Chapter Fourteen

    It was snowing as my cart moved through the muddy terrain, forging onwards through the miserable conditions. I had grown used to snow and the frigid weather in my cabin, but the soldiers didn't seem to like it. They shivered and blew on their hands often, and didn't even have coats on as they trudged through the wet terrain. I sat in my cell, drawing my hood over my head as I leaned back to rest my back on the iron bars that held me. It beat walking through the snow, that was for sure.

    The transport was slow going, so I had time to reflect and think. Was Robyn OK? What happened when the wolf pack left for the forest? How did the Lord Protector find the wolves in the first place? These questions swirled around in my head like the snow outside my prison. Checking if anyone was looking, I slowly lifted the sleeve of my coat to check the status of my bite. When I saw it was glowing yellow, I quickly pulled my sleeve down to hide the wound. Robyn had told me that if a wolfwalker bites a person, that person also turns into a wolfwalker. But she didn't specify how or when, so how was I going to know what to do when I turned into a wolf? What was going to happen? All she said was that you're a wolf when you sleep, and a human when you're awake. No details, no hints. Nothing. The one thing I hated more than the Lord Protector was being in the dark. My knowledge was the most important key to survival in the forest: where to hunt, when to go back home, what berries to eat, that sort of stuff. Without knowledge, I was just a kid, stumbling about trying not to die. Not a very good plan for life. I had questions for the Lord Protector too. Where were my parents? What happened to them? Were they all right?

    My train of thought stopped as the Lord Protector approached the cell on his horse. "Well now, what have we here? A lost boy, perhaps? Maybe a runaway? Why were you here before my men, Sean?" I froze. I hadn't said a word to the Lord Protector. How had he known my name? "Yes, I remember the day we cast you out into the wild. I didn't expect you'd go this far, though. We're traveling back to Kilkenny. You'll be able to see all the regulars...from the stocks, of course. We've had quite the rebellion on our hands after the fight with the wolves, but we've driven them back and are finally able to work the land for fields, with no help from Goodfellowe, that traitor."

    "Didn't you threaten his daughter with the stocks and almost kill him with a pistol?"

    The Lord Protector sighed. "So, she told you about the event, yes? I was doing what was right for the town. Put this into perspective: a few lives, maybe some guards, for prosperity for the whole country. A plethora of resources, waiting to be harvested for ships, houses, and new cities. Anything according to the Lord's will. Of course, you didn't believe in religion, so this must seem pointless. But even you can see that cutting down this forest will be good for the people of Ireland. They can expand, and grow. There will be prosperity for all. We will tame all of this land, for it is His will. We cannot deny it."

    He turned to head up front again. "Wait!" I cried. "What about my parents? Are they OK?" The Lord Protector ignored me and clip-clopped his way back up to the front of the squadron. I slumped back down onto the wood florr of my cell. Alone with the enemy, with no help or support. I had a feeling this wasn't going to be a happily ever after.