Angels and Devils XXVII

"Lukan! Lukan, Lukan, Lukan!" Evae's voice bellowed throughout the outpost. The dragon poked their huge head through the door.
"Evae? Is something wrong?" Lukan asked worriedly.
"Soldiers! I saw soldiers heading for the Forest Yggdrasil! I think your tiefling friend was with them!"
Lukan's eyes widened, suddenly relieved he was the only one awake. He stood and grabbed his cloak before going outside.
"We have to go there," he said urgently. "I have to... I have to..." To what? Betray the emperor? Betray his country? "I have to do something."
Evae nodded and took to the sky as soon as Lukan was on their back. They stayed low so they wouldn't be spotted. Evae dropped him off a ways from the cabin, and he approached the rest of the way on foot. As he drew closer, he heard someone knock on the door.
He couldn't make out what anyone was saying, so he continued to creep forward, eventually reaching the back door. The conversation still wasn't clear, but it sounded angry.
Then he heard someone draw a sword, an insistent word, a refusal... A scream. He froze. What should he do? How long did he have? Not long, he was sure. There was nothing else to do; he couldn't stop a single soldier, let alone a group--especially not Temerity.
So he pushed through the back door and found the nursery. The child was sitting on the ground crying.
"Shh... It's okay, please quiet down... I won't hurt you..." Lukan picked the child up. "I'm sorry. There's no time to explain." He could hear footsteps and distant sobbing. Without another moment's hesitation, he held the child tightly and ran out the back door, disappearing into the trees.
There was shouting behind him, but he didn't falter. He made it back to Evae and clambered onto their back.
"Go!" he said breathlessly. "Don't let anyone see us." Evae nodded and flew further into the forest.
It wasn't until they'd made it far past the opposite end of the forest that Evae finally landed. Lukan was still holding tightly to the child.
"What now?" Evae asked.
"Now... Now..." Lukan was breathing rapidly. "I don't know. We can't take him back. It's too dangerous." Tears stung his eyes. "They killed... They killed his parents... One of them at least... This is all my fault... I led them there... I'm so sorry, I didn't know..."
Evae nudged him. "It's okay, Lukan. You did what you thought was best."
"I should have known better! Now... Now he's..." Lukan looked at the child. "I'm so sorry..."
"He'd be dead too if you hadn't saved him."
Lukan's shoulders slumped. "Don't act like I'm some sort of hero." He held the child tighter. "I... I'll find you a good home. A safe home. No one will find you. And I... I won't ever let anything happen to you. I promise."