Savage Series 06 - The Savage Dream by Tamara Rose Blodgett

Author:Tamara Rose Blodgett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tamara Rose Blodgett
Published: 2016-02-01T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

Adahy

Adahy slung the seven knotted pheasants over his shoulder, their brightly colored feathers in sharp contrast to the snow-covered hills and forest that surrounded the pair as they headed back to the hot spring.

Philip led the way, his own truss of pheasant swinging back and forth with his gait.

They had stopped at a river and filled the six canteens. Adahy felt the weight of the gathered supplies. Sometimes, it was a burden to carry his hunt. Today was not one of those times.

Every step brought him nearer to Elise. The bridge that Edwin had spoken of was the key to a possible cure for her. The Band woman, Calia, was in even more desperate straits.

Adahy was deep in thoughts of cleaning the pheasant as quickly as possible and getting the water distributed to the females, when Philip abruptly stopped.

Adahy stalled, very accustomed to stealth and body language. No voices were needed for him to see there was something grave enough to halt Philip's progress to his own female.

Philip sank to his haunches. Adahy strode the five paces to his side and slid down as well.

Both men stared at the prints.

They made no sense.

A series of large footprints—mostly pad with short, slim toes—headed into the deepest part of the woods.

Adahy stood quickly, gooseflesh riding his skin in waves, and said “Otneyarhed.”

Philip stood as well, his hand hovering above the hilt of his dagger. “What say you?”

Adahy struggled for the translation. Finally, he arrived at an approximate one. “Stone Giant.”

Philip stared then gave a single blink of understanding. “Forest Devil.”

Adahy shook his head. “I do not know, ʻForest Devil.ʼ”

“It matters not. They are here, and they might find the females. Jim will not be sufficient defense.”

Adahy knew it had been wrong to leave Elise. But what choice did they have? They were without food and water—and had been for nearly two days. They could not move on without sustenance. The females were sick with this pox.

Philip jerked his chin toward the footprints. “We will move fast. It might be that they have missed them, hidden inside the crevice of stone.”

Adahy nodded once.

But his mind ran wildly through the legends. If the Stone Giants were real, and not the myth of his childhood, they would be formidable adversaries.

All the tales said the same thing: they never left the forest, preferring to dwell in the trees. Game was plentiful outside the woods and as Iroquois, Adahy's tribe had no need to venture inside. A highly superstitious people, the Iroquois had great respect for peoples who claimed a unique part of the world, and were not inclined to intrude on it. In addition, a few disemboweled tribesmen every twenty years or so had served as sufficient warning.

What could make the Stone Giants leave the safety of the woods?

When Philip and Adahy had left the meadow behind, Adahy gave an uneasy glance at the stumps that rimmed the great forest. An idea took shape.

Perhaps the encroachment of the plains people and Fragment had done something to make them desperate enough.

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