The Jewel of Turmish - Mel Odom [55]
You might not see me coming.
I'll see you. Haarn raised his voice so that the other wolves could hear over the din of crashing thunder tearing through the heavens so hard it seemed to shake the ground. I swear to you by Silvanus's blessed eyes that I will kill all that run with you.
Cunning and vicious, the wolf kept trotting, waiting for the moment he judged proper to strike. Lightning seared the sky, whiting out the world, and Stonefur chose that moment to attack.
Haarn had only a momentary glimpse of movement, then the lightning blinded him as the ensuing thunder deafened him. The whirling winds and the cold rain deadened his skin. His heart thudded in his chest.
Stonefur launched at him, jaws wide, blood leaking into his mouth from the stub of his ear.
Moving with a grace that surprised him in the condition that he was in, Haarn slammed his club into the side of the wolfs head. The shock rolled along the druid's arm, but he kept his stance tight, following up with the knife still held along the side of his arm. The blade sliced into Stonefur's flank.
Blood poured down the wolfs side as he landed in a rolling heap.
No mercy in his heart, Haarn went after the wolf.
Stonefur rolled to his feet and pushed up only a step ahead of the druid's arrival. The wolf raced away, muscles bunching under bloody fur.
Haarn stood his ground as the wolf cut in a semicircle, as he knew it would. He'd observed the movements of too many wolves over the years to be taken by surprise by the feint. By the time Stonefur reached him again, Haarn was set.
The wolf tried for Haarn's wounded ankle again. The druid swung the club into Stonefur's head, connecting with the animal's bloody ear.
The impact of the wolfs body crashing against him knocked Haarn from his feet. Haarn rolled, controlling his body and coming to his knees. There was no hesitation within him as he struck, no more confusion over what he was supposed to do. His knife blade flicked across the wolfs withers, opening a long cut over his hipbone.
Coughing, fatigued, and hurting, Stonefur yelped in anger and rolled to his feet while Haarn was still on the ground.
Haarn focused on the wolfs great body, knowing Stonefur outweighed him. The druid poised, on one knee and the other foot beneath him, watching as the wolf recognized the opportunity.
Muscles rippled under the wolfs bloodied fur. Claws dug for traction on the muddy ground. Clods flew behind Stonefur as the wolf hurtled toward the druid.
Haarn waited then shifted to the right and ducked. Still moving, he ripped the blade across the wolfs exposed abdomen. Thick, salty blood poured down onto Haarn.
Graceful in spite of the mortal wound, Stonefur landed. His ribs flexed, and the gaping wound in his abdomen showed. The wolfs entrails started to spill from within.
You've killed me, Stonefur snarled.
He lapped at his wound but gave up the effort. His muzzle came away stained and dripping crimson that washed away in the stormy downpour.
"Yes," Haarn said in his own voice, knowing the wolf would understand just the same. At this moment of death, there could be no lies between them. "You disrupted the balance. There was no other way to end this."
Weakened and hurting, Stonefur came at the druid again. His clawed feet dug into the earth.
Haarn tried to dodge out of the way, knowing he only had to stay alive a little while longer before the wolfs life played out, but in his weakened condition he couldn't move as fast. He shifted, intending to throw himself to the side, but his right foot slipped in the mud and went skittering away beneath him. Instinct made him drop the club and try to catch himself. When he made a frantic grab for the fallen weapon, he realized it was too late.
Stonefur crashed into Haarn, knocking the druid back, slavering jaws reaching for his throat. The foul stench of the wolfs breath invaded Haarn's senses and seared his cheek. The rough, raspy tongue raked along Haarn's jaw.
Shifting to protect his wounded midsection, Haarn brought the knife up