Page 24 of Of Blood and Bone (Chronicles of The One 2)

As he turned toward the stables intending to saddle his horse, he saw the white owl fly out of the woods. Then the girl walked out. And the wolf, the damnable wolf she’d surely spent the night tracking, stopped at the edge before slinking back and away.

The hand on the hilt of his sword, one belted on in haste, went lax with relief. And his temper rose in one hot flood.

“Are you mad or simply stupid? To wander off through the night, without leave. I was about to do a searching spell with hope I wouldn’t find your mangled body. There are predators, girl, on four legs and two, that would find you a tasty meal. You would climb out your window and wander alone through the night?”

“I wasn’t alone. I was with my father.”

“You risk yourself for…” His hearing caught up with temper, as did his vision. Her eyes were heavy, yes, but also dazed and damp. “Your father? Your sire?”

“He said I called him, with my heart, and he came. He came through the thinning veil. We walked in the woods, and talked and talked. I took him to faerie-land, and we talked. I fell asleep for a little while. I wish I hadn’t. Then he had to go.”

“You’ve been given a gift.”

“I know. I’m not really sad.” But tears spilled. “He’s like Dad. Simon. I mean, strong and brave and kind. He said he was glad we had Simon, my mom and me, and my brothers, just like Dad said he was glad Mom and me had Max.”

“You’re a fortunate girl.”

“Are you still really mad?”

While the sorcerer felt considerable awe she’d had the power and will to bring her sire into the living world, the teacher had to be firm.

“You broke my trust, or the trust I believed we had between us.”

“I’m sorry. The wolf hunts at night, and I wanted to track him. I should’ve asked if I could, but I was afraid you’d say no.”

“You’ve slipped out before?”

“Yes. But this time I found Faol Ban. I still need to get him to come to me, but I found him last night before my father came. If I’m to be a warrior, I should be able to go into the woods at night.”

“You’re not a warrior yet, and it’s within my power to bar you from the woods altogether.”

“Oh, but—”

“Did your parents permit you to wander at night, alone?”

Her head drooped. “No. But I’m thirteen now, so—”

Head inclined, Mallick folded his arms. “A great age when you wish it to be, a small one when you don’t.”

With her eyes cast down, he didn’t see calculation come into them. “You gave me the quest. I should’ve told you I needed to track at night, and I’m sorry I didn’t. But I can’t fulfill the quest if I can’t track the wolf.”

“You’re a clever girl,” he muttered.

She kept her head down, but shifted her eyes up. “It’s all true. I am sorry, and you gave me the quest. He took the bread I had in my pocket—not from my hand yet. I know how to make the biscuits our dogs like. I can get him to come to me, let me borrow the collar if I have time.”

Now Mallick calculated. “Mick will go with you.”

“Mick? Why—”

He cut her off with a steely stare. “Mick knows the woods—and better than you. He’s a dead shot with a bow.”

“I don’t need a boy to—”

“His sex is of no consequence. His skill is. And I would be more inclined to let you track at night—two hours only—if you take a companion. Those are my terms.”

“Fine.”

“Your word, here and now, you’ll abide by them.”

“I’ll abide by them. You have my word.”

“Very well. You may sleep for an hour before lessons.”

“I’m not tired, honest. I feel … really good.”

“In that case, take your energy, deal with the chickens and the cow before you make breakfast and bring in more firewood. Later you’ll harvest from the greenhouse what you need to make soup.”

“Why am I doing all the chores?”

“A small punishment for the scope of the crime. We’ll see if you can earn Faol Ban’s trust, and regain mine.”

“Are you still going to teach me to use a sword? I had a vision about the sword—the one on the mantel, and the sword and shield I use to fight.”

“Damnable girl! You wait so long to tell me.”

“You were mad.” And still was, she realized.

“Tell me now.”

“Okay.” She closed her eyes to bring back the words if not the feeling that had coursed through her, and told him.

“I almost felt them in my hands. It’s hard to explain, but I almost felt them. The sword in my right, the shield in my left. I can’t take up that sword until I take up the one on the mantel and learn how to use it.”

“Yes, a clever girl—and yes, no less true for the slyness. Do your chores, and do them well. If I’m satisfied, you’ll take up the sword chosen to teach you.”

When she gave a quick cheer and raced off, Mallick looked toward the heavens. He prayed to all the gods he had the strength to deal with the child and prepare the warrior.

* * *

Despite Mallick’s charm on the blades to prevent them from breaking flesh and drawing blood, Fallon ended her first lesson bruised, aching, and exhilarated.

At dusk she walked out, hard biscuits in her pocket, to meet Mick, who waited at the edge of the woods.

She took her bow and quiver as well. They’d see who was such a dead shot.

“Hey. So did you really find Faol Ban or did you just make it up because Mallick was pissed at you?”

“I don’t make things up. I found him, and I’ll find him again.”

“Maybe. You have to be crazy to go into the woods on Samhain night. You could have spirits walking around, and not all of them friendly. Plus, the faeries like to play tricks.”

“I can take care of myself. You’re only here because Mallick made me. Besides, I met my father last night.”

“The dead one? Are you making that…” He shrugged, ran up a tree and down again. The hawk feather he’d added to his braid fluttered. “You don’t make stuff up, so that’s cool. I’ve never talked to a real spirit. What was it like?”

“It was my father, my sire. It was a gift.”

“My mom died right after I was born. I guess I’d like to talk to her.”

Because she knew the pain and the wondering, she softened a little. “Maybe you will one day.”

“Maybe. Hey, you cut your hair. Why’d you do that?”

“I wanted to.” Or some part of her must have. “It’ll be easier to deal with short. If you keep talking, we’re never going to get anywhere near the wolf.”

Mick snorted. “He can hear us breathe. You won’t find him unless he wants you to. And why would he, since you want to steal his collar?”

“I’m not going to steal it. I’m going to borrow it—with permission.” She felt the shadow of the owl pass over her, and smirked. “I’m not the one who shoots arrows at owl gods to steal their apple.”

Mick shrugged it off, leaped up ten feet to a branch, dived off, flipped, and landed lightly on his feet.

If she had to be stuck with him, Fallon thought, maybe he could teach her to do tricks like that. After she found the wolf.

When the wolf stepped onto the path in front of them, Mick fell into a rare and reverent silence.

Fallon took one of the hard, round biscuits she’d made, crouched down and held it out.

“Wow. He’s really big.”

“Quiet,” Fallon hissed.

“I never thought I’d actually get to see him.”

“Be quiet! Be still.”

“Like he’s going to take that cookie out of your hand. He’s a freaking god.”

“He’s just a boy,” Fallon told Faol Ban. “And he talks too much. I made this for you. A tribute. Can you read me, Faol Ban, as I read you? Can you see my heart, my head? What I am respects and honors what you are.”

 

; She tossed the biscuit. The wolf sniffed it, picked it up in his jaws, and melted away.

“Told you.”

“He took the tribute,” Fallon pointed out. “I don’t expect him to eat from my hand yet. It takes time.”

“Could you read him?”

“A little. Dogs and horses and cats are easier. He’s powerful, and he’s not ready to let me in. It’ll take time,” she repeated.

“You want to track him?”

“No,” she decided. “I think it’s better if I let him find me when he wants to.”

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