The Pillars Of The World

cottage near the sea.” When he still hesitated, she snapped, “Why is this so difficult? You like catching rabbits. You’ve said so.”
    “That’s the witch’s cottage,” Falco said carefully. “The one the Lightbringer warned me to stay away from.”
    “And now, I, the Huntress, am giving you a new command.”
    “Why?” Falco asked, sounding a little frightened. “If I’m going to have his wrath come down on me, at least tell me why.”
    Dianna winced. She had hoped she wouldn’t have to reveal that much. “I gave her a puppy.”
    “You—” Falco’s mouth fell open. “You gave the witch a shadow hound?”
    “It was one of the mongrels, of no value to us,” Dianna said testily. “Not really a shadow hound at all.”
    “But—”
    Chaining her own agitated feelings, Dianna rested her hands on Falco’s shoulders, as much to give comfort as to keep him from bolting—possibly straight to Lucian.
    “Falco, Aiden feels certain that the witches are involved in some way with what’s happening to Tir Alainn. This one is young, and not against us.” At least, she hoped not. “If we are her friends, she won’t want to do us harm. She might even be able to help us understand what is happening, might even be able to help us stop it. The puppy needs to be fed, so she needs the extra meat.” She studied his eyes and realized Lucian’s temper wasn’t the only reason he was wary of approaching the cottage. “You don’t have to stay. Just leave the rabbit where it can be found easily.”
    “All right.” He stepped back, bowed to indicate this was a formal discussion, then quickly walked away.
    “Falco!” Dianna called before he turned a corner. “It might be best not to mention this to anyone for the time being.”
     
    He gave her a measuring look, the same look she imagined was in a man’s eyes when he was ordered into a battle he knew he couldn’t win.
    “Huntress, there is no one I want to mention this to.”
     
    * * *
     
    Yap. Yap yap yap. Ari looked at the cow shed guiltily. She’d never had a puppy before, but it had only taken a few minutes to convince her that puppies and young gardens weren’t a good match. Since she didn’t want to let him out on his own until he got used to his new home, she’d spent a few minutes running around the meadow with him to tire him out, then put him in the cow shed with a pan of fresh water. She’d have to ask Neall if he had any ideas about how to teach a puppy not to squat in the house.
    Yap. Yap yap yap.
    A couple more chores, then she’d let him out and find something for both of them to eat for the midday
    —
    “AAIIIEEEEE!”
    Ari raced to the cow shed, pulled open the door, and just stood there, not certain if the puppy or the small man clinging to the top rail of the stall would be more offended if she laughed.
    “Don’t just stand there!” the small man shouted. “Get an ax and defend yourself!”
    Oh dear.
    Ari grabbed the puppy and held the indignant bundle of fur close. For something so small and young, he was certainly a fierce little creature.
    “It’s all right,” Ari said.
    Yap yap. Grrr.
    “All right?” the small man shrieked. “I come in here to get a bit of rest and find this hulking great beast ready to tear off my limbs, and you think it’s all right?”
    “Hush!” Ari said to the puppy.
    After one more yap , the puppy hushed. The small man glared.
    “He’s just a puppy,” Ari said soothingly. “You probably startled him as much as he startled you.”
    “Not likely since he’s got a meaner set of teeth.”
    “He’s a puppy.”
    The small man made himself more comfortable on the top rail. “Puppy,” he said ominously. “You mean to say that hulking beast is going to get bigger ? How much bigger?”
    “I don’t know. But he’s bound to get a little bigger than he is now.”

    The small man looked at the puppy. His eyes narrowed. “A stray you found in the woods, was he?”
    “No, a ... friend . . . gave him to me.”
    “Friend.”
    “Yes, she—” Startled by a hawk’s cry, Ari turned toward the door. She heard the small man scramble down the stall rails, felt him brush against her legs as he cautiously peered out of the door.
    “You’ve got company,” he said in an odd voice.
    A hawk stood on the chopping block, a rabbit held securely in one taloned foot. He watched them in a way that made Ari uneasy.
    “Do you suppose some of the gentry are out hunting, and one of their hawks strayed