still clung to it. Whoever or whatever it was had been in the house and dropped it here.
Talen scanned the yard about him.
The Sleth hatchlings were here, in the woods, watching. Talen was sure of it.
He studied the woods and backed away.
For some reason the dogs hadn’t barked, hadn’t even smelled the intruder when it was only a few paces away.
It was said that Sleth had some power over beasts. He cast a wary glance at Blue and Queen. Could they have been subverted?
He studied the dogs, but could see nothing that might reveal the truth of it.
Talen retreated back to the well.
He could run or bluff, but running was not proving a good choice today.
Talen kept an eye about and drew the first bucket of water. He cleared his throat.
“One of these days, you beast-loving tanner’s pot, we are going to catch you and let you join your mother in the cage.”
He waited for a response.
“You’ve come to the wrong farm, you yeasty boil.”
Talen poured the water into the hoggin then dropped the bucket back down into the well.
He scanned the tree line again. If the thing charged at him out of the woods, it would catch him before he got to the pigpen.
But then, if the hatchling were going to attack him, it could have done it earlier.
His heart raced, but you had to fight fear; had to fake courage sometimes until it came of its own accord. Children, Da had said. Only children.
“Sleth child,” Talen called out, “as you can plainly see, I do not fear you. Nor do we fear your abominable depredations.” He realized his talk had taken the edge off his fear. So he continued, “You want something to eat? Eh? Come out and I’ll feed you. How about a moldy crust of bread eaten and shat out by our pig for supper?”
No response, only the leaves of the trees swaying in the small breeze.
The villagers this morning, they’d come after him, not out of fear, but dreaming of a fat bounty. Dreaming of this very opportunity.
Had the bailiff not said that a Koramite should bring the hatchlings in?
Something shifted inside him. His fear deserted him, and he suddenly wasn’t thinking about what the hatchlings might do to him. He was thinking of what he could do with them. What they could do for him.
If he were adopted into the Shoka, he would still be Koramite, still owe duties to his ancestors. Being a Shoka by priviledge did not change your blood. But Talen didn’t know if the adoption would really change his prospects. He’d still be a half-breed in most people’s eyes. However, if he could catch these hatchlings, it might not only mitigate some of the ill will against his people, but it might also prove the quality of Da’s line, prove the quality of Talen’s breeding.
Those villagers could dream all they wanted. They weren’t going to get the bounty. Oh, no. He thought of the tales of the heroes who had hunted Sleth. Not all of them were from the ranks of the high and mighty. Maybe a little Koramite would win a spot in the chronicles.
He could see himself purchasing that fine, Kishman’s bow, made of wood, horn, and sinew, wrapped at the ends with yellow and scarlet thread. There wasn’t a people who could make better bows than the Kish. But why settle for a bow? He’d get himself a horse.
Talen drew up a third bucket, emptied it into the hoggin, and replaced the lid.
He addressed the old sod house. “Every soul worth his salt will be hunting your clay-brained trail. You’re going to end up a boiled cabbage no matter what you do.” He paused. “You should have never begun with the dark art. But turn yourself in to me and you’ll avoid a wicked beating. That’s a promise you’ll not get from any other quarter.”
There was no answer, only the voices of Ke and Nettle in the distance.
He realized then if the hatchling were an angry thing, it would kill Talen and stop his mouth. But it was either stupid or scared, for it had thrown away a perfectly good chance. Or maybe it was waiting for its master, the one that slew the butcher’s family in the village of Plum.
That thought sent chills up his spine. That was a creature no lone Koramite would take. But he wasn’t going to let the fear of such things overcome him. It obviously wasn’t here now. And standing at