that didn’t mean Nettle could address an armsman in that way.
Nettle stood there, looking this man straight in the eye. “I am Nettle, Argoth’s son, captain of the Shoka. You have no authority here.”
The man grinned a surprisingly rot-free smile. Then he stepped up to Nettle and backhanded him in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Talen turned to help Nettle up, but Nettle only pushed his hand away. When he gained his feet, his face was red, eyes tearing from the pain of the man’s blow.
The armsman drew his sword and pointed it at Nettle. “If I were you, I’d watch what I said. None of daddy’s men are here to keep you from stubbing your toe. Now. You’re going to round everyone up. I want them standing by the well.”
Suddenly the dog’s barking rose to a pitch and then a scream.
“You see,” the armsman said, “I told you to call your dogs.”
“Blue!” Talen yelled. “Queen!”
Talen ran toward the sound over by the old house. He soon saw there were about half a dozen others with this man. All but two of them were armsmen. They had positioned themselves in a ring around the farm and now closed the circle. Blue lay on the ground, yelping in pain: one of them had stabbed him in the hindquarters. Queen stood behind Blue, facing down another armsman.
The door to the house swung open. Da strode out carrying the Hog. “What’s going on here?”
Ke and River followed him out.
“You’ll put that down,” said the big armsman, “and tie your dog up.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m here in the name of the Council. You will stand and account.”
Two men closed on Da, their swords in hand.
Da considered them and then dropped the Hog to the side.
This was going to end badly. Talen knew it.
Da looked at Talen and motioned to the dogs. “Go get them.”
Talen turned and found Nettle behind him. “You get Queen,” said Talen. Then he put his hands under Blue so he could carry him. Blue cried out and turned to nip at Talen, but Talen murmured gentle words and carried Blue to the barn and laid him on a pile of fresh straw. Nettle tied Queen up to the closest post.
“Fir-Noy rot,” said Nettle.
Talen ignored him and smoothed Blue’s head and neck. Blood matted Blue’s fur. “You’re going to have to hold his head while I try to stop the bleeding.”
“Just let him lie. He’ll only fight us and pump more blood.”
“Blue,” Talen said. “You stupid dog.” He stroked him again. Blood ran from the wound. “We’ve got to compress this. It’s not going to stop on its own.”
One of the other armsmen appeared in the barn doorway. “You two. Get out here.”
Blue whined, but these armsmen had violence in their eyes. Talen stroked Blue’s head once more and then walked outside.
“Over there.” The man pointed with his sword at the well.
“Zun,” Da said. He faced the big armsman. “You come onto my land and threaten me?”
“Actually, Koramite,” the armsman said, flinging that word at Da instead of returning the proper title, “it’s not your land.”
“You can’t hunt here.”
“The Council has opened up the restrictions. Hunters are allowed free rein.”
Da paused. “Then I’ll need to see your token.”
The big man pointed to his armband. “Are you blind?”
“Any fool can put on a band,” said Da, “that doesn’t mean anything. You need a token, even when restrictions are eased. In these lands it’s the bailiff that determines who will hunt. I’ve already spoken to him about it.”
“Listen to this clever Koramite,” said the man.
“It’s Shoka business. Not yours. If you want to search us, you’ll come back with the bailiff’s token.”
The man grinned and dropped his gaze as if Da had made some joke. He glanced at the two armsmen that were closest to Da, Ke, and River. “Boys,” he said, “is this woman begging me to plow her field?” He turned back to Da. “Are you?”
“Would you allow just any band of men who came along free access to your home? Especially when they demand it at sword point? You need to move on,” said Da.
“No,” said the man. He rolled his shoulders to loosen them. “Actually we don’t. Now I’ve given you an opportunity, but it seems you insist . . .” He walked forward toward Da. “I know who you are, Zun.” He used the title in obvious mockery. “You think you’re something—a master archer. But you’re nothing more than a high-and-mighty camp lady.”