Part 11 (1/2)
”What have the trackers found?” he asked
Willians to the northeast, Your Grace Elk and deer, and a sow bear with a cub”
The duke finished chewing on a quarter hen, and tossed the bones aside William was thankful the s at the table had been one his rown up with an aversion to having dogs under the table The servants would remove the bones before the duke retired ”Won't take a sow bear until the cub is weaned Depletes the gaet out on their own What else?”
”Maybe a big cat,” answered William
At that the duke seemed pleased ”Can your trackers tell what kind?”
Williaars They're bold and think nothing of coht to make free with sheep or chickens”
”I know the cat,” interrupted the duke ”Wily, but other than that, not e once you have them treed What else?”
”Soh we al males without a pride, usually”
”Good trophy aniet leopards”
”Now there's worthy game,” said the duke ”If one's in a tree above you, that's where he wants to be”
”Perhaps by ence”
The balance of the meal went by slowly, as the duke and his son spoke of past hunts, reliving each triu absently into the distance or atte to flirt with William, who responded politely to her banter Prince Vladic seehts
When the dishes had been removed by the servants, Willia his need to oversee the disposition of the camp The duke nodded and waved hieant Matthews and asked, ”How stand things?”
”Quiet, sir,” answered the sergeant
”I' in Wakea watch, sir?” asked Matthews in a neutral voice
Williaeeants get a halfway decent night's sleep on the march,” he answered, as if this wasn't his first couardsman wake me”
”Sir,” said Matthews as Williaroundcloth and covers He knew the sergeant was just as likely to ignore the coe ithout a hitch Still, as with sending out fruit and ale for the trail-weary soldiers, the gesture would be appreciated
Willia under McWirth, for he had slept enough upon the ground atop a thin quilted mat, with a heavy woolen blanket over him, that once he lay down he was quickly asleep
William's eyes opened and he ithout hesitation and halfway standing before he realized what had wakened hi Then he knehat it was The horses were disturbed to the point at which hisIn anotherHe hurried to where the horses where staked out They were all standing quietly, heads erect, ears twitching, nostrils flared as they tested the air
Willia with horses Their minds were odd, divided
What is it? William said with his mind to the nearest horse
Hunter! ca silently through the forest nearby ca silently through the forest nearby Slanced upwind in the direction from which a scent would come Man? Man? he asked he asked
The response was confusing Soree while others sent i, sir?” asked Matthews at William's shoulder
”I don't know,” he answered quietly ”Soot the horses spooked”
”Maybe a wolfpack hunting?”
Rather than share his unusual ability with the sergeant, Williah that the horses are-”
Before he could finish the thought, the horses started whinnying and trying to pull up the stakes
Matthews cried out, ”Alarm! Ware the ca and dark seeround, but it was past him before he realized it was not a bird of any sort, but a swift four-legged creature It bounded into darkness next to trees on the edge of the caainst the caht
”damn me!” said Matthews ”It's a black leopard!”
Men were scra for weapons and the Duke of Olasko and his son came from their tents, weapons at the ready By the ti cat had already reached the duke
'That's a bold kitty, what?” said the duke with a grin ”Nice of hilanced around and asked, ”What of the clock?”
Williaeant, who answered, ”Three hours to sunrise, Your Grace”
”Good,” said the duke ”Let's eat and then at dawn let's track that big bastard”
William said, ”Yes, Your Grace”
The duke returned to his tent and Willia meal prepared early He had no doubt that by the time the sun crested the eastern peaks they would be at least an hour along the trail of that cat
As the cae of the woods, trying to peer into the gloorew in volu that, somewhere nearby, that leopard watched
The duke returned a fewhis hands in anticipation ”Let's eat, to strengthen us for the day to come, lieutenant”
”Yes, Your Grace,” said Willia his eyes away from the murky woods