The Hob's Bargain

looked into his eyes.
    â€œBerserker” they had called him, both the hob and the raider, but I hadn’t thought about what it meant. The man who stood before me had nothing human left in his eyes. I’d thought that a berserker’s face would be twisted with rage, but Kith’s expression was mild. I had no doubt, though, that he intended to kill me.
    Remembering a trick Albrin had taught me when we were trying to catch a horse someone had brutalized, I collapsed to the ground, ignoring the pain from my knee. My position had made it clear to that mare that I was no threat; I didn’t know what it would mean to a man—easy prey, perhaps. I dropped my eyes from his and sang some stupid children’s song, just as I had to the mare.
    I’d never been so frightened in my life, not even in the cellar the day the raiders came. It wasn’t just my death I was afraid of, but of what it would do to Kith if he killed me. I finished one song and started another.
    â€œAren?” he asked, sounding bewildered.
    Some instinct kept my eyes away from him. “Yes, Kith. It’s all right now. Most of them are gone. It’s time to go home.”
    â€œMy father,” he said. “He’s in the cairn. I…bandaged him, but—”
    â€œHe’s alive?” Forgetting my caution, I pushed myself to my feet, swearing as I twisted my knee again. “Plague it, Kith, help me get down there.”
    When he extended his arm, bloody knife and all, I grabbed it firmly for support and started down the slope. If an angry dog knows you’re afraid, it will attack.
    â€œWe’ve got to get him out of here. Do you have a mount?” I asked in my best bossy Melly voice.
    â€œYes.” His voice was slurred.
    â€œWell, go get it,” I snapped, letting go of his arm. The cairn was only a few steps away. Kith seemed a little dazed, and I hoped the task would give him time to return to himself.
    When he was gone, I ducked inside the cairn. Albrin lay wrapped tightly in a cloak, though it was too dark to tell much more about his condition than that he was still breathing. He didn’t feel feverish, but it was too early for that to be a sign one way or the other.
    â€œAren, girl?” he said, blinking a bit.
    I rested my hand against his cheek for a moment. “Yes?”
    â€œSorry about…about—”
    â€œIt’s all right. I know.” I had to stop the terrible effort of his speech. “I understand. When I found out what had been done to Kith, I was angry, too.”
    â€œThey…Kith…” The old man’s voice faded. Funny, I’d never thought of him as old before—but he must be at least Merewich’s age.
    â€œShh,” I soothed him. “I know, sir. He’s fine—I sent him off to get his horse. We’ve got to get you to the inn.” I thought of the hob, and wished I’d brought him with me. He’d helped when Duck had been hurt.
    â€œMy horses,” he said, “they wanted my horses.”
    â€œShh. Rest, sir. The horses are safe.” The hob said he’d see they returned. I touched Albrin’s shoulder and left it there. It seemed to give him some peace, and comforted me as well. I fell into a light doze.
    There was a spirit here, the thought came to me, a half-dream. It wasn’t one to frighten small children—a guardian. It brushed against me, lifting my hair away from my brow, then settled in to wait with me. It knew about waiting.
    I was too tired to do anything more than accept it, as I’d begun to accept the strange things that were happening to change the world into this new, bewildering place filled with hillgrims, sprites, and hobs. At last I heard the sounds of leather harness and hooves. I peered cautiously out of the entrance, and stepped out when I saw it was Kith.
    â€œHow is he?” he asked. This time it was he who wasn’t meeting my eyes.
    He was ashamed I had seen him as he had been earlier.
    â€œHe was conscious for a bit, he’s resting now. I’m no healer, but he doesn’t have the look of someone on the brink of death.” This was difficult—I didn’t want to hurt him. He was vulnerable now, and more tired than I was.
    â€œKith, you’re not a monster.” He looked up then, but I continued before he could speak. “Danci’s breaking her heart over you—and you, you’re in worse shape than she