Wolfeater by Anthony Mitchell

Author:Anthony Mitchell [Mitchell, Anthony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-02-22T22:00:00+00:00

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They stood at the river's edge, their boots touching what was once flowing water, now turned to solid ice by winter's coldest breath. Mikilov peered out across the white expanse. A thick layer of snow quilted the frozen surface, and he could have almost believed there was no river at all, save for the sound of the Velgan Falls rumbling on in the distance, a sign that the river's lifeblood still flowed just a few inches below the surface.

'Are you sure about this?' asked Senya, glancing sideways at him. She looked tired. There were bags under her eyes and her skin was pale, her rosy cheeks the only bright spot about her.

'The Empty Faces were,' he said, tossing a thumb over his shoulder towards the corpses. 'And they know this land better than most. It might take us a few days to find a better path.'

Senya chewed her lip, still uncertain.

'Only one of us can call this off,' he told her. 'Say the word and we go home.'

The silence stretched out between them, and, for a moment at least, Mikilov found himself hoping once more…

…only for it to be snuffed out a second later, like a candle in the wind.

'No,' said Senya, shaking her head as though that might clear the doubts. 'We're wasting no more time. If the Wolfeater dies out here, it has to be for Velimir. I have to be the one who finally puts him out of his misery.'

Mikilov raised a brow. 'For Velimir?'

'For Velimir.'

He sighed. 'Best be about it then,' and he nodded at the ice sheet. 'After you.'

Senya took a careful step out onto the ice, hesitated for a moment, and then began to walk. Mikilov watched her go for a spell. She was lighter on her feet than he was, and better balanced on the ice. If anyone was going to fall through, he thought, it was likely him. Better to fall through alone than drag the girl down with him, and if she went in first, he had a better chance of pulling her out than she did him.

He glanced down at Scar, sat at his heels, head cocked as he watched Senya making her way out across the frozen span. 'Go on then, lad. Stay close to her.'

Needing no second invitations, the wolf padded down to the water's edge. He paused there for a moment, pushing his nose out to sniff at the cold air. Then he touched one paw to the ice and snatched it back, as though the cold burned. Perhaps it did.

Scar's gaze flickered from Senya to the ice and back again, and Mikilov smiled. He could see the wolf's struggle. Protect Senya, or stick to the safety of solid ground? It was not an easy choice to make, for man or wolf.

Scar sank to his haunches, whining, all the while watching Senya stride further and further away, and Mikilov's smile widened. He had never seen the wolf so smitten. That Scar had chosen to walk with Mikilov was only ever about respect, but with the girl it was different.

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