The boy’s eyes grew round, and all the other children abandoned Summer’s limp, shallowly breathing form to crowd around Sir Isaac. Curiously they poked at his armor and one of the other little boys picked up his sword, which was bigger than the child. Laurence said, in a tiny voice, “Real knights protect people. Don’t they?”
Smiling tenderly as he allowed the children their moment of curiosity, Sir Isaac’s eyes darted back to rest on Summer’s prone frame, hoping that she would awaken soon. At the question though, he turned to face them, reaching out to pat the boy on the shoulder. “I promise to do my very best, Laurence. I’ll sit out here all night if I have to.”
Laurence shook his head, chewing at his lip, and screwed his face up into a worried frown. “You shouldn’t stay.” He turned to look at his sister too, and then he squared his small shoulders. “You can protect her. Take her with you.” He nodded very seriously. “You should go before he comes back.”