The Jewel of Turmish - Mel Odom [9]
"You'll protect people?" Forras asked, gazing at the elf druid in open distrust.
"Not people," the druid admitted. "The wolves. If the wolf that has done this teaches his pack to yearn for human blood, they won't live long. Warriors will hunt them out of fear, or if the gold is right. There could be good traits-size, strength-that the wolf leader and his pack could pass on to the next generation if they're allowed to live. I won't have that chance lost if I can prevent it."
Tethys and Forras cursed belligerently.
"Don't act like you're doing us a damn favor," Tethys snarled.
"It would be easier for me," the druid stated, "to kill all of you than to kill the wolf."
The lantern light flickered in the silence that followed the elf s words.
Druz knew the warriors among the group would have a hard time accepting the challenge that the druid's mere presence offered, much less the sting left by the elf s words.
"What will it be?" the druid asked.
The warriors shifted.
Arvis spoke next, his voice hollow and filled with fear. "Kord, I am tiring." His blood seeped slowly down the druid's scimitar. The druid held his position.
"Let him go after the wolf," Kord said.
"You don't speak for all of us," Forras said.
Kord turned to the smaller man, who wasn't small at all. "I will in this matter, or I will stand with the druid."
"Against your own?" Tethys asked. "I've fought with you, Kord-you and your brother. I can't believe that you would-"
"If we live," Kord interrupted, "well have the chance to fight together again."
"He won't kill Arvis," Tethys replied, glaring at the druid. "He won't dare. He knows we'll track him down."
"Track a druid?" Druz said. The tone of her voice mocked them. "I've been told that even rangers can't track druids through their homelands." She took a step toward Tethys. "He will kill Arvis."
"You're afraid of his words," Forras accused.
"Only a fool wouldn't be afraid of the promises the druid has made tonight," Druz said. "Kord and I will side with the druid."
Traitors!" Tethys snarled. "All we have to do is stick together and this dandelion-sipper will back down."
Something large shifted in the forest at the tail of Tethys' words. The men looked behind him, turning slowly.
Though Druz felt relatively safe standing in front of the druid, the skin across the back of her neck tightened and prickled, and it felt like ice water ran down her back.
A huge brown bear followed its nose from the brush at the back of the clearing. The animal looked ponderous and heavy, but Druz knew the mud-splattered brown pelt covered rolling muscle.
Once, when she'd been in Chondath-protecting, under protest, a shipment of exotic wines bound for the Crying Claw-Druz had seen a bear and a bull fight to the death. She'd felt certain the bull would easily disembowel its opponent, but she was amazed by the speed and power of the bear. As it had turned out, the bear had beaten the bull as well as a pride of war dogs that had been loosed on it afterward.
The druid's bear growled, and the barking, howling sound echoed through the forest. It surged to its hind legs effortlessly, standing almost twelve feet tall. Druz guessed that the animal might weigh a ton.
Cocking its head, the bear seemed to glare at Tethys in particular. Its black hps twitched back from fangs white as pearls. Massive claws glinted dully in the lantern light.
Tethys flinched and stepped back involuntarily.
"I already have someone who stands with me," the druid stated quietly.
The bear roared again, and birds settled in the trees for the night took flight around them, daring the darkness rather than stay in the vicinity of the great creature.
"I will go now to kill the wolf," the druid said. "If I find you here in the morning, I will kill you as well." He drew the scimitar from Arvis's throat and slung the blood onto the dirt.
Almost completely exhausted, Arvis collapsed to the ground. Kord started forward, but Druz stopped him, catching his arm with one hand.
"Wait," she urged