his grandfather’s grandfather’s day.
They were the Ja-haro Milaka , or Grey-Muzzled Bears, of his people’s legends. Perhaps limited hunting here in Roldem had kept them alive. To the Duke, he said, “I know this breed by reputation. They are aggressive in the best of times. It’s spring, and it’s almost certain one this big is a male, so he will be looking to mate and will not look kindly on anything encroaching on his territory.” Tal glanced around. “He’s close. There’s still moisture in the depression. The air would have dried it out in less than an hour.”
“How big do you judge him?” asked the Duke.
“Twelve feet if he’s an inch,” said Tal. He motioned toward the servants. “Arrows will only irritate him. We need heavier weapons.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Did you bring a catapult?”
The Duke smiled. “I’ve hunted bear before.”
Ignoring protocol, Tal said, “As have I, Your Grace, but the largest brown bear you’ve seen is nothing compared to the Grey-Muzzled Bear. You can’t stop it even with a heavy bolt to the shoulder if it’s charging. With other bears you can drop and play dead and perhaps they’ll get bored after mauling you a bit and wander off.
_______________
54
RAYMOND E. FEIST
“These creatures will shred you. They can bite a man’s head off if they are in the mood.”
“Sounds like it’s best to retreat at first sight,” said Baron Eugivney.
“You can’t outrun it,” said Tal as he started to move toward the servants. “In a short burst, it can run down a horse from behind and cripple it with a blow to the spine.”
The Duke didn’t move while the others started to follow Tal. “You’re not suggesting I don’t hunt this creature, Squire?”
“No, Your Grace, but I am suggesting a better choice of weapons.”
The Duke nodded. “What, then?”
“I would rather have heavy lances from horseback, or heavy spears, but these boar-spears should suffice,” called Tal over his shoulder.
Duke Olasko took a single step toward the others when from behind him there came a roar to shake the trees. It was a low howl with a strident note, coupled with the grating sound of a piece of wood being torn in half.
Tal swore nothing living could make such a noise.
He turned for a second while the others froze and saw a massive brown shape explode from the trees less than ten yards from the Duke. Kaspar spun as if ready to meet a human attacker, in a crouch, his bow held in his left hand, his dagger seeming to fly to his right.
The Lady Natalia remained motionless but cried, “Do something!”
Tal threw aside his bow and with two quick steps yanked the boar-spear from the hands of an openmouthed servant, who looked to be on the verge of fleeing. To the other servant, Tal called, “Follow me!”
As he ran uphill past the two barons, he shouted,
“Distract it!”
_______________
KING OF FOXES
55
The Duke didn’t move until the animal was almost upon him, and at the last instant threw himself to the left.
The bear swatted at him with his left paw, propelling him in the direction he was already heading. Had it gone the other way, Tal knew, the Duke would be dead with a broken spine. And, for all Tal knew, he was already.
Kaspar had taken a punishing blow, and he wasn’t moving, either unconscious or playing dead. The bear’s momentum took it on for a few yards farther; then it wheeled and turned, ready to charge. The two barons and Natalia let fly a volley of arrows and two of the three struck the animal. It turned and howled, giving Tal the time he needed to reach the Duke. Tal came to stand above him.
Seeing an opponent that wouldn’t flee, the bear slowed its charge and continued forward at a quick walk.
Tal raised the boar-spear high above his head with both hands and shouted as loud as he could, an inarticulate approximation of an animal’s howl.
The bear pulled up just a few feet away and reared on its hind legs. It roared a
They were the Ja-haro Milaka , or Grey-Muzzled Bears, of his people’s legends. Perhaps limited hunting here in Roldem had kept them alive. To the Duke, he said, “I know this breed by reputation. They are aggressive in the best of times. It’s spring, and it’s almost certain one this big is a male, so he will be looking to mate and will not look kindly on anything encroaching on his territory.” Tal glanced around. “He’s close. There’s still moisture in the depression. The air would have dried it out in less than an hour.”
“How big do you judge him?” asked the Duke.
“Twelve feet if he’s an inch,” said Tal. He motioned toward the servants. “Arrows will only irritate him. We need heavier weapons.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Did you bring a catapult?”
The Duke smiled. “I’ve hunted bear before.”
Ignoring protocol, Tal said, “As have I, Your Grace, but the largest brown bear you’ve seen is nothing compared to the Grey-Muzzled Bear. You can’t stop it even with a heavy bolt to the shoulder if it’s charging. With other bears you can drop and play dead and perhaps they’ll get bored after mauling you a bit and wander off.
_______________
54
RAYMOND E. FEIST
“These creatures will shred you. They can bite a man’s head off if they are in the mood.”
“Sounds like it’s best to retreat at first sight,” said Baron Eugivney.
“You can’t outrun it,” said Tal as he started to move toward the servants. “In a short burst, it can run down a horse from behind and cripple it with a blow to the spine.”
The Duke didn’t move while the others started to follow Tal. “You’re not suggesting I don’t hunt this creature, Squire?”
“No, Your Grace, but I am suggesting a better choice of weapons.”
The Duke nodded. “What, then?”
“I would rather have heavy lances from horseback, or heavy spears, but these boar-spears should suffice,” called Tal over his shoulder.
Duke Olasko took a single step toward the others when from behind him there came a roar to shake the trees. It was a low howl with a strident note, coupled with the grating sound of a piece of wood being torn in half.
Tal swore nothing living could make such a noise.
He turned for a second while the others froze and saw a massive brown shape explode from the trees less than ten yards from the Duke. Kaspar spun as if ready to meet a human attacker, in a crouch, his bow held in his left hand, his dagger seeming to fly to his right.
The Lady Natalia remained motionless but cried, “Do something!”
Tal threw aside his bow and with two quick steps yanked the boar-spear from the hands of an openmouthed servant, who looked to be on the verge of fleeing. To the other servant, Tal called, “Follow me!”
As he ran uphill past the two barons, he shouted,
“Distract it!”
_______________
KING OF FOXES
55
The Duke didn’t move until the animal was almost upon him, and at the last instant threw himself to the left.
The bear swatted at him with his left paw, propelling him in the direction he was already heading. Had it gone the other way, Tal knew, the Duke would be dead with a broken spine. And, for all Tal knew, he was already.
Kaspar had taken a punishing blow, and he wasn’t moving, either unconscious or playing dead. The bear’s momentum took it on for a few yards farther; then it wheeled and turned, ready to charge. The two barons and Natalia let fly a volley of arrows and two of the three struck the animal. It turned and howled, giving Tal the time he needed to reach the Duke. Tal came to stand above him.
Seeing an opponent that wouldn’t flee, the bear slowed its charge and continued forward at a quick walk.
Tal raised the boar-spear high above his head with both hands and shouted as loud as he could, an inarticulate approximation of an animal’s howl.
The bear pulled up just a few feet away and reared on its hind legs. It roared a
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