He paused at the table, his shoulders tense. “That is very kind,” he said, his voice low.
Aloisia stood, looking to the door. “I should get moving. My sisters leave soon, and Divines help me if I’m not with them. Make yourself at home here.” She gestured to the room, heading to the door.
Inari inclined his head, his auburn locks shielding his face. “I shall await your return.”
She gave a smile and ducked out into the warm afternoon air, racing towards the stables where the other huntresses were preparing.
TWENTY ONE
Withadeerslungacrosshermare,Aloisiareturnedfromthehunt,gratefulforalesseventfulday’swork.Shewasn’tsurehernervescouldhavesurvivedanotherbearattack,giventheearlierchasewiththecreatures.
Along the treeline of the Dead Woods, several guards paced. The Father’s Guild had received their message and taken it seriously, then. At least it provided another barrier of defence for the town. Each of them wore a horn upon their belts, a warning signal should anything emerge from the trees. She hoped this was a sign the judiciaries were now taking the threat the Forgotten Gods posed more gravely.
The sun was setting as she brought her mare to the stables, throwing the deer over her shoulder as the stable hands took the horse away. She looked at her home and spotted Inari perched on a stool outside it. His back rested against the wall and his attention was on the blade in his hand as he whittled a shard of wood. He glanced up at their footsteps, considering the huntresses – laden with their kills – with an amused expression.
Aloisia hung up the deer at the storehouse before heading back to her home. Given the late hour, the blessing would have to be in the morning. She glimpsed at the Dead Woods, wondering if Inari intended to return tonight. The thought of the Forgotten Gods still roaming between the trees, their grotesque forms taking even more horrifying shapes as they grew in power, sent a shudder through her. The shaman’s fingers stilled as she approached, a tiny half-formed wooden owl taking shape in the wood he’d been carving.
“You carried the poor creature like it weighed nothing,” Inari remarked.
Aloisia shrugged. “After a while, you get used to the weight.”
“The life of a huntress, eh?”
“That it is.” She pointed to the carving. “Why the owl?”
Inari held up the carving. “An owl is to the night what a hawk is to the day. Spiritual guides, messengers of change, bearers of wisdom. I would make these kinds of totems, engrave runes upon them, as protective charms for my people. Owls and hawks were the most popular of them, of course. I got pretty good at carving them.”
“Fascinating. I wonder if your people miss your carvings.” Aloisia watched his expression at her words, hoping she could coax only a little more information from him.
A shadow fell across his face as he turned his gaze downwards, though a hint of a frown was still visible atop his brow. “I would not think so.”
“Why not?”
Inari let out a long-suffering sigh. “You are determined, I will give you that.” He lifted his head, and his lips quirked up into a smile. “But I will bet I am far more stubborn than you are,ro suda.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.” Aloisia leant against the doorframe, looking out at the waning light as the sun retreated below the horizon. “Do you intend to return home now?”
“What else would I do? I cannot stay here whittling wood forever.”
“Has it been a sufficient amount of time? What if the Forgotten Gods are at your hut?”
“I suppose I will have to deal with it as and when it happens.”
“Maybe it would be better to return come morning?”
“I have an important meeting come morning.” He raised a brow.
“You could always stay here, at the guild. And then, when we head up into town for the blessing for our hunt, you can come with us. After all, you’ve never been up to Littlewatch. We can show you the way to Magistrate Vester’s estate.”
“You are making sense, little wolf. It would be practical.”
“Then we’re agreed. We don’t have any spare beds, but there are log benches and plenty of furs.”
“I’ve slept in worse conditions.”
Aloisia looked up as Kaja bounded to them.
“They’re serving up dinner in the hall, if you guys want to join us.” Kaja grinned.
