit sat on the edge of
an ornate fountain placed in the center of a garden that still bloomed despite
the heat. Carved fish mouthed a constant stream of water into the small pool.

The iron door squealed
shut behind Timothy, and the lock clicked back into place.

Kit wore a flowing
white dress. Her crimson cloak caught the fading light. The cloak's hood
blended with her hair, giving the impression that her hair flowed down her
back. For all Timothy knew, perhaps her hair did. He still could not understand
how she could wear a hooded cloak in the heat.

A short distance away
stood more blue-uniformed men, a golden bee accenting their chests. A few of
the men held chains with mastiffs sitting at the ready. The mastiffs eyed
Timothy, and weighted nets dangled from the men's hands. Several soldiers held
wooden mauls.

Tahd sat on a bench off
to the side and crossed his arms over his chest. His amulet reflected orange
sunlight. What could draw an Inquisitor to work with a noble?

The lamb bounded up to
Kit with a joyful bleat. Kit laughed and scratched under the lamb's chin.

"Did you not eat
dinner, Timmy? You look like a frog waiting for flies," Kit said.

Timothy clicked his
mouth shut.

"My hero finally
decided to come to my rescue!" She placed her free hand against her
forehead. "After I bid him come."

"I…uh…"

"Sit beside me. I
won't bite you…hard." Kit patted the fountain. "As you can see,
Timmy, your wife has secrets, as all good wives do." Her gaze scythed the
men over her shoulder. She snatched Timothy's arm and leaned in. Her voice fell
to a whisper. "A hunt is coming in a few days. I…need your help. Treblin
knows my tricks; I barely escaped the last time."

"Isn't he your
father? Why are you—"

"He is not my
father! I am…I guess you can say I am his slave, or prey." She stroked the
lamb's head.

Slave? Could she
be…with a lord? "You are his…" Timothy could not say it.

"You think I am
the fat man's…" Kit grimaced. "The fat man only cares about hunting.
Even after running away, he doesn't care that I am meeting with you. Well, as
long as you and I don't try to escape again. I am just a bargaining chip he has
purchased for some grand deal of his."

"So why did you
want to go to Fairhaven if you knew the men after you were here?"

"Can you see your
own mouth?" Kit asked. "Where better to hide than here?"

"But it didn't
work."

"It would have, if
you…never mind," Kit said. "My plan was perfect. You owe me, Timmy,
for getting me into this."

"Me?"

"Yes. Time to
pay." She grinned teeth. "You do know that coming here means you are
known to be associated with me, right?" She gestured to all the soldiers.
"There is no escaping me now, husband. If I escape, they will come looking
for you."

Timothy groaned.
"Is everything edged with you?"

"Not everything.
You could have chosen not to come, after all. I really do appreciate
that." Kit leaned close enough that her nose touched Timothy's. "But
I knew you would come. I am a good judge of character, am I not?"

Timothy rubbed his
forehead. "All right. You got me."

Kit leaned back and
laughed. "You are between my paws, shepherd. I like it when my prey
squirms."

She pulled in and
planted a kiss on his cheek. Timothy felt something slip into his pocket.
"Really though. Thank you for coming for me. Just remember I am no
sheep." She stood and offered a hand to Timothy. "I am ready to
leave. I will see you again, my husband." She ruffled the lamb's head.
"And you too, Cat."

"Cat?"

The men and mastiffs
shifted. Hands tightened on clubs, nets, and leashes. Kit didn't seem to
notice.

"Why not? She acts
like one. Most sheep are afraid of me. Looks like I have two foolish
sheep."

She strolled around the
fountain. Timothy turned to see his escort's broad chest and crucifix.

"Treblin is too
generous with his prey," Tahd said. "They are best when they are
against the wall and see only one route to escape. The man is a terrible
hunter." Tahd leveled his gaze onto Timothy. "Time for you to leave."
The man herded Timothy out of the manor.

The iron gate banged
closed behind Timothy. The soldier guarding the manor's entrance watched him
with a puzzled brow. Timothy offered a wan smile and hurried away, Cat
staggering beside him. The lamb yawned.