Wolfwalker - Wolf In Night Part 33

What about simply grabbing it?"

Nori smiled without humor. "Even I am not that fast." She shot Hunter a considering look. "We could let it ride."

The Hafell raised his eyebrows. "Let it ride?"

She nodded. "Look at its legs and its eyes. It's all spiked up right now. Give it half an hour, maybe more, and it will settle down on its own and go to sleep. They always do after they hunt. Then we pluck it off and put it away."

"You want him to ride for half an hour with that thing on his neck?"

"Unless you have a better idea?"

"Black Wolf, I don't," the Hafell said wryly. He looked back along the line, saw that the teams were being calmed and reharnessed. Ki's wagon had been pushed to the side of the road, and the Ell and others now examined it and the wreck of Repa's wagon. One didn't often see such damage. Cozar wagons were remarkably strong for their light weight. With more than eight hundred years to experiment, they had perfected the use of laminated thinwood, coated chancloth, and their formulas for fish glue and proteins. The spring-loaded panels on the sides and tops of each wagon were light as silk, and strong enough to snap back into place even after a hard bash. But even with their design and strength, one of the few things they couldn't withstand was a direct collision or a roll.

Now there was wood and chancloth debris all over the road, not to mention smashed boxes, limp bags, and the personal gear that Repa Ripping White had carried. The vari birds had been recaptured and were being put back in their cages, but they wouldn't lay again for ninans. Mian was lucky the expensive chameleon birds hadn't been trampled. She was luckier still that the Ell was still looking over the wreckage, and had yet to address the girl. From the quick survey the Hafell had made, Repa's wagon would have to be completely rebuilt. Ki's wagon and the other one could be repaired, possibly even at the next circle, but neither job would be easy.

Damaged wagons, tainted lice wash, an attack inside the circle, and now this? Brean shot Nori a sharp look. The wolfwalker had reacted too quickly when the teams panicked, almost as if she had expected it.

He looked ahead to Mian. The girl, perched behind one of the outriders, tried not to cry as she looked at the damage, but her small face was pinched and pale. It ought to be. The Tamrani's family wielded power that reached across the nine settled counties. Should he die among the cozar as a result of Mian's pet . . . The Hafell glanced at Black Wolf and then back at Mian. He had thought the wolfwalker's words last ninan had been harsh enough for the girl to take them to heart. This time, it would be Trial judgment, not Black Wolf's, and like a grave, the words of the council were final.

XXVIII.

Decisions are easy. Anyone can make decisions.

It's making the decisions stick, that's difficult.

Making them come out right in the end, Now that's the real challenge.

-Jonha Thalker, inThe Chevres Play, traditional staging The claws that pinched into Hunter's neck were hot needles that kept on s.h.i.+fting. His dnu's pace was a dog-slow walk along the halted caravan, but he was starting to sweat at the tension. Drivers and other cozar watched him warily as he pa.s.sed. All it would take was one man waving his arms, one woman to scream at the tano, one dog to lunge, and the well-grooved fangs would snap down.

He was almost ready for it when it happened. One of the outriders wheeled her dnu unexpectedly. The tano screeched and half rose on his neck. Nori reacted instantly, shouldering thechovas dnu aside. Then the Hafell jumped in between them. "Watch out," Brean snapped.

"Sorry," maSera returned quickly. The woman backed her dnu away, but Nori stared after her. MaSera was out of Sidisport and was friends with B'Kosan and Murton. And a woman had been in their wagon.

Brean caught her taut expression, but thought it was for Hunter's safety. "He'll be lucky to make it five more minutes, Black Wolf, let alone half an hour," he said sharply. "I can see more riders coming up from behind, and there are ring-runners ahead on the southbound track."

Nori took a breath. "Then there is one other option."

The Hafell had been watching the Tamrani with sharp eyes. Now he looked back at Nori. She had rarely spoken to him so much before, and he wasn't sure how to judge her. He waited.

Her voice was flat. "I can try to call it off him."

She had his attention now, and Hunter's. Brean frowned. "I thought you said they don't respond well to humming?"

"They don't. I would try to call a prey tone, like a wounded jackbraw or a young pelan, not hum to soothe it. It might be willing to jump to someone else if its hunting instincts were triggered."

Hunter started to speak, but stopped himself in time. The Hafell was already shaking his head. "No. No, Black Wolf, I cannot allow it."

Nori held up her hand to halt him. "I'll wear a double jerkin and a second pair of gloves under full gauntlets. We wrap my neck and upper arms with leather, and someone rides close by with the cage."

"No," Hunter said clearly. The tano's head whipped around to his jaw, and its claws stiffened on his neck.

"Quiet, Tamrani," the cozar snapped. "Black Wolf-" he started.

She cut him off. "Hafell, I acknowledge your braid, and I take this Choice from you."

Brean stopped midword. Hunter stared at Nori. For a moment, her violet eyes looked almost frightened, as if she couldn't believe what she'd said. Then she raised her chin stubbornly and met the Hafell's gaze.

With the tano on his carotid, Hunter could do nothing. He had heard of the Choice, but he'd never heard the actual words spoken. Nori had just taken the duties of the Hafell onto her shoulders for the task of caging the tano. The words had been simple, but the reality was not. A Hafell was, basically, a second Ell. He was responsible for the safety and needs of the entire caravan, not just for the one person who was in trouble at the moment. Among the cozar, a Hafell had the authority of a Lloroi. He could command someone into danger, cut someone out of the train, judge, sentence, banish, even order a death. Any action he took or refused to take was judged with full hindsight, and not tempered with might-have-beens. The only real difference between a Hafell and an Ell was that the Ell's wagon was the head of the train, while the Hafell's wagon was last.

With her words, Nori had just become the Hafell for this task. Brean could still step in as his duties required, to fix the mess she might make of the job, but the task now belonged to Nori. Should Hunter-or any other cozar or rider-be endangered or hurt by her decision or her actions, she could forfeit everything. She would stand Trial anyway, even if it was simply the Hafell judging the way things worked out. The Choice was always judged.

The Hafell looked at her unflinching expression. She was afraid, yes, but she wasn't backing down. And there was . . . conviction in her eyes, he realized. It was not something he'd seen before when she had faced elders in the past. But here, now, she was as certain as her mother. He waited a long moment for her to take back her words, but she said nothing. Finally, he said quietly, "You have a second Choice, maDione. Make sure it is not out of pride."

It was a deliberate use of the name she'd inherited, and she blinked. He was offering her an out. In spite of her words, he would let her back away without risk to herself, without trying to step into the shoes of her legendary mother. No one could truly be like Ember Dione maMarin; Nori and Payne knew that better than most. The Hafell had just reminded her of that in the clearest way he could.

Nori stared at the man without seeing him. Grey and yellow stirred in her mind as she reached inside herself. It might have been the yellow taint that did it, the sense of power behind Aiueven eyes. It might have been Payne's words from before. It might even have been the grey strength of the wolves, but she realized with clarity it was not the tano she feared, but that one of her kind was in danger.

She knew without looking how the tano's ruff bristled against Hunter's thick hair. How the venom sacs pulsed up inside the hollow claws. How the dark blood trickled down and mixed with the sweat on Hunter's weathered neck. She met Brean's gaze steadily. "I see no second Choice."

The older man regarded her for another moment, but although her violet-grey eyes seemed to glint in the sun, they were clear and her voice was calm. Finally he nodded. "The Choice is yours, as is the judgment." He added softly, "May the speed of the wolves be in your hands." He stated simply, "You have needs."

"Work gloves. Medium, but broad-palmed, with the fingers cut out." Quickly, she tugged on her own gloves and held up one hand so he could judge her size. "Also venge gauntlets or work gauntlets, again with the fingers cut out. A venge jerkin, yours or one size smaller than yours. A leather wrap for my neck.

Overwraps for my arms. A smithy ap.r.o.n or venge chaps that will cover my legs but leave me free to ride.

And a towel with a deep pile."

He frowned, not understanding. "Would bandages not be better?"

"It's for the tano, not me, to tie onto my front to help its claws tangle as soon as it leaps."

The Hafell nodded and reined away. Nori glanced at Hunter. "And no," she told him evenly, as his green eyes glinted. "You don't have a choice, either." She dropped back at the tano's hissing, and he could only glare as she left.

She used a knife to cut the fingers off her gloves. Then she let herself reach toward the grey. She could feel the taint in her mind. It was watching her, almost stretching toward her as she tried instead to grasp the grey.

The wolf had been moving along the road, paralleling her as she rode. Now his mental voice grew stronger, clearer, and she knew he loped near the barrier bushes, just inside the forest. She closed her eyes and gathered her mind. If this was to work, she would need all the speed she could get.Rishte, can you open the packsong to me?

Danger, threat, danger- Aye,she answered.I need your reflexes, your instincts. Will you help me?

She could feel him reaching out to her. There was an underlying excitement in his voice from the racing dnu and wagons. In spite of the damage, in spite of the danger to Hunter, in spite of what she was going to try to do, Nori echoed that animal joy. It was the first seductive hedonism, the one most often fought by wolfwalkers to keep their human selves separate, but she didn't draw back from it.

She caught a glimpse of grey as he came through one of the barrier channels. For a moment, their minds meshed as his golden eyes met hers.Packmate, trouble.

His nostrils flared, and she wondered if he could smell the tano through her nose or if he saw it through her eyes.

Sharp venom, burning venom,Rishte identified.The death-fang from the shadows.

"Aye," she breathed softly. Hunter's gaze flickered, and she knew he had glimpsed the wolf before Rishte slunk back into the forest. She said softly, "Aye, your chances just improved."

A few minutes later, Payne, Wakje, and another outrider wrapped Nori in as much metal and leather mesh as they could lash on her and still give her movement. The outrider handed the tano's cage over to Payne, and Wakje got out a knife.

Hunter stiffened, but Payne said dryly, "Don't worry, Tamrani. He won't skewer the beast right on your throat-not unless he has to." Behind them, knots of cozar watched from a distance, some with binoculars, as others cleared debris.

Nori ignored them. "Watch its thighs," she told her brother softly. "Its eyes will stay on me, but its thighs will start to flex when it's getting ready to leap." She got a small strip of metal from her pocket and fit it onto a small, U-shaped piece of wood. "It will dig in hard," she added to Hunter. "Don't flinch, or it may not actually leave you. Even to a tano, a palt in the hand is worth two in the bush." She checked her gauntlets one more time. "When it hits me, I'll try to catch it around the neck or arms. It's got carry nerves there, like a kitten."

She closed her eyes for a moment.Rishte?

Hereherehere.

I am ready.

She opened her eyes, but kept the link open. She could feel the grey lapping at her mind like a sea. It didn't rush to drown her, but held back with Rishte till she needed its speed in her hands. She let herself get used to the sense of it, then moved slowly toward Hunter until her dnu was almost against his.

She blew experimentally on the wooden caller just once. The sound was a faint scream of metal and air, and she adjusted it against her lower gums. She was beginning to focus, to reduce all movement and sound to the small point that was Hunter's neck. A spark of yellow flickered beneath the grey, and Rishte paused. The packsong seemed to split in Nori's mind, as if it met a strong current.No, she sent sharply.

Stay with me.Me.Mememe . . .

Nori opened her arms to ready herself for the tano, and then blew across the caller. It was a soft shriek of metal and woman's voice, like a creature being torn apart. Brean shuddered, and Nori blew again.

Facing forward, Hunter couldn't see what she could: that the tano's eyes now gleamed wide open. That they centered now on Nori. Its thighs began to flex so slowly, it took Payne a moment to realize it was happening. Hunter felt the tension like a knife carving away at his flesh. The sound was continuous, like a sc.r.a.ping on his nerves. Then he felt the tano's claws stab deep.

The creature launched itself like a war bolt. Nori's hands flashed. Claws reached toward her chest and neck, and her dnu jerked instinctively. The tano hit her sternum like a shot, and its claws tangled in the towel's pile. It yanked, but even as it tore one limb free and dug into thick leather, she caught its neck like a vise. Her fingers pinched. Its mouth opened soundlessly; the tano's body went limp.

Hunter stayed frozen.

"Have you got it?" Brean snapped.

She shook her head. Her gloves were too thick to detach the tano's claws, and the wooden caller kept her from speaking. She adjusted her grip cautiously.

"Now?" Brean demanded.

"I'e got it," she finally answered around the caller.

Hunter let out his breath. Carefully he raised his hand and rubbed at his b.l.o.o.d.y neck. "I thought I'd wear that thing to my grave."

"You might have," Payne agreed dryly. He reached over warily and disentangled the beast from towel and jerkin while it hung half paralyzed from Nori's hands. Then he held the cage door open till she popped it in.

Quickly, she started to latch the cover. "Da' it," she muttered. She fumbled with the latch. "Wha' is the 'oblem with this-" she cursed around the wooden caller.

"Hurry up," Payne said sharply. "I don't want this thing loose on me or mine."

"I need a 'iece o' 'ire," she said over her shoulder to Wakje. "Q'ickly."

Wakje snapped open a saddle pack, drew out a small roll of wire, and cut a piece off. He reined up and thrust it into Nori's hand. She tried to wind it around the latch, but gave up after a moment. "We need to get this 'own to ground."

The Hafell swung off his dnu and, with Wakje and Payne, eased the cage to the road while Nori held the door shut. The tano hissed and clutched its perch branches, but didn't try to escape. Carefully Nori threaded the wire through the latch hole, then back out through the side of the cage, till she could twist it into a crude lock.

"Done?" Payne asked sharply.

She sat back on her heels, removed the caller, wiped it off, and tucked it back in her pocket. "Done as best I can. Wait a minute." She ran her hands over the joints of the cage. The Hafell didn't interrupt her until she nodded to Payne to lift the cage away and secure it on Wakje's dnu. When she started to rise, Hunter would have helped her up, but the Hafell reached out instead. He gripped her arm for a long moment. "The Choice was made, the task is done. The Choice returns to me."

"I return the Choice as is right."

Brean nodded.

Nori forced her face to be expressionless, but she couldn't help holding her breath. Brean could give her judgment now, or make her stand before the cozar council. From the hard look in Wakje's eyes, the ex-raider hadn't realized she'd taken the Choice from Brean. Wakje's hand was already on the hilt of his sword as if to attack should it go badly for his niece.

The Hafell ignored the ex-raider. He met Nori's violet gaze and said quietly, "With challenge, you chose to act in my place. With hindsight, you have been judged. No harm has come from your actions; harm has been averted and this man's life was saved. Be at peace, Wolfwalker."

She let her breath out almost audibly.

Brean nodded. "You did well, Black Wolf." He glanced at Wakje, then Payne. "In spite of the fact that I don't believe you knew what you were saying till after the words were out."

She flushed, and Payne knew the man was right. Wakje nodded curtly to the Hafell, then trotted away with the tano. If it had been his choice, he'd have killed the d.a.m.n thing on the Tamrani's neck, then buried both of the bodies.

Payne watched him go. "That latch was broken," he said softly.

"Aye," Nori agreed. "The metal was torn right out of the wood."

Brean looked from one to the other, then at the blood trails that ran down Hunter's neck. He glanced back toward the caravan that was only now getting underway. This had not been just a mishap. There were three wagons damaged, one destroyed; at least five of the dnu were injured. Ki's driver was lucky not to have broken half his bones, and Nonnie Ninelegs was still unconscious. To have a wagon of exotics wasn't all that unusual, but to have one cared for by a child? He'd taken the chance, since Mian was Nonnie Ninelegs's daughter, and since Black Wolf was among them. It had not been a good decision. His usually mild voice was hard as flint. "Mian is supposed to maintain the cages, not just the beasts within. There will be Trial tonight at fireside."

"Hafell," Nori cut in. "I didn't see anything wrong with the wood. I felt it when I pushed the wire through. It's firm enough, not rotted." He opened his mouth to retort, but she added, "What I did feel were some gouges by the latch, like the kind made by a prying tool."

"What are you getting at?"

She glanced at Hunter, but the Tamrani said nothing. She realized with surprise that he was leaving the decision to inform the Hafell up to her. She looked at Payne, who shrugged almost imperceptibly, then said to Brean, "I think the latch was deliberately loosened. It was only a matter of time before the tano got out. In fact, it probably would have happened last ninan when the weibers broke free and all the animals panicked, but Mian had the tano in its grazing cage at the time."

"That's a serious accusation, Wolfwalker. The only reason to let a tano out is to kill, and there are no grudge hands among us. I know almost every family, even the ones who joined us on the coast. There are two families I've never driven with, but they were in my grandfather's train last year and came with references. They're solid."

Hunter was wiping his neck with a damp cloth, and he paused. "Did you check with your grandfather yourself?"

The Hafell barely glanced at the Tamrani. "Including you and your brother," he went on to Nori, "there are also only eightkeyo with us. I know almost all of them. None of them would have done this."

"What about Murton and his partner and Hoinse?" Hunter asked sharply.

The Hafell said irritably, "Murton and his partner, and the man from your own caravan, werechovas, not cozar and notkeyo. They're hired-ons. We're not like traders traveling with unknown companions who don't have references, Tamrani. We're not strangers working solely for gold, with our loyalties easily bought. We're family groups. We choose to travel together to share safety and ease trade. We agree to certain guidelines, we live with certain rules. Issues are raised and dealt with at fireside, as they are at your breakfast tables. Among us, they're settled long before they become deadly, or the caravan is split.

There have been only two challenges since we set out." He glanced meaningfully at Nori, and she had the grace to look faintly guilty at the reminder of the puffball fight. "Neither of which was serious," he continued. "Conflicts that can't be settled that way are worked out by me or the Ell if it goes beyond the council." He turned back to Nori. "If there's a grudge hand now among us, it's from among thechovas, the Test youths, or the Tamrani you brought here."

Hunter was clearly irritated, and Nori murmured, "He's testing you. You've brought him trouble, as have we. He wants to know if you're worth it."

Hunter scowled at her. "I'm beginning to wonder myself."

Brean gathered the reins of his dnu. "At least I can take Mian off Trial Silence."

"Hafell." Payne caught his attention. "If you're willing, there is another option."