No time to run. Nowhere to go. She was penned in by the trees and the frantic horses, straining at their tethers.
Then Casrian was there, snarling at her to get back. With his teeth bared and blood running down his sword, he was almost as terrifying as the bear.
The bear charged.
Casrian stepped forward to meet it, his sword swinging in a wide arc. He hit its wounded neck and jumped aside, barely avoiding another swipe from that clawed paw.
The bear came to a great, crashing halt, seeming to trip over its front paws as it went down. It tried to stand, though itsmovements were sluggish. It shook its head and made a pitiful sound of pain that almost made her feel sorry for it.
Casrian backed away slowly. When he reached her, he bent down just enough to grab her by the arm and haul her to her feet. He didn’t look at her. Just gave her a push toward the horses.
“I’ll finish it. Stand guard. Watch for more.”
More?Bears didn’t roam in packs. Why would there be more?
It didn’t seem like a good time to ask.
She pulled another arrow from her quiver, nocked it, and stared into the tree line, hoping to God she didn’t see anything. Her whole body began to shake, starting with tiny tremors that grew the longer she stood there.
Eventually, Casrian judged it safe enough to approach. There was a wet, crunching noise and then silence, except for her breath sawing in and out.
A moment later, Casrian stood beside her. He touched her arm. “Are you all right?”
She didn’t know how to answer that.
It was a bear. Just a bear. It wasn’t the witch or one of her familiars. It wasn’t whatever had made those gouges on his chest. She didn’t know why she was still shaking.
Casrian took the bow from her. She let it slide from her hands.
“It’s done,” he said calmly, like they were talking about a rain shower. “There’s nothing else moving out there. You’re safe.”
“Why would a bear attack us here? They usually leave people alone. They hardly ever come down from the mountains and never so close to Toam.”
Her gaze slid over to the mound of dead bear and jerked back to his face. His hand gentle on her arm, he turned her away, drawing her toward the horses. “The bear is a sign we’ve entered the circle of the witch’s influence.”
“Are you saying that the witch sent a bear after us?”
“Not directly, no. A witch corrupts everything around her. Even the most peaceful animals can turn aggressive. Solitary animals hunt in packs. Night animals hunt during the day and day animals wander the night. It means we’re on the right course. Getting nearer to the witch. It’s a good thing.”
She didn’t think this was a good thing.
“What—?”
He shook his head. “Move now. Questions later. I’ll take care of the bear. You calm the horses.”
She took a step, and her leg nearly buckled. He caught her.
“You said you weren’t hurt,” he said with an accusing frown.
“I fell on my hip. It’s fine.”
His hands were already moving down her leg. When his fingers brushed over her thigh, she flinched. He crouched in front of her, reaching for the ties of her breeches.
She pushed him away. “What are you doing? I told you it’s fine.”
He rocked back on his heels and looked up at her. “It’s clearly not fine.”
“My legs were already sore. It’s just a bruise.”
