THE WOMAN STAGGERED IN, bearing an axe, a scythe, a rake, a spade.
“Would you . . .” But my honey had fled.
Farewell, Master Peter!
Hastily, the woman passed out weapons.
If I ran, they’d pursue me on horseback and catch me.
We faced each other in momentary uncertainty.
Run!
And leave the meat sticks? No!
With ogre speed, I grabbed the old man’s elbow, pulled him close, wrested his rake from him, and flung it on the ground. Using my free hand, I grabbed meat sticks, many meat sticks, and shoved them inside the man’s shirt and mine. Not trying for honey, I rasped out, “If you wish to see your friend again and not just his bones, do not pursue me for two hours.”
The girl cried, “Don’t hurt the master!”
Brave.
“We’ll come after you,” the thin man said.
My captive—the master—said, “Listen to it. Give it the two hours. I’ll be all right.” It. My fury flared, but I backed out, keeping him facing them. Outside, I picked him up and ran on the road in the direction of the Fens. Rain still threatened.
Master Peter, I will see you again.
As much as he could, the man craned his neck away from me. I remembered how rank I smelled. He smelled meaty.
I expected him to be terrified, but he wasn’t. And he was no longer under the influence of zEEn—I sensed no dullness, no dense pea of fear. Instead he was curious and thoughtful.
He said, “I think you won’t eat me. Are roses actually your favorite flower?”
“To look at. They’re not as useful as lavender.”
He said no more. I plucked a meat stick out of his shirt and managed to chew it while galloping. My hunger for him lessened to wishfulness.
When should I let him go? I might have already covered three miles. If the rain came, he would be soaked. The night was cool. He might get chilled, which could lead to fever. I wouldn’t be here to treat him. Who knew what sort of healer he had? I didn’t want him to die.
I stopped, set him down, and took the meat sticks I’d stuffed in his shirt. “The other man—your servant, I think—is too thin.” I shook my head hard. “Not too thin for me to eat! That’s not what I meant. Disease hunts people like him. See that he drinks sheep’s milk flavored with ginger.” I added, “I’m a healer.”
“This has been the strangest night of my life.” The man’s chest rose in a deep breath. “You should stop stealing.”
I couldn’t! A realization broke over me. I didn’t need the band anymore. “I’ll steal less.” I had to feed only myself and Master Peter.
The man raised his eyebrows. “Now that we know you’re an ogre, even though you’re an odd one, people will kill you—or try to—and I won’t be able to prevent it. By now my servants will have sent for help, but I won’t let anyone go after you tonight.”
“Thank you.” With a little luck, I wouldn’t be an ogre much longer.
He called after me, “Farewell.”
I started to run again but discovered I was too tired even to trot. Merely walking called for reserves I’d used up. I left the road and curled up on the far side of an oak. The threatened rain fell.
Happiness deepened my sleep, which, untroubled by the downpour, was sweeter than it had been since before Lucinda entered my life. I didn’t awaken until late the next morning. My clothes were damp, but the day was sunny, and they soon dried. As I ran, I satisfied myself with meat sticks from the night’s plunder.
By early afternoon of my twenty-fourth day as an ogre, I reached the Fens. Near home, an unusual quiet reigned. For once, I heard no snarling, no thumps as bodies slammed into one another. The band seemed to be at peace, as I was.
No! The only times they were quiet were—
Master Peter!
I raced.
My love!
They heard me and looked up from their prey—
—which wasn’t Master Peter.
A young female giant, still alive, still zEEned, bleeding but only nibbled so far, smiled at me. “Oooayaagik (honk).” Welcome.
SSahlOO raised his head. “Beautiful mare, we thought you weren’t coming back.”
AAng said, “I missed giant. Nothing else is this tender.” She returned to eating.
They all did, taking turns to keep up the zEEning.
I shouted at the giant. “Wake up! Run!” Even if she didn’t understand Kyrrian, my tone would break the persuasion.
Where was Master Peter? Had they already eaten him?
I didn’t see fresh bones. Master Peter’s wares were scattered. There lay the utensils that were to be my necklace. There lay his rapier.
The giant sat up and brushed away two of the band. AAng bit into her leg and hung on, like a badger with a hedgehog. ShuMM began zEEning again. Her face relaxed. The others resumed feeding.
Now she was really losing blood.
My rage dwarfed anything I’d ever felt.
But my human side intervened. “Meat sticks!” I cried, running to them, waving meat sticks in their faces.
They pushed me off, though SSahlOO made room for me at the belly. The two who’d been swept away by the giant ate again.
I roared, snatched the rapier, and pulled it from its sheath. They’d have to kill me before they killed the giant.
Unless I killed them.
The giant, roused by my bellowing, rose on one elbow.
“Run!” I shouted. If she still could.
AAng first. With a healer’s certainty of where to thrust the sword, I stabbed the base of her skull. She slumped forward.
SSahlOO lifted his head. To lull him, I smiled—and then pierced one of his eyes, which were blue. He fell on his side.
A hand seized my arm and yanked me away. I slashed.
EEnth howled in pain, jumped back, and faced me in a crouch, his side bloody.
They all faced me, the four that were left. ShuMM’s mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear him over my own blaring.
I held out the rapier and waved it from side to side. “Let it go.” It! Her. “The giant. Run, giant!”
As one, the band rushed me. I stabbed. ShuMM groaned. Then they were all on top of me. Someone bit my shoulder. I lost the rapier, but I writhed, wriggled—couldn’t get free. AAng’s toothache wouldn’t save me this time. I hoped the giant had escaped.
Mother and Wormy wouldn’t know what had become of me.