The Jewel of Turmish - Mel Odom [43]
Killing humans stops, Haarn said.
Not stop. The wolf stood still. Stonefur say when stop. Not lifekeeper. Lifekeeper be friends with humans if want. Not Stonefur. Not Stonefur's pack.
I will stop you.
Stonefur growled and even the druid's spell couldn't translate. The wolfs teeth flashed and snapped as the first raindrops swirled into the mix of whipping winds.
The rain stung Haarn where it struck him, and spread an icy chill over his exposed skin. The stones in the clearing would become slick with the precipitation.
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