The Pedlar's Promise: An exciting Forest Lord novelette by Steven A. McKay

Author:Steven A. McKay [McKay, Steven A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Broadsword Publishing
Published: 2022-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

SEVEN

The beast facing John ambled into the pool of light cast by the fire and John swallowed. The thing was enormous – much bigger than any domestic dog – and it was a true killer, for that’s how wolves survived. Their instincts were honed far finer than any of the hounds wandering about the streets of Wakefield or Nottingham, and their bodies had been designed by God to take down prey and tear it to pieces quickly and efficiently.

“Come on, then,” John bellowed, spreading his arms wide and rising up to his full height. The wolf didn’t move away, but it did crouch lower, as if uncertain of its next course of action.

Will followed his friend’s lead and swung his sword in a wide arc, shouting and stamping his feet on the hard ground.

The wolves made no sound, not even a growl, but their lips pulled back in a snarl and the men braced themselves. The horses were wide-eyed and snorting in terror, straining against their ties, although they hadn’t given in to full-blown panic just yet.

“Can we take them?” Will asked, and his voice was low and calm as the battle-fever returned and instinct began to take over.

“I don’t know,” John admitted. “Even if we can, we’ll be lucky not to get injured.” As he spoke the lump in his forehead throbbed and he remembered the earlier fight with the men in Heathfield.

“Why didn’t you bring your damn longbow?” Will suddenly asked. “If we had that we could pick them off from here, no problem.”

“Why didn’t you bring yours?” John shot back. “We were only supposed to be riding to Heathfield, spending the night there, and heading home on the morrow.” He laughed sardonically. “Look at us, famous outlaws, experts at surviving out in the wild. Ridiculous.”

They stood like that then, wondering if the wolves would ever make a move, either attacking or wandering off. It seemed the animals might remain where they were forever.

“They’re hungry, aren’t they?” Will asked. “Look how skinny the poor bastards are. Maybe if we throw them some of our food they’ll bugger off.”

John shrugged. “Or maybe they’ll get a taste for it and attack, looking for more.”

“Try it,” Will said, quickly glancing down at the pack of food which lay nearest to the bailiff.

Blowing out a long breath, John leaned down, sword still held out before him as the wolf began to pace from side to side. He rooted about in the pack, loath to give away their meat pie for who knew how much longer they might be stranded out there in the woods? At last, after what seemed like an age, his hand closed on the loaf they’d bought from the Wakefield baker. He drew it out slowly, showing it to the wolf. It stopped pacing and stared at the bread.

“Here,” murmured John, not letting go of his sword and awkwardly tearing a piece off the loaf. He held it up, waving it in the air, then threw it behind the wolf which turned and padded towards it.

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