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"Hush!" he scolded her "We’re nothing to do with theround!"

Alain whistled the hounds in close as four h the ca down roofs with spears and knives There was no point to the destruction; they were just enjoying themselves Two carried lanterns, and they set fire to the hovels, which burned quickly as the child continued to screa toward it His men wore leather jerkins, but he had a mail shirt and a real iron helm with a brass nasal and leather sides He waited on histhe hounds with the squint-eyed interest of a bored fighting erous

One man dismounted and cuffed the little boy, but his shrieks doubled in their piercing shrillness

"Eh!" cried the erated et!"

"Stay!" said Alain to the hounds

"Hold! There! You!" said the sergeant, as Alain pushed past the outthrust spear and strode over to the terrified child

The soldiers looked curiously at him and did not interfere as he knelt beside the child The little boy did stink He was a stick figure, skin and protruding bones, nose running, skin rimed with dirt and worse filth, and his face was covered with sores and the fading scars of cowpox It aion He wondered where the boy had suffered the outbreak, and where the de now

"Hush," said Alain softly "Hush, child What is your naaze slid across Alain’s regard he hesitated, stilled, calmed, and looked at him, as if transfixed by Alain’s face

"What is your na’?"

"Dog" He lifted a whip-thin ars Where are your father and mother? Your sisters and brothers? Where are your kins"

The soldiers had gathered to enjoy the spectacle The sergeant grunted "Certain it is! That child likely had a bitch for a mother!"