Page 170 of Wind Rider

Thaddeus followed him. Ralina and Renard went to the rise in the path from which Death had made the call, and waited there with a clear view of the valley below.

“It’s a doe,” Ralina said.

Renard nodded. “And it’s coming to Him.”

“I know I can’t, but I want to shout or scream and warn her off,” Ralina said, more to herself than Renard.

“I understand completely. Every night I want to sneak away from this terrible nightmare journey,” he said.

“You should,” Ralina said, though even the thought of not having the comfort of Renard’s arms and the kindness of his father to count on to balance the cruelty of Death and His minions made her feel sick and light-headed with despair. “If I could force Bear to go with you I would send him away to safety.”

Renard turned the Storyteller so that she looked into his eyes. “I would not leave you to face Death alone any more than your Bear would.”

“You should,” Ralina repeated. “Especially now that we’re in the mountains. You, Kong, and your father could slip away at dusk one night. I would cover for you so you could put hours between you and the Hunters that might come after you. I’d tell Death that we quarreled and that I became tired of you. He may not send anyone after you at all. You and Daniel would be free. You could—”

“No,” Renard stopped her words. “We will not leave you.Iwill not leave you.”

“But we’re heading into a war, and I may never find a way to defeat Death,” Ralina said miserably.

“Then I will stay with you to the end. But I believe in you. You’re closer than anyone to that God. You’ll find His weakness and use it to send Him back to wherever He slept for centuries.”

Ralina stepped into his strong arms, letting Renard comfort her.

“Storyteller!”the God shouted.

Ralina moved out of Renard’s arms instantly.

“You must get closer,” Death commanded from the valley below.

“I hate this. I hate it so much,” said Ralina as they hurried down the path to join Death and Thaddeus in the valley.

“Think of it as information—that’s all,” Renard said. “The more you learn about Death, the more you learn about how to defeat Him. So, whatever new horror He shows you today, do not dwell on the horror itself, but what it teaches you about the God.”

“It’s just information,” Ralina said firmly.

“It’s just information,” Renard repeated like a prayer.

They joined Death and Thaddeus in the middle of the valley as the animal the God had summoned trotted fearlessly up to Him. She was an exquisite doe. Her body was covered with thick, brownish gray fur that lightened as it reached her delicate cloven hooves. Her tail and underbelly were shockingly white. Her eyes were huge and brown, and fixed in a glassy stare as she stretched out her black muzzle to sniff the God, as if He’d cast a spell over her.

“You are quite a beauty,” Death murmured softly to the doe, stroking her forehead gently. “Thank you for coming when I called. I shall not forget your noble sacrifice to your God. When I awaken my Goddess we shall erect a shrine to you and I will command candles to always burn at your feet.”

The doe rubbed her head against the God and He laughed like a child—a sound that had Ralina trembling with fearful anticipation.

Renard held tightly to her hand.

It’s just information… It’s just information… It’s just information…

“Come, sweet one. Give yourself to me,” said the God.

With gentle, guileless eyes fixed and staring at the God, the doe stretched out her neck.

In a movement so swift that Ralina didn’t even have time to startle, Death drew the blade of the knife across the doe’s throat, slicing her from ear to ear. The doe staggered and then fell to her knees. The God dropped to His knees with her, cradling her head in His lap as her blood bathed Him in scarlet. He held her like that until the light began to flicker fromher sightless eyes, and as life was extinguished from the doe, the God of Death bent and kissed the doe’s forehead.

“Now, come to me. I command it!”

A white mist immediately swirled from the gaping wound on the doe’s neck. As the river of blood slowed, the mist increased.

Death stood, holding out His arms as if He welcomed a lover.