Caelan made a show of heading off into the forest while Eno remained behind, setting up a simple rope snare that could catch small prey such as a rabbit.
What he tried to keep hidden from view was the second rope snare he’d set up at the same time for much larger prey. If they were lucky, their target wouldn’t see it.
With everything prepared, Eno climbed into a tree above his snares and prepared to wait. They’d agreed to give it a couple of hours and then head back to camp as the sun set so Rayne and Drayce didn’t worry about them too much.
If they didn’t catch their stalker tonight, they could repeat the trick for a few nights in a row before needing to come up with a new angle. By Rayne’s estimate, they were likely still a good distance off from Green Spring.
Eno relaxed on the wide tree limb, listening to the sounds of the birds and other creatures of the forest while letting his mind drift. The Ordas wouldn’t be so bad if everything wasn’t trying to kill them. Winter was his least favorite season, and it was nice to not be spending this time of year freezing to death.
It would have been wonderful to drag Rayne away from the Royal Towers one night during the Solstice Celebrations, though, even if it was for nothing more than window shopping and enjoying the capital decorations all sparkling with a fresh coat of snow.
Rayne wrapped up in his long wool coat and white scarf tucked under his chin was an adorable sight. Eno had seen him so perfectly protected against the cold last year when he’d accompanied him and Caelan around the city for events and appearances, but he dreamed of it being just the two of them.
A small noise off to his left jerked Eno from his musings. He glanced about casually, mentally noting where he thought their stalker might be located in the brush. His hands stayed away from his weapons, not wanting to frighten the person needlessly. Caelan was leaning more toward their observer being harmless, and Eno was beginning to agree with him. If this person wanted them dead, they’d had ample opportunity to act already.
He forced himself to relax and not stare in the direction of the stalker, just waiting.
Caelan jumped from a nearby tree close to the stalker’s position and a startled, high-pitched scream cut through the silence of the forest. The person ran right to Eno, seeming to forget where he was located in their fright. Eno jumped as well, right in front of the small figure, forcing them to dart away and step right into the larger of the two hidden snares.
The person yelped as their foot was pulled out from underneath them and they were jerked upside down to hang like a piece of meat. Loads of dark hair cascaded, covering their face while long, slender arms tipped with sharp black nails flashed out again and again, frantically reaching for them as they drew close. Each desperate movement caused them to spin in a circle while dangling and bouncing in the air.
Eno tried to grab the figure to stop them from spinning, but nearly got slashed across the forearm for his troubles.
“Stop struggling! We only want to talk,” Caelan snapped, but the person gave no indication that they understood what he was saying or even that they cared. The noises coming from the person were little more than grunts and angry snarls.
“We need to tie their arms or they’re going to rip our throats out,” Eno grumbled.
“Get the rope from the other snare,” Caelan directed. He moved closer and pressed the tip of his sword to the figure’s chest, stopping their spinning and their struggles in a heartbeat.
Eno dismantled his rabbit snare and when he turned around, his heart jumped into his throat. Wide yellow eyes watched him from a face that was both feminine and feline. A girl. A girl had been following them. And judging by her build and youthful features, she didn’t look like she could be much more than twelve or thirteen years old at most.
Rather than fearful, her expression was almost defiant, as if she were daring them to let her loose. She reminded him of a young Caelan trying to prove himself against a world so quick to write him off as another spoiled, useless prince.
Shoving that thought aside, Eno expertly knotted up a couple of loops in the rope and tied the girl’s hands tightly behind her. As soon as he was sure that she wasn’t going to claw their eyes out, he started to untie the other rope, lowering her to the ground.
Hands bound or not, their captive was not about to go quietly. The second she could get even one foot on the ground, she attempted to scurry away from them. Caelan flicked his sword away and carefully tackled her to the ground. A surprised yelp jumped from his throat and he shifted where he had his knee in the middle of her back.