Wolf's Own Complete Series by Cummings Carole

Author:Cummings, Carole [Cummings, Carole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: MM
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

He chose a small axe first, because he knew how to swing one—all out and from the shoulder, aim for the joints, and make the cut clean. He chose a long, curved knife, because the one he’d had at home for slaughtering had the same arc, though it was a little shorter, and he’d appreciated the way the curve lent a certain neatness and precision when cutting the throat of an animal for the table. He chose several others simply for their look, the way they fit his grip, and though one looked suspiciously like a boning knife, it was sharp and the small serration at the tip would likely….

Joori sucked in a breath and made himself stop thinking. He’d never thought himself particularly bloodthirsty, but he’d learned quite a lot about himself today, and he didn’t think he liked any of it.

“It isn’t how many you take.”

Shig’s soft voice came from behind him where Joori crouched on Malick’s floor, beside Malick’s bed, arming himself with Malick’s weapons. He didn’t turn, only paused for a slow breath, curled the short sword he was holding in his palm, testing its weight. “No?”

“It’s how you use what you have,” Shig told him. “Here.”

Joori turned just in time to see a flash of silver netting coming at him, and he reached instinctively to catch it. It runnelled over his hand like musical water, catching the light of the lamp on Malick’s bedside table.

“It’s Fen’s.” Shig shrugged and looked away. “Guess he forgot it.”

Joori’s mouth tightened. Sure he had. “What am I supposed to do with it?”

“Huh.” Shig’s eyebrow went up, slightly mocking. “If you really need me to tell you, no amount of weapons is going to help you.” Her mouth tilted up at one corner at Joori’s glare, but she only shrugged again. “Wear it. You made your brother a promise. I assume you want to at least try to keep it.”

“How did you—?” Joori stopped, holding back a growl. He knew exactly how she’d known, and she probably knew exactly what he was thinking now. And what could it possibly matter? There was nothing in his head for which he didn’t wish he could find words, and she’d been right before: he didn’t bleed any redder than she did. “Thank you,” he made himself say. He turned the mail in his hands then laid it carefully on Malick’s bed and stripped his jacket. He dared a glance over his shoulder as he took off his tunic and pulled on the light armor, trying not to remember what had happened the last time Jacin had worn it. At least there was no blood on it that he could see.

“I brought this for you.” Shig’s voice was very soft this time—no scorn, no disdain Joori could detect.

Joori turned again to see Shig holding out a broken arrow, its fletching snow-white, straight and intact. Strange, because he knew damned well where it had come from. He’d watched Shig carefully maneuver the quiver from Yori’s body as he’d just as carefully maneuvered the cloak from Caidi’s.

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