still there.”
The rain stopped falling as they walked down the path. Eventually they entered a wooded area where the thick foliage darkened the already-dull light. The underbrush had almost taken over as well, and fronds of unseen bushes groped at Merlin’s legs. From their right, where the soggy smell of the marsh floated through the trees, a flock of crows began to caw loudly.
Merlin wanted to explain his plan to Natalenya as they walked, but he felt awkward and focused instead on trying to keep his pace even. As the path narrowed even more, her steps came closer, and he feared tangling his feet with hers.
Something rustled a bush ahead of them, and the crows amplified their calls.
Merlin stopped. “Did you hear that?”
“What?”
The sound faded, and with it even the crows ceased their rancor so that the woods became silent as death.
“Let’s keep moving.”
Sweat formed on Merlin’s brow, and he wanted her to take his hand and guide him as they ran down the path to escape the woods. But he had to keep his composure in front of her. It was probably just a squirrel or some feral cat in search of its prey. The worst part of it was that in such dim light, Merlin’s eyes were almost useless.
Now the sound came from behind them, and Merlin stopped. Willing his pulse to stay even, he turned to listen.
Natalenya sucked in her breath. “I heard it.”
And there, in the mottled light, Merlin peered at a dark shape slipping from the bushes.
Natalenya screeched and grabbed his arm. “A wolf!”
Fear blazed in Merlin’s chest as he held out his staff to Natalenya. “Take this and get behind me.” He snatched his dirk from its scabbard, his heart was pounding so hard that he could barely hear the slow, stealthy approach of the creature before him.
“There are two now. They’re —” But her words were cut short by a scream. “Merlin!”
He tried to turn and help her, but the wolf in front of him snarled as it leaped in the air. The shadow fell upon Merlin so fast that he had no time to do anything but raise his left arm to ward the gaping jaws.
Why did they keep hunting him? There were plenty of young deer in the woods, especially in springtime.
The wolf’s teeth ripped into his elbow, sending a shock of pain that stunned him. The beast was heavy, and it pulled Merlin down and forward until he fell into the bracken.
Letting go, the wolf snapped at his throat, its stiff claws on his chest.
Merlin panicked and thrust his dirk upward, but the thick fur prevented the tip from penetrating deeply.
The wolf pulled back and yelped but then dove forward once more. It snapped at Merlin’s neck, its warm saliva dripping on him.
Natalenya screamed again, and this gave Merlin a rush of strength.
He yelled and plunged his dirk into the beast’s neck.
The wolf yelped as Merlin rolled its spasming body off him and then stood. To his right, he heard the whir of his staff being swung at another snarling beast.
“It has my skirt!” Natalenya cried out.
He lunged forward and tried to stab the creature, but it jerked to the side. There was a ripping sound as material tore away.
Merlin lunged again, but the wolf retreated and then began growling.
“Run!” Merlin said, holding out his hand.
“Where?”
“The smokehouse!”
Natalenya seized his hand, and together they sprinted down the path. But Merlin could hear growls behind them.
“How many?” he asked.
“Four!”
They burst into the open as the woods fell away from the path. But still the wolves pursued them. Merlin’s scars stung as flashes of memory burned in his mind.
“How much farther?” Merlin asked, gasping.
“Almost there.”
A wolf ripped into Merlin’s cloak. He pulled the hood over his head, threw it at the beast, and tried to keep up with Natalenya.
“Merlin, run!”
The smokehouse roof appeared like a dark splotch on his right, and he could smell the smoldering fire that preserved racks of fish in its back room. They ran toward it, but he forgot the steepness of the slope leading down to it, and he stumbled and rolled.
Natalenya frantically banged on the door. “Megek!” she yelled, but the old man who smoked the fish didn’t answer.
Merlin regained his footing and crouched, ready to use his dirk. Three of the wolves appeared over the hillside and hesitated before two of them slunk off to the side, perhaps to circle around and attack from behind. Were they that intelligent, or was some evil directing them?
“Merlin, I