A hunter picked up the wounded bird, who began to vibrate and grow. Frightened, the man let go and jumped away.
After a minute a naked ogre with a bloody shoulder faced the hunter. His Lordship blushed from his toes to his forehead. His shoulder hurt, but he wouldn’t die of a single arrow. He wouldn’t die of the man’s fear, either. “I’m Count Jonty Um.”
The man gaped.
“Of Two Castles. Your horse isn’t afraid of me.” He reached out and took the man’s bow. “I’ve come to warn people. The Rep—”
The hunter’s knees buckled, and he fainted.
“May I borrow your cloak?” His Lordship rolled the man over gently. Poor-quality wool, but it would have to do. “I’ll pay for the garment.” He tied the cloak around his waist. Then he cleaned his puncture wound with a handful of snow. The cold stung. His shoulder ached.
What to do? The arrow had dropped the swift. If he shifted back, he wouldn’t be able to fly.
Elodie and Meenore needed to know that a man called Dror had been as good as forced to become a bee, and that someone named Tuomo and his sons, and someone named Uwald, had left the mountain.
If he walked, the snow wouldn’t slow him greatly. The cold posed a greater danger. At best, he’d be several days getting back to the Oase. Fee fi! He was failing his friends.
He started down the mountain and stumbled out of weariness and pain. Before anything, he had to rest. He scanned the way below, but a forest blocked his view. Boulders dotted the slope above, as if a giant (much bigger than himself) had smashed a cliff and scattered the debris.
A mink stood in the shadow of a boulder, sniffing the air. This animal at least he could save. He crouched and held out his hand.
A minute later, the mink was in it. He placed the creature on his shoulder and thought, I have room for more.
Sleep first.
Between himself and the forest, three boulders leaned against one another, forming a three-sided recess that would protect him from the wind. He curled up inside, with the mink tucked between his neck and his shoulder, each giving a little warmth to the other.
He hoped that Elodie and Meenore were discovering on their own what he’d learned and that both were safe. But his last thought, before diving into a dream of snow and ice, was for Nesspa.