He couldn’t force himself to take a path where such a feeling would never be possible, to be what his mother wanted. I’m so sorry. With luck, they would believe the spellster when he told them of how Hamish had been mauled to death.
Goddess willing, it would be a quick one. The bear might not be a known man-killer, but he had seen firsthand what such an animal could do to a person.
Darshan stirred. His eyelids slowly parted. “ ‘Mish?” Squinting, the man groggily groped for the little box that contained his glasses. “Is it morning already?” The words tumbled out, sleep-slurred and mostly Udynean.
“Hush.” He caressed the man’s cheek, absently running his thumb along the short beard that had grown over the course of their travels. “I’m just going outside for a bit. Go back to sleep.” He could’ve roused Darshan further and have them on their way before dawn’s light had finished filtering through the trees, but the spellster would need to be at his brightest if he was to get near the bear’s lair on foot in one piece. And back to camp afterwards.
Those gorgeous hazel eyes fluttered shut.
Hamish slipped out into the last vestiges of darkness, pausing only to snap up his bow and a few arrows from his quiver.
The world under the canopies was swathed in grey light, enough to see by as he sauntered to the nearest tree, idly stringing his bow along the way. He slung the weapon over his shoulder before tending to the needs of his bladder.
The side of their tent caught his attention and his stomach twisted. Just a little while longer. Then they would head out, find the bear and…
He would have to be careful. There was no way to predict how Darshan would act once they reached the lair, let alone when Hamish put the last piece of their journey out here into action. It was cruel to use him like this, but he needed someone he could trust to be there, to bring back the news, to not know the steps he hadn’t taken to avoid the beast.
The horses snorted, spooked by something in the bushes.
Hamish jerked his head around, cursing softly as he splashed his boots. Dealing with the rest of his business as swiftly as he was able, he hastened to the other side of the camp.
Mercifully, both pony and horse were still tied up. That they had trampled what remained of their feed into the ground and had an unusual interest in one patch of the forest did little to ease his concern.
He lowered Warrior’s head, rubbing at the spots that typically had the pony sagging against him to no avail. “What’s gotten into you two?” He peered through the trees, trying to make out anything in the gloom. It had to be something small. A bird or a rabbit or even a—
A hulking shadow shifted through the undergrowth. It moved with purpose, its back swaying ever so slightly from side to side.
Hamish slowly unslung his bow from his shoulder. There was only one thing in this forest big enough to cast a shadow like that. You shouldnae be here. The camp was several hours from its lair. They had made very little noise and had forsaken any meal that would require a fire.
Warrior tugged at the lead keeping him in place. Even Hamish’s usually placid mare was giving freedom a good go.
Of course. The bear had caught the horses’ scents. Well, that was his mistake.
He strode away from the horses, keeping the shadow within his sights. He was not about to let their mounts to come to any harm. If the animal didn’t turn away soon, he would be left with no choice but to provoke it right here and hope his life was enough.
The shadow slowly became darker, gaining definition. The bear paused, standing up on its hind legs. Its short snout snuffled at the air.
Goddess, you crafted a beauty. The bear stood nowhere near as big as the man-killer he had slain in that village years ago, but the Goddess had certainly done just as good a job. He nocked his arrow, waiting for the bear to lower onto all fours before loosing.
The arrow sliced along the bear’s side. Not ideal, but better than nothing.
Roaring, the bear loped towards him.
Hamish froze. He recollected the vision of his brother’s wife after the man-killer had gotten the best of her. Broken and shredded. Barely recognisable. He had avenged Muireall’s death. And that of his niece. Was this what they’d seen at the end? How much had they felt? Had they—?
The terrified screams of the horses echoed through Hamish’s skull, uprooting him from his terror. Shut up. Shut up! He had to keep the bear’s attention on him. He was the threat.
Taking a step back, he loosed another arrow. Then another. Wood tapped on wood as he shook, throwing off his aim.
He loosed the final one, hitting her paw. A lucky shot. He couldn’t have missed if he had thrown the arrow.
Tossing his bow aside, he thumped on his chest. “Come on, then!”
A wall of muscle and fur slammed into him.
Hamish hit the ground. Air whooshed from his lungs. The bear’s weight pinned him in place. Claws dug into his chest, piercing right through his thin shirt. A slobbering maw enveloped his sight, fastening onto his neck.
Pain finally caught up. It tightened his throat, struggling for release. Breathless as he was, his cry made little sound. Everywhere hurt. His chest was afire. His neck… The tepid flow of life pumped out across his skin. Was that crunching sound his ribs or—?
Quick as she had landed on him, the bear was gone. Torn from his person. Searing heat followed, flying over him. The orange blaze of fire filled his tear-blinded vision.
Dar…
The spellster wasn’t supposed to be out here now. The bear…
