How lifekeeper stop? Stonefur challenged.
Without hesitation, Haarn drew the long-bladed dagger at his hip.
You kill Stonefur?
Yes. Haarn kept his voice as cold and unflinching as the storm rain.
The other wolves moved in closer, growling threats and baring their fangs.
Stonefur snapped at the other wolves, then ran at them and smashed against them to halt them. The female bearing pups fought with Stonefur, but the bigger wolf snapped his jaws and bit into the bitch's ear. Blood streaked the fur as the wolf bitch turned and trotted back.
The lead wolf slunk back toward Haarn and growled, Stonefur save lifekeeper.
No, Haarn said. You saved your pack.
Lifekeeper not kill all pack. Not strong enough.
I didn't come alone, Haarn said.
Haarn whistled between his teeth. Broadfoot shambled through the forest line farther down the mountain. The bear pushed up from all fours and stood on his two back feet, towering even amid the trees that surrounded him. The bear growled and the sound rolled in with the thunder.
Stonefur resumed pacing, changing his course so that his new path crossed between the druid and the bear, holding both of them back.
You can't stop me, said the wolf.
I will, Haarn promised. You have a choice to make.
What choice? The wolf glared with baleful eyes.
Whether you die or whether your whole pack dies.
Stonefur turned his muzzle toward the pack. They shifted in nervous anticipation.
Lifekeepers powerful, a male wolf said.
Haarn knew the males would probably be no problem. Their whole lives had been about following the male. If they saw Haarn as more powerful than Stonefur, they wouldn't take part in the coming battle. The wolf bitches would be different.
Lifekeepers don't kill furfolk, a wolf bitch said. Humans kill furfolk.
Stonefur has taught you to kill humans, Haarn said. This can't be allowed.
Humans kill furfolk, the wolf bitch repeated. Lifekeepers battle humans.
Killing humans will bring more humans, Haarn said. Hunters have already gathered to track you down.
Let them come, Stonefur said. Humans not hunt as good as Stonefur. Stonefur kill humans better.
Many wolves have already been killed while the hunters have been searching for you, Haarn said.
Stonefur tossed his head. The wolf bitches spread out and crept closer to the druid and the woman.
You do humans' work, lifekeeper? Stonefur challenged. You come to slay furfolk as well?
Haarn returned the wolf's gaze full measure. I came to kill you.
Why? Stonefur's tongue lolled out in disdain.
To keep the humans from hunting wolves. If I give them your head, they will stop hunting.
Maybe they only tell you that.
If the humans continue to hunt, Haarn said, then I will kill them.
Tossing his muzzle into the sky, Stonefur said, These our lands, lifekeeper. Our place here before humans. Before elves and dwarves.
No, Haarn disagreed. The gods made all.
Some places were made for furfolk. Some places made for scalefolk. Some places made for featherfolk. I take places back that belong to me. I hunt where I want, what I want, just like humans.
The humans will grow afraid of you and your pack, Haarn replied. More wolves will die. I can't allow that.
You side with the humans, lifekeeper? The wolf's voice held a taunting lilt.
Anger touched Haarn then. I side with the balance that Silvanus struck when Toril was made. A druid of the Emerald Enclave can do nothing else.
You choose to kill furfolk, Stonefur accused. Your god not choose that path. That humans' way.
Haarn called to mind words that his father had told him when he first started teaching Haarn the druidic ways: Sometimes a tree must be sacrificed so that the forest may prosper.
The wolf threw back his great head and howled at the storm clouds above. Stonefur not your sacrifice, lifekeeper.
Not my sacrifice, Stonefur. I serve Silvanus, and if my path is true, I will be made triumphant.
Strength brings triumphs, lifekeeper. The wolf stood erect and expanded his chest, making himself look larger and more threatening. I will suck the marrow from your bones.
'What's going on?' Druz asked above the storm.
Thunder split the air around them, and the lightning came so close to the mountaintop that Haarn felt the heat. For an instant, everything was rendered in two-dimensional black and white.
'I'm trying to save the others,' Haarn said.
Druz turned on him, raising her voice. 'You can't save them all.'
Haarn met her gaze. 'I won't kill any more here than I have to. Neither will you.'
She started to reply, but the wolf interrupted them with his growls.
Leave, lifekeeper. Take your bitch with you and live.
Haarn didn't bother to correct the wolf's assumption. He faced the great animal and said, No.
Stonefur growled, Then you die!
This is between you and me, Haarn said. The others need not die. He prayed that would not happen.
They will not die, Stonefur growled.
If they stand with you, Haarn swept the other wolves with his gaze, they will die tonight, or on another night. I will finish what I start, and-Silvanus guide me-I will not falter once I have begun.
Thunder cascaded through the night, and the druid felt the tremendous noise vibrate through his moccasins. The pack shifted its attention to Stonefur.
Decide for us, the she-bitch heavy with pups said. We follow where you lead.
Broadfoot growled.
Stonefur glanced at the big bear. The wolf licked his chops in consideration. Rain dripped from his wet muzzle. Even the wolves knew they couldn't all escape Broadfoot's wrath.
You fight me, Stonefur said.
Yes, Haarn agreed.
When I beat you, the bear no longer take part against me.
No.
A sinking feeling dawned in Haarn's stomach. He felt a moment of vertigo shiver through him. There was no turning back from where he stood and he knew it.
Stonefur flashed his teeth and said, Then we fight.
Without a word, Haarn started slipping off his gear and hide armor.
'What are you doing?' Druz asked.
'Preparing.'
Haarn folded his hides and his clothing so that they turned in to themselves. There was a chance they could stay drier that way.
'For what?' the woman demanded.
'To fight.'
'You're going to fight the wolf?'
'Yes.' Haarn was irritated with her, not believing that she needed this explained.
'Why did you remove your armor?'
'To make the confrontation more fair.'
'That's stupid.'
Haarn let out his breath, watching the wolf prowl and build up his own confidence, and fought back an angry retort.
'No,' he said, 'it's the only way I can do this.'
