Foxhunt by Rem Wigmore

Author:Rem Wigmore [Wigmore, Rem]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-73436-031-8
Publisher: Queen of Swords Press

Orfeus dived forward again, and again Faol stepped easily aside from the blow so she tumbled to the ground from momentum. His mask was pushed back on his sweaty brow, and his eyes dug into her like coals.

Orfeus pushed herself to her feet. Faolan said, “Enough.”

She lowered her hands and frowned at him. “I can do more.”

Faol just shook her head. Orfeus bristled. “Mordrai said I can fight,” she said, stretching the truth somewhat.

“No,” he said harshly. He jerked his head at her. “You’re getting slow. You’ll learn better later. Push yourself too far and you’ll fall. I told you.”

Orfeus crossed her arms. “But better for you if I die, right?” she said. “Then you don’t have to deal with me.”

Faol stepped forward, reaching for her arm, and Orfeus tensed. Faol stopped short, tense-jawed, and just clenched his hand hard instead. “I will not fail,” he ground out.

“Ahaha,” Orfeus said. “That’s why you care. Of course it is.”

Faolan pushed her helmet forward, back over her face. “Wear your armour next time,” she said. The metal glinted. “Practice fighting with and without it, to be safe.”

“Yes, there’s nothing safer than fighting!” Orfeus said. She was tired, bone-deep tired, and wouldn’t mind a wash. But she needed to climb higher in the Order. Fight harder. Never stop to think. “I need to get better, Wolf. You can’t exactly help me do that if you won’t even look me in the eye to argue—hey!”

Faol paid no attention at all, walking over to the sink at the corner to dampen a cloth. Orfeus still had her knives; she could try stabbing him in the back right now, if she wanted to live an even shorter life than she would already.

Someone swaggered in and called, “You two! You’re missing the feast!”

By his build, this was the Shark, short and wiry, though she hadn’t seen him with his mask off before. He had brown skin and hair and a short fuzz of beard on his good-natured face.

“Feast?” Orfeus said, a little puzzled. She tucked her knives back away.

The Shark threw a look at the Wolf, then widened his eyes at Orfeus. “She hasn’t even brought you to the feast?” he said.

Faol turned, and Orfeus tensed, ready for his anger. But beneath his mask there was nearly a smile. She wouldn’t have known from his voice, still harsh as ever as he said, “We’ve been busy.”

Orfeus considered. “I could eat,” she said. She brazened forward, ready to brush Faol aside to reach the basin, but he stepped well clear before she could even get close.

She cleaned her face. “Wolf?” the Shark said.

Orfeus straightened. Faol shook his head. His hair was damp, tousled into spikes. “I have work still to do.”

The Shark saluted, grinning. “We’ll save a steak for you, brother.” He nodded at Orfeus encouragingly, and she followed him to the mess hall.

She stopped at the doorway and blinked. The tables were piled high with food, and hunters lined the long benches, talking and laughing, only twenty or so but enough to fill the room with chatter and noise.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.