Cherished Destinies by Anny Cook

Author:Anny Cook
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2007-11-09T12:58:47+00:00

Chapter Ten

Over the next two eight-days Arano hunted with a vengeance. His daily hauls had Eron the butcher eyeing him with uneasy curiosity. “You have nothing to do, Arano?

What am I going to do with so much meat?”

Shrugging Arano casually pointed out, “I thought you would probably be getting low on supplies for fall and winter. With the Gathering and the other interruptions this summer, I haven’t brought in as much meat as Turo and I used to.”

Rubbing his hands together, Eron just stared at him in bafflement. “I suppose that is true. You caught me by surprise with this sudden influx. But of course you’re right. If I fill the smokehouse, the village will have enough for winter. Are you taking orders?”

“What do you need?” Arano asked practically, pulling out a small, handmade note booklet. “If I can supply it, I will.”

Eron handed him a stylus and recited his list. “Six good-sized deer. At least twenty hoppers. Two or three bohras, though I know they will necessitate a group hunt. If you bring in that much, the rest will be taken care of with rowans and woolies.” He shrugged.

“Everyone pretty much has their own peekies for eggs and soups.”

When he finished jotting down the list of glyphs, Arano handed back the stylus and tucked the booklet back in his waist pouch. “I’ll see what I can do. Turo was saying that the oldest warrior class is getting restless. A good hunt might be just what they need.”

“I heard there’s a nest of bohras out past the Far Woods. One of them carried away a child from the northern woodcutters’ camp,” Eron relayed soberly.

“In that case, we’ll organize that hunt this week. I’ll get back to you, Eron, with the other items on the list.”

Though Arturo supplied plenty of young warriors for the bohras hunt, he declined to join them and Arano didn’t press the issue. That was something that Turo would have to work out on his own. Three days later, Arano set off with his group, which included Wolfe, Hawke, Andrew McCrory and Mali Burns.

It took the better part of a week but they located the nest of seven bohras and cleared them out. Two bohras they left with the grateful woodcutters, one they dropped off at Bell’s Corner and the other four they dragged back to Eron’s shop. Aside from minor injuries, no one was hurt, which everyone considered a blessing. Bohras were notoriously difficult to bring down without someone in the party ending up messily gored or even dead.

By the time he had filled the rest of Eron’s order, life had changed again in the village. Traveller, Wrenna’s bond mate, had healed enough that they were making 70

Cherished Destinies

plans for their oath-binding ceremony. Most of the pregnant couples from that first bonding storm were emerging from their seclusion. Jade and Merlyn were home at last.

Dai reported that Eppie and Dancer were coming into Lost Market to visit with Traveller and Arano decided that might be the time to make his move.

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