“What was that?” The friar’s face twisted with rage.

I bit my lip. If one of the girls had a nightmare and cried out loudly enough to wake the nuns, all of the orphans would pay.

“I’ll go check.” I sidled away, but not quickly enough. His backhand caught me and I staggered.

“Silence. You think I do not know what sluts like you all do at night?”

The friar rose, lurching after me with sluggish movements.

I backed away. Laurel must have drugged the ale, but he hadn’t drunk enough. He lumbered forward, and I closed the door on him. His bellow told me I would pay.

I rushed back down the hall through the kitchens. Laurel met me there, wringing her hands.

“What is it? What’s happening?”

“Somebody cried out,” I said through gritted teeth. “One of the girls must be having a nightmare.”

“I don’t think—”

Another scream rang out, followed by more frantic cries. Laurel dropped the jug and it shattered.

“What’s going on?” roared the friar in the door.

We both fled from him, me outside; she to the corner. I felt guilty for leaving her, but maybe the friar would chase me instead. I didn’t wait to find out.

I ran flat out down the outer corridor until a flash of movement in the shadow stopped me short.

Giant men rushed over the lawn. Moonlight glinted off their weapons. One kicked in the door to the dye rooms, and the wood gave way with a crash. He roared, and disappeared, followed by screams of the nuns who worked late in there. More warriors pushed inside, grunting and laughing as if they were at play.

One orphan escaped across the lawn and a shadow leapt forward, claiming her. Her pale white legs kicked up under her nightgown as the warrior tossed her up over his shoulder and strode off into the forest.

“Sage,” the friar shouted from the kitchen. Light flooded from the door, falling over me. Several pairs of golden eyes turned my way. The attackers had seen me.

My breath came in pants, I backed against a column, mouth working silently.

A dark shape leapt onto the walkway. I screamed.

The warrior growled, lunging for me.

“No.” A giant landed lightly on his feet in front of me, blocking my attacker. “Seek your own. This one’s mine.”

The first warrior rushed towards the dormitory. The second glanced back at me, the light from the kitchen falling over his bearded face. Something about his stance told me I’d seen him before.

“It’s all right,” he said, his voice a deep rumble. I recognized him: the warrior from the woods.

I whirled to escape and found my path barred by a giant wolf.

My cry stuck in my throat. I slammed back against the column, putting as much distance as I could between me and my two attackers, one man, one canine.

“Easy, little one. Do not hurt yourself,” the warrior held out a hand. “Back away, Rolf,” he addressed the wolf. “Let her go. She will be an easy catch.”

Once the wolf stepped out of my way, I ran past it. The warrior stalked me all the way back to the galley. I slammed the door but it bounced back open.

Laurel was still squeezed in the corner, but the friar had disappeared—most likely ran at the sight of our attackers.

Who were these warriors, to come in the night to overrun a defenseless abbey? What did they want?

More panicked cries came from the direction of the dormitory.

I stopped a few feet inside the kitchen. Both warrior and wolf loomed in the door. The man ducked his head to enter. He moved with grace for such a big man.

“Please,” I babbled. “Do not hurt us.”

He stepped inside and straightened. The top of my head barely came to the center of his chest. I may as well have been a child, standing up to an angry parent. But I had to do something.

“No one will hurt them,” he sounded amused.

“Leave them be,” I whispered, my head tipped back. The warrior’s eyes caught the light of the fire, flashing like a cat’s. The wolf prowled behind him, but kept its distance. Its eyes matched the man’s.

“What do you want with us?” I asked. Laurel stood in petrified silence in the corner. If I could lure the man and wolf away, perhaps she could escape.

The warrior cocked his head to the side. “We don’t want any of the others. Just you.”

My heart stuttered to a stop. I swallowed several times until I found the strength to speak. “If you leave the others alone, I’ll come with you.”

For a moment, he and the wolf regarded me. “What’s your name?” the warrior asked.

I blinked at him. “Sage,” I said.

“Sage,” he repeated, and smiled. “You’ll be coming with us, all right.” The warrior reached for me.