Chapter 67. Treason

JACOB

The arrow caused a deep and bleeding wound, but I didn’t falter. There would be time to rest later; this was not the moment. I took a deep breath to endure the stabbing pain in my calf. Even I felt a tinge of fear at his statement, which was not a common occurrence for me. He had already seen many things that would have driven anyone mad. The boy had just written that his grandfather was the one we were looking for. That’s why he was so terrified.

“Do you fear that he will come looking for you?” I asked. This boy had vital information.

“He always finds me,” he wrote, pointing to my wound. The terror in his eyes was starting to bother me; he trembled like a piece of paper in the wind. I remained alert; the archer had to be nearby and could strike Ian, leaving me without an informant. I went to my horse to give him my shield; he needed protection.

“Stay between the horse and the shield,” I ordered. “Protect the boy at all costs,” I told my men, who quickl