I hear a yell and turn to see that the Viking I had left sprawled in the bushes now has Mamie and Odette penned in against a hedge. He hasn’t hurt them. He seems to be keeping them captive and awaiting instructions. But when he turns to see what’s happening with his colleagues, Mamie rushes him, grabbing his sword arm. With one powerful sweep of his arm, he knocks her to the ground and grabs Odette.

I’m kicking myself now for not taking him out when I could, but now is not the time for regret. I have to solve the problem I made and do it quickly.

Odette is struggling and screeching, “Bad man, bad man!” while he tries to wrangle the kicking toddler. I raise my sword and start toward them but stop when I see he’s pinned Odette to his chest with one hand and holds a knife to her neck with the other.

“Odette, freeze!” Kate screams. “Don’t move, baby!”

And whether it’s the fear in her mother’s voice or the knife the giant holds to her throat, Odette does as she’s ordered and doesn’t move an inch.

“You! Drop your sword,” the man yells at me. I open my hand and drop my weapon. I glance back and see that Vincent’s fight is over. His enemy lies dead on the ground. Kate and Vincent watch the man holding Odette. They stand motionless with hands held out, either pleading with him not to do anything, or trying to calm him, I can’t tell.

Georgia has stopped wailing, and sits next to Arthur, hands placed protectively on his chest. She glares at Odette’s captor as if convinced she can kill him with the pure hatred shooting from her eyes.

Though I’m the closest to him, I don’t dare charge him. One small gesture, and Odette could be gone.

Louis, listen! I hear the words, and for a second I think it’s Kate speaking in my mind. But her eyes are fixed firmly on her daughter, her every thought on the fragile life held in the man’s hands.

Don’t answer back. Just nod if you hear me, the voice continues. It’s Gaspard. I’m sure of it now.

I lower my chin in the slightest of gestures. Kate’s grandmother is about to make a move. As soon as she does, throw your knife.

Are you kidding? I want to answer back. It’s too much of a risk. If I miss, Odette could die. But I can’t say anything without the Viking noticing.

Sensing my doubt, Gaspard continues. You are excellent at knife throwing. That’s why I had Jeanne load your kit up with daggers. I know you can do this.