Page 97 of Moon Craving

be dead.

"They are challenging you?" Abigail asked in confusion. "They don't respect the

wishes of their king?"

"Aye."

"I see." She looked at the young Donegals, measuring each one with her soft

brown gaze. Then she shook her head. "Brave, but foolish."

Her words so closely reflected his own thoughts that Talorc found his lips almost

curving into a smile before he caught himself.

Showing his first bit of wisdom so far, the Chrechte boy remained silent in the face

of Abigail's observation. His compatriots looked like they were already questioning the

intelligence of their actions, but none of them appeared ready to back down.

Again, he could respect that.

"Are you going to accept the challenge?" his wife asked after a moment of silence.

"Yes."

Five of the six young soldiers flinched, but the bold Chrechte youth merely looked

more determined.

Abigail crossed her arms and nodded. "Good."

"You approve?" he asked in shock.

He would have thought his gentle wife too compassionate to commend behavior

so far from her civilized world.

"It is obvious these young men's honor demands you win the land."

He nodded, still bemused by his wife's easy acceptance, not to mention her insight

into the ways of their people.

"Besides, you will not kill him." She did not make it a question.

"I won't?"

She just looked at him.

It bothered him that she seemed able to read his intentions so clearly, but she was

right. He would not make the cost of bravery for these young soldiers be their lives.

Before he could say anything else, the hunting party returned. Though he did not

know where they had been. The fragrance of roasting meat told him they had been back