"In danger from whom?" I asked. The man shook his head violently in denial of answering my question, as I saw fear intensify in his eyes.
"With your permission I'll have your horse saddled here with the young girl waiting for you tonight. Come before dark! You must go and take the girl with you!" With that said the man hurried away from the hiding spot with the girl.
"Where are all the boys?" I asked to his retreating back, but he didn't answer me.
Spooky little man I thought. He didn't seem to be all there upstairs. One thing was for sure though, he loved that little girl. The girl couldn't be much older than about six.
I started to leave the cove and then stopped myself. If there was some element of truth to what the man had said it would be good to have Flin hid where I could get to him. I tied Flin to a stump and made my way back to the women's camp or at least the outskirts of it.
The little girl came out from behind some reeds, after she saw that the big man had left. Flin turned his head and nickered softly at the girl as she drew closer, Flin side stepped away from her before she reached him.
The girl pulled a long carrot out from her sleeve and held it out to him. Flin nickered again and after a moment's hesitation ambled up to the little girl. He snuffled her head blowing her hair everywhere, which caused the little girl to giggle.
Flin leaned down and took the carrot form her hand and ate it noisily. After Flin was finished he looked down at her hopefully. She didn't disappoint, as with a little grin she pulled out another carrot.
I pulled away from the tree I had been peering around and smiling I continued on my way to the outskirts of the village. Flin was in good hands.
I looked around the perimeter of the village to see if anything could be learned of any possible danger to us that would validate the little man's fears for the girl's safety. I was about to give up and reenter the village, when I saw John slip out of the village. His actions were those of a man who wished to remain unseen.
He moved deeper into the forest and I followed after him from a distance. An hour later to my shame I had to admit to myself that he was more adept at alluding pursuit than I was at tracking him, which surprised me because I was pretty good at tracking.