The Jewel of Turmish - Mel Odom [52]
"Haarn!" Druz called.
Drawing part of a breath, Haarn yelled, "Stay back!"
If she didn't, she would bring the rest of the pack down on them. Even with Broadfoot and the spells Silvanus had placed at his disposal, the druid didn't know if they could escape the whole pack alive. He didn't trust the wolfs word either. Stonefur had learned to kill and lived for the bloody carnage he could cause. Haarn saw that, and his heart hardened. He remembered Druz's story about the boy who had been attacked.
You're a killer, Stonefur, Haarn accused.
Yes, the wolf replied, excitement in his voice. Human flesh taste good.
You hunt children.
Easy prey, the wolf countered.
He braced himself and butted Haarn in the face with his broad head. Haarn felt the wolfs teeth rattle along the club. He shifted bis weapon with the wolfs movements, desperate to keep his opponent's jaws from his flesh.
You harder to kill, Stonefur said, but more fun. I kill you, too. Soon.
Haarn didn't have the breath to make a reply. Hot saliva dripped from the wolfs muzzle onto his exposed neck, feeling like freshly spilled blood. The stink of the wolf filled the druid's nostrils. With his throat exposed the way it was, Haarn knew all the wolf had to do was bite the veins on either side and let him bleed out.
Gathering his strength, Haarn shoved up against the wolf, trying to throw Stonefur from him. The wolf growled in triumph and bowed his back, using his hold on the club to stay on top of the druid.
Kill lifekeeper, Stonefur, the female called.
"Haarn!" Druz yelled.
Stonefur's orange eyes locked with Haarn's and the wolf said, Your female calls out for you.
Haarn said nothing, desperate to find the leverage that would allow him to break the wolfs hold. He kicked, trying to find a foothold in the mud. The rain beat down on him, blinding him as he gazed up against it.
Maybe I only wound you, Stonefur said. I cripple you so that you can watch as we kill your female.
You promised you wouldn't do that.
Haarn heaved his weight to one side, trying to slide from under the wolf.
I lied, howled the wolf.
Stonefur lunged at the druid's face again.
Haarn jerked his head to one side. The wolfs wet fur grated against his wounded cheek, tracing liquid fire against his face. He stifled a groan of pain.
The wolf regrouped at once and attacked again.
Using the club to block the brunt of the animal's fierce attack, Haarn drove his knife toward Stonefur's chest. The blade caught a flash of lightning an instant before it struck the wolfs body. Instead of penetrating Stonefur's ribcage as Haarn had hoped, the knife skidded along the wolfs shoulder bone and ripped through flesh to grate against the animal's spine.
Stonefur growled in pain and rage. Jerking his head, he turned and seized the offending hand before Haarn could withdraw it. The movement left the club free, and Haarn wasted no time in smashing his weapon into the wolfs side. As close as he was, the club did little more than bruise the wolf.
Haarn distanced himself from the pain in his savaged arm. He knew Stonefur worried at his wrist with the deliberate intent to sever the tendons. A wolfs attack, like that of feline predators, was designed to break down its prey piece by piece until it was helpless.
Levering himself over, Haarn used his opponent's displaced weight and the lock on his wrist against him. Before Stonefur could fight back, Haarn was on top of him. Struggling to straddle the great beast, Haarn drew the club back and bashed the wolf in the side of the neck.
Stonefur gave a painful howl and released his hold on Haarn's wrist. Blood matted the lighter colored fur under the wolfs muzzle.
Haarn felt light-headed from blood loss and exertion. He'd given too much away to the battle. Perhaps if he'd kept the scimitar they'd have been better matched, but he wasn't sure, and the balance had to be maintained. He drew the fighting club back and prepared to smash it against Stonefur's skull.
Lightning rent the air, and cracking thunder followed on its heels.
Haarn's breath