The Jewel of Turmish - Mel Odom [44]
Haarn caUed 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.
Tm 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 wolfs 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 bis 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."
"You have powers, Haarn," Druz said. "Use them."
"No. This must be balanced." Haarn glanced at bis companion. "However this should turn out, you're going to stay out of it."
"The hell I will!" Druz's eyes flashed beneath the hood of her traveling leathers. "HI not be left up here on this mountain to be slaughtered by those wolves."
"You won't be harmed."
"You can't know that."
"Broadfoot will protect you should it come to that," Haarn said. He stood bare-chested in the near-freezing rain, clad only in his moccasins and breeches, which were damp and heavy. "Broadfoot will also keep you from interfering with this fight. He won't be gentle."
"I didn't come here to-"
"Woman!" The tone in Haarn's voice caused Druz to stop speaking and step back. "You came here to get that wolfs head. I'm going to give it to you. Don't argue with me.
Fire flashed in Druz's eyes.
"I have bound us all with this agreement," Haarn said. "Ill not suffer it broken."
"A warrior doesn't give away his strength," Druz argued.
"I'm not a warrior."
Haarn transferred