Fear and hatred had almost killed Count Jonty Um in Two Castles town. Lahnt, he thought, may finish me off. His teeth chattered, and he’d lost feeling in his feet. At a safe distance, the hunters had cleared snow and built a fire, fetching branches from the woods below, but when it was roaring, they held burning brands to keep him from approaching, until he half wished they’d thrust one at him. Fee fi! Roasting might be preferable to freezing.
He could shape-shift into a bear and have fur to warm him; however, he feared what the men would do to it or it would do to them.
Brunka Arnulf arrived at last on a mule. He jumped off, crying, “You’ll kill our rescuer! Let him warm himself!”
The men backed away, and His Lordship, who was usually graceful, lumbered to the fire. When he stopped, Brunka Arnulf flashed rainbows at his half-frozen feet.
“My rainbows have no other medicinal use, but they’re good for this.”
His Lordship’s feet tingled agonizingly, but agony was better than no feeling at all. And being touched by rainbows made the pain worth having.
“How bad is your wound, Master Count?”
His Lordship boomed, “Not so bad for me. Dreadful for a bird. I can’t fly.”
Brunka Arnulf stepped back from the sound. “Otto, you chose the wrong swift to shoot. We’re lucky your aim was off.”
“He really is a count?” Goodman Otto said. “A count?”
“I believe him when he says he is.”
“Oh.” Goodman Otto touched his cap. “I’m s-sorry. Er . . . p-pleased to make your acquaintance. Brunka Arnulf, is it true? The Replica was stolen?”
“Alas, yes. I hear the mountain rumbling. Count Jonty Um was flying back to the Oase with information.”
“I can walk, though I’ll be too late.”
“Then stay,” Brunka Arnulf said. “Folks here need you.”
His Lordship felt heat behind his eyes. Fo fum! To be needed! Meenore, he thought, if I could reach you in time, I’d leave. Forgive me for allowing myself to be wounded. Forgive me, Elodie, Nesspa. “I’ll stay.”