187 Trade

"I didn't bring it here on purpose …" I explained, wondering how to make such an unconvincing fact sound convincing to her. "This artifact is important to me, so I kept it on me at all times. I'm not summoning it, nor do I plan to, and that's not the reason why your child is drawn to me."

The cub made another sound at its mother, and I suddenly wondered why I could only understand the adult, not the child. Assuming that the cub was trying to argue on my behalf, I ventured again, "Who was it that stole your children? Were they kept as spiritual pets?"

The mother snarled. This time, I heard the sadness in her words: "At least spiritual pets might be treated well. They were taken as mounts."