at it, big man,” Thormund said, passing him a chunk, and Audun wolfed it down, savoring the sharp tang of blood. “We’ll be away soon as the men get a bite each, and then you two are on your own.”
Audun grunted. Boy just sat there, silent and watchful.
Mouthpiece sidled up to them. “I thought being a king’s man would be more . . . honorable,” he mumbled. “No leaving our friends behind.”
“They have to,” Audun said. “I’m no good off my feet.”
“Better than me on mine,” Mouthpiece said.
“Off,” Olgeir snapped, and the men all around them made ready to go, even though they were still tearing at half-cooked meat with bloodstained mouths. They checked weapons, adjusted what armor they had, and shook out the night’s aches.
“That’s it,” Mouthpiece said. “See you in a couple of days.” He stood up and moved over to Thormund.
Before the sun was even properly up, the men were gone. The forest was suddenly very quiet, save the odd bird singing in a tree. Boy busied himself with a small knife he’d taken off a dead man. As he started whittling at a stick Audun leaned back and allowed time to pass. Already the pain in his calf was throbbing less, and the wound felt like it was starting to heal.
He closed his eyes. “I’m going to sleep. Watch for bears and wolves,” he muttered. He felt Boy’s gaze on him as he faded into dark dreams of cold iron, high walls, and roaring fires.
The headache woke him some time later. The sun wasn’t quite at its high point, but the birds were prattling up above. Audun shifted so that his back was against a thick tree and sat up, grimacing with pain. There was no sign of Boy anywhere. He groaned and felt for his calf. The wound was still sore, but the skin had almost healed over. He bent his knee and tried to put weight on the leg, but the pain was still too much.
A rustle in the leaves on the other side of the glade made him twitch and reach blindly for his hammers, but when they weren’t where his hands landed, he looked around quickly, his heart beating faster.
He saw the pack with the hammers and his belongings just as the dark shape behind the leaves moved at the far end of the glade. There was no chance he’d get to them in time.
Boy stepped out into the clearing, holding a big mug carefully. Big-eyed, he gestured to the mug.
Audun grinned. “Thank you.” The words had only just escaped his mouth when Boy tripped on a root, sending a big gulp of water flying. The terror on his face forced a loud, barking laugh out of Audun, and the angry scowl set off another burst of laughing. “You are good company, Boy,” he said once he’d recovered.
Boy looked genuinely upset as he handed him the mug, and Audun said, “Calm down. It’s just water. Thank you. Did you have to go far to fetch it?” Boy didn’t appear to understand the question and Audun repeated it, looking intently at his face.
Boy seemed to snap out of some kind of trance state, shook his head, and looked toward the pack. Moving quickly, he walked over to busy himself with what meager supplies they had.
“Suit yourself,” Audun muttered and lifted the mug to his lips. Man, but he was thirsty. The water was cool and refreshing. He downed the remaining contents of the mug in one and burped loudly.
“Thank you again!” he said to Boy, but the kid didn’t seem to hear. A brief spark of annoyance lit. “I said ‘thank you,’” Audun repeated. “And I’m sorry I laughed at you.”
Boy turned then. “That’s okay,” he said in a bright, clear voice.
Audun felt like he’d been slapped. “You can—talk?”
“Of course I can,” Boy said.
Suddenly Audun felt very cold. The lad’s accent was unmistakable. “You’re from—”
“Stenvik. Yes.”
Audun pushed his back against the tree and tried to use his good leg to gain height, but it was hopeless. He felt weak—weak and ill. He slumped back down. “What have you done?”
“You’re ill. You need medicine.”
“You little shit! You’ve poisoned me?”
Boy looked less sure of himself now. He’d taken the pack and retreated across the glade. The words tumbled out: “No, it’s not poison—the master said you were ill, that you were war-crazy, and I should give you the medicine and you’d be all right once he got to see you.”
“Who?” His words slurred, and he