“And the tracks?”
“Until I see them I can’t confirm anything, but I very much doubt whether they’re the footprints of a giant or a monster. They probably got blurred in the rain, or some other animal stepped over them.”
Dolstar shrugged. “It’s something strange. I can feel that, and I’ve normally got a sense for these things. The day of the battle, I felt something bad was going to happen, and look at what happened … we lost the war, Arnold died and I was left crippled and sick. You’d better be very careful. I know you’re a Ranger and they prepare you for things like this, because that’s why I sent for one of you, but even so, I’d be twice as careful if I were you.”
“I will,” Lasgol promised. He did not like the situation either. His experience and knowledge told him that he was confronted by a case of a large, aggressive predator, but when there were rumors and strange stories, it was usually for some reason.
“I’ll mark the area Milstren went to track on a map,” the Chief said, and took one from one side of the table. He indicated an area some way to the north and west of the village. “It’s a very mountainous area, difficult to reach. There’s a pass here, and then you can go up via this area. Beyond that, not many venture. The mountains are very high and very steep.”
“Does anybody live there?”
The Chief shook his head. “No-one. It’s high mountain country. Very few venture there. From this front line of mountains on toward the north, it’s all steep and hard to get to. The people around here don’t climb those mountains. They’re treacherous. By autumn they’re impracticable, and in winter they’re impossible to reach.”
Lasgol nodded. “The Norghanian highlands. So, do they think the predator came down from there?”
“That’s what Milstren thought. He told me he thought it must have come down in spring to feed further south, as far as our part of the world.”
“If that’s the case, then as soon as it’s caught enough food it’ll go back to the mountains for the winter, and it’ll be gone.”
“Maybe. Either way, I’d rather catch it now and not have the same problem all over again next spring. Good men have died, and farmers and shepherds are losing cattle they depend on to survive, particularly now after the war where so many people have suffered. Hunger’s waiting in the wings, and things are dire for them. The economy’s in a bad state, and the nobles have raised taxes to counter the economic disaster the war’s meant for them. The last thing my villagers need is more trouble.”
“I’ll make sure the predator doesn’t bother these good people anymore, so they can focus on bringing up their families.”
“That’s the only way we’ll manage to rebuild and get the West on its feet again. We’ve got to protect them. If I could, I’d be in those mountains myself, hunting that beast.” The Chief shook his head with an expression of enormous frustration. He punched his bad leg twice with his fist, and grunted with pain.
“This is a job for a Ranger. I’ll deal with it. I won’t fail these people.”
“Very true. I’m glad they’ve sent me a Ranger. I didn’t have much hope, quite honestly. I know you’re needed all across the kingdom, and you’ve lost a lot of people yourselves in the war too.”
“Yes, that’s very true.”
“Good luck,” Dolstar said, and in his eyes Lasgol read that he was resting all his hopes on him.
Outside the house, he saw that a small crowd was watching him from the square. Apparently word had spread that he had come to deal with the problem of the disappearances. News spreads fast in villages. Lasgol nodded to them, mounted Trotter and left the square amid the murmurs and whispers of the locals.
We’re heading north, he transmitted to his faithful pony.
Trotter shook his head in agreement and set off in the direction of the mountains. Once they were out of sight of inquisitive eyes, Lasgol used his Gift to call his two animal friends.
Where are you?
There was a moment of silence, and he looked carefully at the forest that rose ahead of him. He wondered whether they were in there, or further east, where he could glimpse another, less dense, area of forest.
East, came Camu’s message.
We’re heading north. Come and meet me. I’m at the way into the forest.
Camu and Ona did not take long to appear at a run from the east, and he gave them a summary of his conversation with Chief Dolstar.
Mystery! Fun! Camu exclaimed.
Ona moaned unhappily. She did not like mysteries at all.
It could be very dangerous, Lasgol warned them.
Mystery, wild animal, fun.
Lasgol shook his head in despair. Let’s be very careful. All right?
All right, Camu responded. He was already starting his happy dance.
Ona on the other hand was not dancing. She was not very happy about the mission,
Lasgol breathed out heavily. In fact, he sensed something ominous himself. They went on into the forest, in the direction of the mountains.
Chapter 4
When they reached the foot of the mountains, Lasgol had no doubt that the Chief’s words had been accurate: the climb was going to be a hard one. Before starting, he wanted to make sure that the predator had indeed come down from somewhere beyond the first ranges, so he decided to track the area until he found proof.
We’re going to track the area, he told his comrades.
Camu stared at him with interest in his bulging eyes. What look for?
I’d say we’re looking at a mountain tiger or a bear. That makes most sense,
