“I have freed him,” Aidan said back proudly, standing, chest out, an indignant feeling overtaking him and giving him courage. “He is a beautiful animal you tried to kill. Shame on you.”

The man fumed, turning bright red, visible even beneath the starlight.

“How dare you talk back to me, you insolent little boy!” the man said. “That is my game to do with as I wish!”

“He is not!” Aidan “He is a dog! And he is free now!”

“Free, is he!?” the man spat, apoplectic, taking a threatening step forward.

But Aidan felt an unfamiliar strength overcoming him as he thought of saving the dog. He knew he was in a precarious position, and he realized he needed to make his best effort to scare this man away once and for all.

“My father is warlord of Volis!” Aidan stated firmly, proudly. “He has a thousand men at his command. If you lay a hand on me, or on this creature, I shall have you imprisoned!”

The man huffed, and Aidan was disappointed to see he was unimpressed.

“Stupid little boy. Do you really think I care who your father is?” the man shot back. “You are in my cart. And that is my game. I am going to kill him—and when I’m done I’m going to give you a proper pounding.”

The man rushed forward, raised his fist, and before Aidan could react, he brought it down quickly on the dog’s skull.

Aidan was horrified to watch White yelp and slide backwards, off the cart, landing on the frozen ground with a thud.

The man reached up to punch the dog again, death in his eyes, and this time, Aidan reacted without thinking. He held out his dagger and lunged forward, and before the man could hit White, he sliced the man’s armpit.

The man shrieked, stumbling back, grabbing his armpit, dripping blood. He slowly turned and scowled at Aidan, death in his eyes.

“You’re a dead boy now,” he said darkly.

The man lunged forward, too quick for Aidan to react, grabbed Aidan’s wrist, shook the dagger from it, then grabbed him from behind and threw him.

Aidan felt himself go flying through the air, off the cart. He landed face-first in the mud, winded, pain rippling through his body.

Aidan tried to scramble to his knees, but before he could, the man rushed forward and kicked him in the ribs with his huge boot.

Aidan had never felt such pain his life, feeling as if all his ribs were cracking as he rolled in the mud. Before he could catch his breath, he felt rough hands grabbing him as he was hoisted into the air.

“Stupid,” the man said. “To risk your life for a dog—and a dead one at that.”

He threw him, and Aidan, airborne, hit the ground, tumbling, harder than before, seeing stars, unable to breathe.