Free Bookweird by Paul Glennon Page B

and watched the young animal talking with his father. The boy was almost fully healed now, and Norman expected that he was trying to convince his father that he was strong enough to play his part in the next day’s fight. As he watched them, he thought of how similar father and son were, both so fearless, both so sure of themselves. He wished that he felt half as confident. As he watched and considered, both father and son turned suddenly toward him. There was a distinct look of surprise on the older stoat’s face. Norman had theimpression that they had been talking about him. Uncomfortable with the thought and with the intensity of their sharp weasel eyes, Norman looked away.
    Duncan came to Norman just after nightfall. He looked preoccupied, as if he had been wrestling with a decision and still wasn’t sure what he’d decided. He stood by Norman for a minute before finally speaking.
    â€œCan you read a map, lad?” he asked finally. He spoke in a subdued voice that was far from his normal commanding tone.
    Norman nodded. Again the stoat was silent for a few moments before asking, “Is it true what the boy says, that you’re only a kit, not even a juvenile?”
    Norman wasn’t sure how to answer. Duncan knew he was not an adult. He had told him his age when they met, but perhaps years meant something different to stoats and other animals.
    â€œIt’s true that I’m not fully grown. I’m still a kid to my kind. I really shouldn’t be away from home alone.”
    Duncan rubbed his sleek head as if trying to fathom this. “And so why are you out of the nest, then?”
    Norman really didn’t know what to say. “I’m trying to get back home, but I got lost.”
    â€œWell lost too, I imagine. There’s none of your kind in these parts. Likely home is beyond one of the barriers—sea, snow or desert.”
    If this was a question, Norman ignored it. He merely said, “Yes.”
    The stoat’s muzzle twitched, as if he was chewing on food as well as on a problem. “So a map would help, I imagine.”
    Norman found himself anxious to ease the animal’s obvious discomfort with this conversation. “It might, yes—a map would help.”
    Duncan thought for yet another moment then appeared to suddenly make up his mind. “You might as well have this, then.” He drew a piece of folded parchment from his cloak and held it out to Norman. Norman took it tentatively. “There are no giant lands on this chart, but perhaps this will give you some idea how to get back to your own folk.”
    Norman opened the parchment and peered at it intently. It was a very good map of this corner of Undergrowth.
    â€œI’d take you with us, lad, but you’d sink one of our boats.” There was real regret in his voice.
    Norman was about to say that he could swim or walk beside the river, but he’d just found their location on the map. Duncan leapt beside him onto the log. The stoat pointed out Scalded Rock on the map with a short dagger. “We’ll commandeer the mine’s boats here tomorrow and head back toward Rivernest.” His sword followed the snaking dark line of a river into the mountains. “Here the river goes straight through the mountains. There’s hardly any daylight to be had through that gorge.”
    â€œThe gap,” Norman murmured, remembering what he’d heard whispered through a log the night before.
    â€œAye. The water tunnels right through the rock. Even if you could follow that far, you’d never squeeze through that channel.”
    Norman could see that this was true.
    â€œBut if you should not find your way home, the boy would be glad to see you again. When Lochwarren is ours again, you’re welcome there. I dare say we could manage some accommodation. It’ll be a few months yet, but if you see the red flag and my black ensign in the highland towers again, you’ll