“Maybe.” Avi agreed mildly, wondering if the Dalish would be all that friendly to their plight. Perhaps – soldiering and doctoring were professions that never truly lacked for work. (Though he could see how the prospect of keeping two oversized wolves fed might give people pause.) Or, perhaps more likely, they would find that the clans would have all fled too. Anyone with means and sense likely would have at the start of the Blight, and the Dalish were accustomed to travel.
He unpacked and rolled out their bedrolls, giving Lirulin the more defensible position – an impassable thicket of coppiced hazel trees to her back. The poles looked past ready to harvest and dry. This woodland had been managed once upon a time, no doubt adding trespassing to their list of crimes.
“Pass your shoes over.” They were more patch than sole by now, but they needed to last a few more days. He could tend to that before it got too dark. But Avi lowered his hand as Ru’s sudden motion and cloudy eyes preceded Kay’s arrival by a few seconds. The big red wolf nosed into Avishan’s shoulder with one of those exceedingly eloquent canine sighs.
“One of your Dalish?” A lone hunter or scout wouldn’t want to mess with Beli, would they? A pelt like that could be worth – well, he didn’t know and didn’t want to think about it, to be honest. Avi levered himself up and stroked Kay’s thick neck. Had either of them ever been the least bit scared of people? He hadn’t questioned it, just as he hadn’t questioned Ru’s luck at foraging or the ease of the road so far.
“Three for dinner, then. I hope he’s brought his own bowl.” Avi turned to watch the woods with Ru, ready to shield her.
He unpacked and rolled out their bedrolls, giving Lirulin the more defensible position – an impassable thicket of coppiced hazel trees to her back. The poles looked past ready to harvest and dry. This woodland had been managed once upon a time, no doubt adding trespassing to their list of crimes.
“Pass your shoes over.” They were more patch than sole by now, but they needed to last a few more days. He could tend to that before it got too dark. But Avi lowered his hand as Ru’s sudden motion and cloudy eyes preceded Kay’s arrival by a few seconds. The big red wolf nosed into Avishan’s shoulder with one of those exceedingly eloquent canine sighs.
“One of your Dalish?” A lone hunter or scout wouldn’t want to mess with Beli, would they? A pelt like that could be worth – well, he didn’t know and didn’t want to think about it, to be honest. Avi levered himself up and stroked Kay’s thick neck. Had either of them ever been the least bit scared of people? He hadn’t questioned it, just as he hadn’t questioned Ru’s luck at foraging or the ease of the road so far.
“Three for dinner, then. I hope he’s brought his own bowl.” Avi turned to watch the woods with Ru, ready to shield her.
06-18-2024, 04:29 PM
