Page 44 of Warrior of the Wild
Soren glances over, as though his eyes are reacting to Iric’s words before his mind has a chance to catch up to them. He looks away quickly and blushes.
Actually blushes.
“What are you, twelve?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. I scurry up the hill, gather my things, and return to my boy-free fort.
THOUGHIHAVE NOTHINGto cook, I build myself a fire first thing upon arriving at my camp. As the flames heat my chilled skin, I remove my sopping clothes and hang them on a nearby branch to dry. I don one of the spare pairs of clothing from my pack and stare at the flames in front of me.
Dying horribly is stupid.
No, Iric. Losing all honor and doing nothing to get it back is stupid. An eternity of damnation is stupid.
Tomorrow, it’s back to observing the god for me.
THREE DAYS LATER,I stand in front of the map I’ve carved into my tree. I use the rock to shape a hole at the end of the trail the god travels regularly, the one that wends below the tree I usually use as a hiding place when observing him. I was surprised by what I found at the trail’s end.
A latrine.
It was unremarkable and disgusting, but now I know the god must eat and drink as a man does.
Once done with the drawing, I turn to the side and add to my list.
FACE OF A MAN
BLOND HAIR
CARRIES AN AX
CAN USE HIS POWER TO LIFT ME OFF THE GROUND
USES A LATRINE
On the other side, I have other details written down.
PERUXOLO’S DOMAIN:
I CANNOT ENTER
MY AX CANNOT ENTER
ROCKS CAN ENTER
STICKS CAN ENTER
I let the rock drop from my hand and clatter to the ground. I’ve learned a little, but I don’t know what to try next. How are rocks and sticks going to help me?
“How’s the god hunting coming along?”
I spin, my hand going for my ax, but of course, it is only Soren. “Could you wear a bell or something?”
“I think what you meant to say was ‘It’s nice to see you again, Soren.’”
“I cannot tell a lie.”
“Someone’s in a good mood this morning.”
This time, I actuallydoreach for my ax.
“Now, before you get angry,” he says, “you should know that I brought you dinner.”
