Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Back more prominently bent, eyes further downcast, he returned to where he’d been standing. There he waited for the next blow.
Instead, he heard a grunt and felt breath dust down on him.
The basajaun turned and strode away. The presences in the trees drifted away also. They’d gotten what they wished to see. He’d passed the test.
He rolled his shoulders and turned back toward the others.
“Right so.” Niamh started forward. “Another patch of clover, then?”
TWENTY-ONE
The afternoon waned as I sat on a rock with what I knew was a goofy smile.
“You almost had that one!” I yelled in encouragement.
The great polar bear head turned my way, and though his animal face wasn’t capable of human expression, I didn’t need the bonds to tell me he was not amused.
Austin stood with three paws immersed in the fast-moving stream. Water gurgled around him, washing halfway up to his knees. The last paw was poised above the sparkling surface.
He looked back down, seeking out trout or whatever other fish lived in these regions. Then he paused, utterly still. In a moment, he swung his paw down. Water splashed to the side and across his chest. His paw arced before reemerging. No fish flew from the stream.
He turned in the stream, splashing water everywhere, and pounced. His two big paws sloshed into the water, and his head dipped. He pulled it back out and shook the water off. No fish.
“You can’t let the wolves show you up,” I said, switching tactics. “They got that big buck in no time. If you can’t get a fish, we’ll have to go find some berries in disgrace.”
He huffed, resuming his original position.
The sun filtered through the trees reaching high above, dappling his snowy-white coat. The light danced on top of the water and shone on the wet rocks all around him. The massive beast looked both out of place and completely at home.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment, centering myself in this beautiful place. I loved it here. The soft chirping of birds and the gentle sway of branches overhead calmed my gargoyle in a way only Austin usually could.
Letting my eyes drift open, I caught his swinging paw just in time for it to hit the water. The water splashed as before, but this time, a fish with colorful scales—a rainbow trout—flew with it. The prize hit the bank and flopped high before turning and landing on its other side.
“Oh, quick, get it before it gets back into the water,” I screeched, pointing in excitement.
He was already moving, pouncing onto the bank and capturing the fish. He grabbed the fish’s head in his great maw and crunched down, putting it out of its misery.
“Yay!” I clapped in excitement.
He pulled back his head, still looking down at it to make sure it was really dead. The assessment complete, he returned to the water and resumed his pose.
“One down. The wolves better look out,” I said, and then laughed when he gave me that dead stare again.
Minutes dragged by, pulling a couple of hours behind them. I only moved from my spot to cross the stream and organize the growing pile of fish as my mate continued frolicking in the water.
“Now you’ve got the hang of it,” I said as he pawed out another fish, the tenth in the pile.
A wave of warning pounded inside me, intensifying that horrible hum. It ripped me out of the serene moment. I took a deep breath and palmed my chest.
The mages were definitely on the move, and they were getting closer. I could feel their vicious intent through the spell now. My gargoyle pulsed magic, gripping the bonds I shared with my crew and also those I’d connected with.
Soon, it would be time to battle. To flex my magic.
“Are you okay?”
“Hah!” I struck out with my hand in a cartoon-like karate chop that did no one any favors.
A young basandere stood fifteen feet away just off the bank in the trees. A loud warning rumbled through the polar bear’s chest as he turned in the water. He lowered his head, his gaze acute on the new addition.
The basandere’s eyes flickered back and forth between us. “I mean you no harm,” she said quickly.
“I know.” I put my hand out for Austin. “You just startled me, is all. Which startled him. I’m supposed to have my magic feeling around me for other people, but…” I shrugged, leaning my hands back onto the large rock and pointing my face toward the sun. “It’s so lovely here that I forget about the danger.”
The basandere reached down, pulling a large bucket around to her front. “You aren’t in danger here. Animals know better than to attack our homestead. Even if they didn’t, your alpha mate would keep them back. He’s very protective of you.”