He realized he was nearly dragging her and slowed down. "Aye, I want to see if he will come to us."
They were to their horses when Stefan turned around, grabbed her waist and lifted her up. Then he rushed to the tree, untied her reins and handed them to her. "Go home Kannak, there are men in these woods and they are not Macorans."
She gasped and wanted to wait until he was mounted, but Stefan slapped her horse hard and made the mare speed away. Almost as quickly, two men on their mounts broke through the trees and went after her. She glanced back hoping it was Stefan who was behind her, but when she saw the strangers, she kicked the side of the horse hard, leaned forward and increased her speed. "Stefan," she moaned, tears already in her eyes.
He did not have time to mount or even draw his weapon before he was surrounded by ten men, each with his sword drawn. But instead of caring about his own safety, he watched the two men chasing Kannak around the loch. Then to his amazement, he saw the stallion position himself between Kannak and the men. They tried to go around the stallion, but he moved to block them. Finally, the men realized what a fine mount the stallion was, forgot the girl and tried to catch him.
Stefan smiled. While one man relieved Stefan of his weapons, another bound his hands together in the front. It took three of them to put him on his horse and he did not resist. He had a better chance of escape on a horse, even one that was better suited for endurance than speed.
After they began to ride away, he looked back often and when he saw the other two men ride up behind them without Kannak or the stallion, he breathed easier. He then turned his attention to finding a way to escape, but with six men in front, six behind him and a path that was too narrow to get around, the chances were nonexistent. He would have to wait.
He remembered his mother's gold medallion and tried to think of a way to hide it without their notice. It was all he had of her and one of them was sure to take it. Finally, when the path was more narrow still and he was certain no one could see, he brought his hands up to his neck, took hold of the thin strap and put it in his mouth. It was harder than he thought but at length he managed to bite it in half. Then he pulled the medallion out from inside his tunic, worked the strap free and tucked it in the hidden pocket of the belt Kannak made for him. He looked back several more times until he was certain none of the men were paying attention and let the medallion strap fall.