That will make no difference, I thought. The soldiers encircled us. I spun so that Steel and I stood back-to-back. Futile! I thought. All I had done was to make it possible to look my attackers in the face. I had no weapon to fight with. No way to defend myself. “Well, lads, what have we here?” a rough voice spoke. That must be the leader, I thought. He had a face that looked as if it had taken a few blows. His nose dominated his face. I wondered how many times it had been broken. The band of soldiers was small, no more than half a dozen. But that would be more than enough to capture a man with only a knife, and a girl with only her wits and courage to defend herself. Wits. Use your wits, Gen, I thought. Robin and the others could not be that far off. Perhaps, if I could keep the soldiers talking, get them to make enough noise . . . “What on earth do you think you have?” I snapped. “Are you stupid, or can’t you see beyond the end of that great nose of yours? Haven’t you ever seen a father and daughter out foraging for mushrooms?
