The Snow Chanter (The Wild Trilogy Book 1) by Linda Nagata

Author:Linda Nagata [Nagata, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: epic fantasy series, Young Adult, secondary world fantasy, origin myths, nature spirits, fantasy book series, ecological fantasy, noble bright
ISBN: 9781937197346
Publisher: Mythic Island Press LLC
Published: 2021-03-11T22:00:00+00:00

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Marshal waited anxiously for Bennek’s verdict. Minutes passed. Then Bennek started to tremble. His breathing quickened. A sheen of sweat appeared on his cheeks. “Bennek,” Marshal said, squeezing his brother’s shoulder. “Bennek, come back.”

Bennek gasped. His eyes opened. “Marshal!”

Marshal had never before seen such fear on his brother’s face. Kina, too, sensed his distress. She pushed between them, shoving her head against Bennek’s shoulder.

“What did you see?” Marshal demanded.

“Arowl.” Bennek stroked the dog with a shaking hand. “Many arowl.” His frightened gaze turned north, though from his low vantage he couldn’t see anything but grass.

“How many is many?” Kit wanted to know. “Thirty? Fifty?”

Bennek stared at Kit as if he had made a crude joke. His fingers clenched Kina’s fur. “No, sir,” he whispered. “There are very many more than that.”

He turned to Marshal. “There might be two hundred fifty. Maybe three hundred. More. Too many to count. They are still some miles to the north, but running hard toward us.” He breathed in quick gasps. A flush heated his cheeks.

Turning to Lanyon, he said, “Can you make a spell to hide us?”

“There is no time!” she answered, her eyes wide with fright.

Marshal, too, felt afraid. His skin prickled. His heart thundered in his ears. But he fixed Bennek with a stern gaze, determined to quash any sign of panic. “Remember your gifts. It’s up to you to confound the arowl.”

“I cannot confound so many!”

“You will do it if it must be done.”

“Do they know we’re here?” Pantheren asked. “Bennek, can you tell?”

“They are stampeding toward us! Of course they know.”

“Are you sure? Is it us they hunt? Check, Bennek. Confirm it if you can.”

“Do it,” Marshal commanded.

Still holding onto Kina, Bennek closed his eyes again.

Pantheren said, “The stream we just passed—it had steep banks with overhanging weeds. We’ll hide ourselves there.”

“We might hide ourselves,” Kit agreed with an odd half-smile. “But we can’t hide our scent, which has grown somewhat strong of late. It’s a shame, War Father, that your own obscurity is finally fading.”

“Kit’s right,” Marshal said. “With so many on the hunt, they will find us.”

Pantheren’s hard-eyed gaze took them both in. “That may be, but until then, we do all we can. Do not embrace hopelessness.”

“I hope to win through to the Snow Chanter,” Kit said, with an angry edge to his words. “But if these arowl have been sent by her enemies to stop us, there is no hope in hiding.”

Lanyon spoke up, her voice quavering, “Still, we can try. I know a spell that may help hide our tracks, at least.”

“Use it,” Pantheren told her. “Kit, come with me. Let’s go back to the stream and prepare a place.”

Kit looked ready to resist, but Marshal told him, “Go. It’s our best chance.”

Kit responded with a hiss, his expression grim and skeptical, but he left with Pantheren.

Marshal stayed with Bennek, along with Lanyon and Kina. After a minute, Bennek opened his eyes again. He blinked. His brow furrowed. He looked both puzzled and anxious.

“Well?” Marshal asked.

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