Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

As we followed Bran through the trees, he seemed to know exactly which way to go, and even I could sense a shift in the forest energy. Everything was coming to a head.

On the way, I flashed back to the day I met Bran and Fenling. He had saved me from the men who tracked me down after I escaped Renmark, and I suddenly realized that I had fallen for him that very day, though I hadn't realized it.

As the sun rose, glistening over the sparkling snow, Bran motioned for us to pause. As we stopped, the faint sound of horse hooves continued. That had to be Karehl and his men.

Bran motioned for us to spread out and find a place to hide. I guided Yaran over to the nearest tree that was big enough to hide behind and readied my bow. Given Karehl could sense Bran the way Bran could sense him meant we were just about on equal footing.

I wished it would snow. The snow would have provided us with extra cover. It was hard to see through the mist of a snowstorm. But the afternoon was clear, and we had no real place to hide. As I paused beneath the tree, I happened to glance up. A lot of the trees in the Eiralpine zone had scant boughs. The winds had swept them ragged and bare. But this one had several sturdy limbs. It occurred to me that if I climbed it, I'd have a better shot.

I slid off Yaran's back and carefully grasped hold of the lowermost limb. I slowly began to climb, easing my way up the trunk of the tree until I was in one of the upper branches. I'd climbed a lot of trees, and here, they were shorter than in the forests south of the Eiralpine Line.

As I settled in the crotch of the bough where it connected to the trunk, I realized that I had a good sight-line all around. It was much easier to see from up here. If we were all up in the trees, we could catch them by surprise, but before I could climb down to tell the others my idea, a movement caught my attention.

It was a horse—not one of ours—and the rider was easing his way closer to Bran from behind a thick patch of trees. I took aim, silent so as not to tip him off.

But as I drew back my bow string, a whistling through the air startled me and I screamed as something lodged deep in my arm. I dropped my bow, and it went hurtling to the ground. I looked down at my arm only to see an arrow sticking out from just above my elbow. I quickly scanned the area and saw, in a tree not far from me, Karehl's bowman. He'd had the same idea and he saw me climb the tree.

As I struggled to hide, another arrow shot by, too close for comfort.

Below, on the forest floor, Bran and Fenling charge toward the trees hiding the rider I had seen. At the same time, San began to climb the tree I was in, as he saw me struggle to climb down using one arm. My left arm throbbed like fire where the arrow had struck, and I was bleeding. I tried to use my left arm to brace myself but the pain blinded me and I let out a whimper.

San reached me and, draping me over his shoulder, half carried me, half dragged me as he climbed down as quickly as he could. Quen was waiting below and took over while San leaped back on his horse to go help Bran.

Quen slung me over Yaran's back and took the reins, leading us back to camp.

"Go help Bran," I argued. "I'll deal with this myself."

I tried to keep the pain back but groaned as I fumbled to get my cloak off. Quen pushed my hand out of the way and unfastened the brooch, gently sweeping the cloak off my shoulders.

"Bran can take care of himself?—"

" Bran needs all of us . So hurry up," I said. "Get that damned thing out of my arm, slap a bandage on it, and then we'll get back out there."

Quen examined the arrow. "This is going to hurt," he warned me.

"Give me something to bite on."

He handed me a leather strap and I put it between my teeth and grabbed hold of my cloak, gripping it tightly.

"Take a deep breath," Quen said.

As I obeyed, he yanked the arrow out of my arm. The pain hit my stomach and I wanted to throw up, but then the shock passed. He splashed it with hot water, then shook healing powder over the wound, and wrapped strips of rag around it, tying it tightly. I spit out the strap and leaned my head between my knees. I felt faint, but it would pass.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I nodded, wiping the sweat off my forehead. "Yeah, I will be. Can you get me a piece of bread or something to ease the acid in my stomach?"

He tore a chunk of bread off the loaf and handed it to me. I gobbled it down, then drank some water and slowly stood. I was still dizzy, but it passed and the bread helped. I couldn't use my bow, but that didn't mean I couldn't help.

"All right, let's get back out there and pray Bran has been able to hold his own."

"You sure?" Quen asked. "If you need to tap out, just let me know and I'll help you."

I tested my dagger, making sure it was comfortable in my right hand.

"I'm ready." I ignored the pain as we hurried back to our mounts. Quen helped me up onto Yaran's back, and we rode out of camp, back into the forest.

The moment we reached the treeline, shouts echoed out from among the trees. It was nearing dusk, and the sun was beginning to wane. While it was still bright, in a short time it would be gone, sucked down into the dark by the early dusk of winter.

Quen pointed to one side, where the shouts were coming from. I rode behind him, heading into the thicket. Even without the undergrowth, the continual blanket of snow made it difficult to pinpoint anything. The shouts grew louder as we neared the trees. And then, I could see. In the dim light in a clearing, three sets of riders were fighting.

For some reason, I had expected that we'd be picking them off one by one. But I pushed that out of my mind as we rode in, looking for the best way to help.

Bran was fighting Karehl, and Fenling was worked with him, trying to keep another soldier at bay. The bowman who had shot me was on the ground and racing for a horse. I galloped forward toward him, racing as fast as Yaran could go.

Karehl caught sight of me and let out a yell. "You brought her ?"

Bran didn't answer, just crossed swords again, trying to drive Karehl back. They were evenly matched in skill, and neither had the upper hand. As long as we could keep the others from helping Karehl, Bran had a chance.

I dug my heels into Yaran's side and we picked up the pace, galloping toward the bowman. He saw me coming and turned to bolt, but I rode to his left, holding my dagger out with my right hand. Yaran put on the speed and despite his attempts to evade me, I managed to veer close enough to rake his side with my dagger. He turned, trying to steady his bow, but I urged Yaran to knock him off balance. He fell off the horse, which bolted, and I stopped in front of him.

The man was on his back, against the ground. I aimed my dagger and threw it hard, aiming for his heart. He shouted, trying to roll out of the way, but I managed to catch him straight on. The dagger struck deep and he sprawled back, bleeding out.

I rode past him, leaning down to try to grab the hilt but my wounded arm wasn't strong enough to keep my grip on the reins and I flailed, trying to keep my seat. As I fought for balance, Quen came streaking by. He paused, grabbing the hem of my cloak and dragged me back upright. Then, without a word, he let go, wheeled around, and headed toward Bran.

I turned, trying to see how things were going. San was struggling with one of Karehl's guards, they had both lost their swords and were grappling on the ground. Karehl and Bran were off their horses, sword to sword. One look at Karehl and my stomach lurched. He looked so totally focused, ready to kill. Fenling raced toward them, her sword out.

The next moment, everything shifted. Karehl and Bran threw aside their swords and before I could say a word, two huge white wolves appeared in their places, growling at each other. I heard a noise and turned to see both San and his opponent follow suit.

"Get out of the way!" Fenling shouted, motioning me back. I stumbled away, as Quen and the other two men from Karehl's side shifted as well. Fenling raced over and dragged me back. "Stay here—don't interfere or you'll get yourself killed!"

I wanted to ask what the hell was going on, but among the nine of us still living, the other eight were all in wolf form now, including Fenling. They growled, tangled in a massive fight. Blood stained the snow—at least one of them was injured but it was impossible to tell who at this point. Bran and Karehl looked almost exactly alike in their wolf forms.

Not knowing what to do, I looked around. Bran's sword was on the ground and I darted over to it, grabbing it up. I turned back to the frothing mass of wolves. If I didn't know they were fighting, they would have looked like they were enacting a frenzied dance of teeth and claws.

The two largest wolves broke out from the others and I realized that they were Bran and Karehl. And then, one of them looked at me and I knew it was Bran by the look in his eyes. Blood streamed from a shoulder wound and I panicked. I couldn't let Karehl take him down—I couldn't let Karehl win.

I ran over to them, and they paused, both staring at me.

Bran let out a warning growl, and I knew he was trying to scare me off so I wouldn't get hurt. But the next moment, Karehl lunged at me, teeth bared. Blood lust filled his eyes and a wild, feral snarl erupted from his throat.

I brought the sword out in front of me, point aimed to meet him. But before Karehl could land on the tip of the blade, Bran slammed into him from the side, knocking him down. They rolled in the snow, and Bran came up first. He bared his teeth as he leaped again, landing atop Karehl.

With one final, savage bite, he caught hold of Karehl's throat and bit deep. Blood fountained out, staining both their coats. Karehl let out a loud whine, then spasmed as Bran shifted back into human form. He grabbed the sword from my hand, turned back to his brother and, with a final thrust, plunged the sword into Karehl's heart. Karehl shuddered once more, then fell limp.

As if on cue, the other wolves stopped fighting and began to shift back into human form. It was over. The three of Karehl's men laid down their weapons and hurried over to their leader's side, kneeling beside him. They looked up at the sky and, in unison, let out a loud howl to the sky. Then, the slowly stood, turned to Bran, and knelt before him.

San took out the horn Borea had given us and blew a loud, echoing note on it.

The blood hunt was over. Bran had won. We were free, and Bran and Fenling could return home and start putting the pieces of their land back together. I turned to Bran and, with the others, I knelt down. He was my leader, now, too. And I would honor him accordingly.