by Vance Huxley
* * *
But Edan didn’t calm down or forgive and not only because of the embarrassment. The maids flirting with Hektor were a constant reminder and to top it off, within the moon, an excited Hektor arrived at Billi’s door. “Billi, Billi, look!” When Billi opened the door, Hektor put his hand possessively on the head of a brindled Hound. “This is Dapple and he just walked up to me, out of nowhere, this morning. I showed him to Da and then came to see you. This is the Wild, they were watching when you let me kill the boar. I’m a Hunter, Billi.”
“Yes you are Hektor, congratulations. Come in and have an ale, and let Dapple meet Rabbit.” The little frisson in the song that settled into a steady hum meant the Hound already knew, but Billi thought Hektor needed to sit down anyway before he burst. That took a while, and Hektor’s walk still had a definite bounce as he set off to walk through the Village, the walk any new Hunter made to make sure everyone saw their Hound. Though not everyone celebrated since according to Edan, Dapple should have been his Hound. Edan maintained that as the oldest youth, the kill should have been his, and Billi had robbed him of the chance.
As the weeks rolled on some of the others also said that the Wood Hunt explained why Dapple came to Hektor and not Edan. Most didn’t say exactly the same as Edan; they claimed that Edan’s actions on the hunt showed him up as unfit to be a good Hunter. Edan spoke of taking prey without a Hound while out in the Forest, in sight of the Wild, a truly stupid thing to do.
The Great-Boar’s head kept the story alive. With the skin tanned and fitted, the head went up on the wall of the alehouse, and everyone reckoned the Great-Boar would have given the Great-Wolf some serious competition. They were more certain when the carved bone tusks were put into place. When the first Tinkerers and then a Trader’s caravan came through, the visitors were taken to see the trophy.
Both Billi and Hektor came to the alehouse with their Hounds to show their personal trophies and confirm the story. Their trophies confirmed the size of the Great-Boar and that its original tusks really were the same size as those Syman had carved. Both refused the Traders’ offers for their trophies, Billi because the tusk had become a talisman of some sort to him, of the moment his life changed. Hektor seemed to be well attached to his and the number of maids who wanted to see it, though none charmed the trophy away from the now eligible young man.
While there, Billi found that the whole affair had passed into the Village lore as a tale entitled The Wood Hunt. The elders recited their version to the Traders while Billi listened, and had kept the facts straight, though the way they told the tale emphasised two lessons about how to treat the Forest. Hektor had held his place as the rear-guard and then made a clean kill, and he received a Hound. Edan had been impetuous and disrespectful to the Law in sight of the Wild, and he had no Hound. That made such a good example that the Eldest would no doubt trot the Wood Hunt story out now and then for years to come.
A New Beginning
Adalmar the Carpenter called by Billi’s hut one morning, and sort of hesitated on the doorstep. “I’m feeling a little foolish Billi, and a little bit embarrassed.”
“I can’t think why? Come in Adalmar.” Billi opened the door wider, puzzled because he barely recognised the Carpenter so couldn’t work out why the man might be embarrassed. Adalmar came in and took the chair Billi pointed to, while Billi sat on his bed. He’d need another chair if many more people came visiting, and Adalmar could sort that out. “Now you’re here, I could do with another chair. I’ve not had many visitors before.”
“No, nor did ye come into the Village very often, which is why I never put the two together. I mean your stump and a man I saw in a Trader caravan.” Adalmar shuffled a little uneasily. “I’m sorry Billi, you sort of slipped my mind. The man had a leg missing the same as you, but he had a peg instead.” Adalmar pointed at one of Billi’s crutches. “The thing looked like the bottom part of that, a bit thicker, and he had it fastened to his stump with a leather cup and straps.”
Billi tried to imagine that. “Did that work?”
“Really well. He could stand without any support if he stayed still, and get about with a crutch. Better than get about, he could move at a fair lick with just that one crutch. I should have thought. Then I saw ye about, so here I am. Are you interested?”
Billi didn’t really have to think long, he could see too many advantages of having just one crutch and being able to hold his bow ready to use came top of the list. That and being able to stand and use it without a tree to lean against. “I am, Adalmar, and I thank ye for the thought. Can you make the thing?”
“I believe so, but it’ll take some working out and you’ll have to let me measure your stump and maybe take a cast to make the leather cup?” Adalmar spoke cautiously, because Billi didn’t like anyone seeing his stump. The villagers hadn’t had much to do with Billi in the last eight or nine years, but most remembered how he always tried to hide his stump through school and adolescence.
“For this I don’t mind. I’ll be in to see you tomorrow if that suits?” When Adalmar left Billi sat and thought more about it, but couldn’t quell the rising hope. He wasn’t the only one, Rabbit’s song rang out with an extra happy note. Billi went into the Village as promised and sat while the carpenter measured and drew on the slate to show him, and dunked his stump in clay. After all, what was there to lose? The Carpenter seemed happy to trade the work for meat and hides, and Billi had even more of those now he hunted more often. Billi could even afford the extra chair without dipping into his nest egg, the little silver and occasional gold ingots buried here and there on his land.
The leather straps left sore patches to start with. Billi’s stump hurt even with the padding, and he had to soak it in cold salty water night after night, but eventually the scarred skin toughened. The arrangement still wasn’t easy to use, not least because Billi had trouble reaching the peg end once it was on. Billi had to remember to put the wooden peg into his trews before his real leg as the stick didn’t bend of course, and eventually found the answer. He put the peg into his trews before strapping the leg on. More difficult still, Billi also had to get used to a bit of wood flailing about when he moved his thigh and stump.
For a moon Billi hunted less, because he couldn’t manage the peg out in the Forest so he stayed home as much as possible to practice. Billi fell over, and he knocked mugs and pans over, and he even hit Rabbit a couple of times, but eventually he could stand without his crutches while he cut up meat at the table! He could even take a few careful steps if there was somewhere to grab onto or fall onto, inside the hut. The wooden limb came as a revelation and a release.
By the end of that first moon Billi could manage out in the Wild, and found he could move faster without noise and even manage undergrowth. As he progressed, Billi began to carry a bigger pack, a real Hunter’s pack, and held his bow or spear in one hand while out in the Forest. Billi started to hunt more and bigger prey and the Forest seemed to welcome them. Rabbit loved the extra hunting and his happiness echoed in Billi’s head.
Rabbit would even stand nearby bracing Billi’s peg to help at first, so Billi could concentrate on his bow, and Billi felt certain the song had an extra bright note all the time now. Billi took larger and larger prey with a much bigger pack and the stump became less painful with continual heavier use. The possibilities opened out and Billi ranged further on overnight trips and then two or more nights at a time. Places that had taken two days to reach he could now reach in a day or maybe a day and a half so he pushed further, scratching that curious itch that wanted to see more.
Rabbit knew the difference in the amount Billi could carry. He began to sound that hopeful hunting note in the song for bigger, plumper game, pushing Billi to carry more and more. The Hound seemed to grow, to become stronger, more confident, bouncier with all the additional time out in the green. Perhaps Rabbit didn’t think they were real Hunters before? Billi stayed out on double or even triple overnights more often and found new streams wi
th unwary game. After all, apart from One-shut nobody would even notice him gone. He really began be a true Forest Hunter, not just sneaking around the edges after small prey.
An early summer wood gathering trip went out as far as the stream and this time Billi moved faster. The wood gathering went well and Billi felt relieved since this was the first time he’d worn the peg in public. Everyone seemed interested but pleased he was getting around better and curious about where he’d come up with the idea. Meanwhile the youths were staying a little respectful, treating Billi as a real Hunter, and that still seemed very strange. Except for Edan, and now two of his friends, who still ignored Billi.
The following morning Billi and Rabbit made their first attempt at following the stream back into the Forest. They didn’t reach the end or any heap of stones even though they stayed out three nights. Billi returned to find his goats in the neighbouring field and munching the growing crops. Billi apologised and gave the Farmer some fish and a small hide in compensation, grateful that this Farmer was bonded to Sis so he’d not complain too much.
He didn’t have much to do with his sibs because he always felt embarrassed that he’d let them down and caused them extra work. Billi knew he should have been more help on the farm as a youngster, and brought more meat to the family as a Hunter, so he kept out of their way as much as possible. He replaced the worn strap on the gate that had given way, but three days later his chickens were out. If Billi had stayed away overnight as planned, he would have lost most of them to the little night hunters.
Deciding to return early to empty his pack and top up the feed for his animals was pure good luck. Billi had decided that this overnight method wasn’t working, even with two overnights, and had come home instead. The next time he meant to set out prepared to keep going for a few days so the pair of them could make a real attempt to find the spring or swamp that must be the source of their little stream. Somehow that had turned into a real urge, and Billi thought the bright spark in the song meant Rabbit felt the same curiosity.
But Billi couldn’t work out how the chickens escaped, so he stayed home a couple of days instead and the feathered friends stayed in the pen. Billi hunted closer to home for the next few days but the new strap mysteriously broke by the time he came home one day. The chickens also escaped again, twice, despite Billi checking that they were firmly fastened in before leaving. Rabbit tracked the culprits straight to Canitre’s farm, or to the track leading to the house. Edan and his friends had decided to go beyond talk.
Even if he stayed hidden nearby and caught Edan or his friends causing mischief, what could Billi do? Chase them? Actually Rabbit could, and he’d run them down even with three legs but as a hunting Hound Rabbit would pull down what he chased. Especially since Billi could feel an unhappiness in the song; Rabbit would have been too keen to catch the culprits!
Taking the idiots home slightly chewed wouldn’t help matters though that briefly tempted Billi. A chewed Edan would just cause more trouble. From the glare she gave him the last time they’d crossed paths in the Village, Edan’s Ma now seemed to be in the camp that blamed him for her son’s misfortune. Billi and Rabbit enjoyed their new freedom, and didn’t want to be tied to one-day trips again but if Edan kept this up and couldn’t be chewed, that presented Billi with a bit of a dilemma. A bit of thought and a long talk to three bright eyes provided an answer, Billi needed a housekeeper.
He had a good idea who to ask as well, someone who might want to practice housekeeping and earn a little extra. Bliss looked to be making a determined run at Hektor, and despite her being the Tanner’s daughter and not having much of a brideshare he wasn’t running away fast enough to mean it. Better yet, Viktor had a large family with plenty of potential hut guards even if Hektor and Bliss caught each other. Billi set off with his latest collection of hides that needed tanning before he had second thoughts. While he discussed the curing of his hides Billi brought the subject up. “Viktor, I’ve got a problem with my chickens.”
“Yes, I know. Somebody thinks he’s funny. I’ve had to tell my pair, Perry and Timath, that thumping him won’t fix it.” Viktor grinned. “They enjoyed the pork and are taking it personally.” Then he eyed up Billi’s arms. “Maybe you should thump him?”
“I’m a lot older and bigger than Edan so it isn’t worth the uproar and mud-throwing that would follow. Though I’ve maybe come up with a solution? It’s up to you, and Bliss.”
“Bliss? She’s not big enough to thump Edan or she might have.” Viktor kept smiling, but now looked intrigued as well. “So how can she fix him?”
“By spending the days keeping an eye on my chickens while I’m out in the Forest? Maybe she can weed the garden and such, and I can let her have some meat or fish depending on what I’ve taken. I could let her have a few stones if she prefers, since she collected some from that stream?” Billi waited while Viktor thought about it.
Viktor nodded, slowly. “She’ll probably do it to get out of the house, since it’s a bit crowded in here with Ellibeth back home. It will just be while you’re in the Forest?”
“Oh yes. If possible I’d like her to stop overnight sometimes but I’ll warn her first. I can’t move fast so it takes me two days at least for a proper hunt.” Billi sighed. “With this new peg I fancy going further.”
“But you can’t because of Edan. He just won’t let it go and he’s found a few who are encouraging the idiot.” Victor waved behind him. “His Da and big Bro are Hunters, and I’ve got a house full and no Hunter but that’s how it works. No point worrying about it.”
“In that case a bit of extra meat will come in handy?” Billi liked Viktor and would be pleased to help him out. The Tanner had always treated him fairly when Billi needed his pelts or hides prepared, even before the Great-boar, and Viktor was one of the few people who didn’t seem to notice Billi’s missing leg.
“Hah, it isn’t me that needs convincing. Bliss has her own mind, though I appreciate you asking me first, Billi.” Viktor turned towards the rear of his workshop. “I’ll get her now so she knows I know, if you see what I mean.”
“Thank you Viktor.”
* * *
Two days later as arranged Bliss turned up with a little bundle of food. Billi showed her the food for the goats and chickens, and One-shut if he complained too much. “One-shut usually catches his own, but sometimes the rats are shy. That food for yourself, it’s not really necessary.”
“I thought I’d be stopping over?” Bliss looked puzzled.
“It’s easier to show you. Here, if you can lift the hatch.”
“Why is there a hatch in your garden shed, Billi?” Bliss bent and heaved, and it came up. “With steps?”
“This is a cold store.”
Bliss laughed. “Put anything outside in winter and it will freeze anyway.”
“But down here you’ll see it lasts a lot longer. There’s still ice down here because I pack it in winter. Then this place is chilled most of the year, and cool even when the ice is gone.” Billi gestured. “If you go down you’ll see.”
Bliss stared round the stone lined room at the bottom of the steps. Billi’s sibs had dug a proper cold room for him, deep and tightly walled. “That really is ice, and frozen meat.”
“Yes, and there’s salted and dried and smoked meat here, and a few beets. There’s dried and smoked fish over there for a change. As you can see, unless you’ve got the appetite of a Great Hunter you won’t make a lot of impression.” Billi waited, because Bliss wasn’t answering.
Eventually she stopped looking around. “Where’s the flour, and herbs and taters and such?”
“Ah, well, I’m a really bad baker so I stick to meat and fruit. There’s a few taters here, and there’s some fruit at the back there. I usually get fruit from the Forest so maybe it isn’t what you’re used to. The wild plums and berries and apples are usually a bit smaller but I like the taste.” They were also free since Billi wandered past the trees and bushes while hunting. Billi looked in
his belt purse. “There’s a couple of silvers here if you need to get flour and things to eat properly.”
Bliss laughed. “Eat properly? The reason for the flour and taters and roots is to make the meat go further. The herbs are to make a bit of scraggy meat taste better. Though with a bit of flour I could make some pies with some of this if you wanted a change?” Bliss looked around the room again. “I’ve never seen this much meat all in one place. If you bought a bit more salt you could sell the surplus to the villagers in winter or summer. We prefer it to dried, or smoked unless it’s done right.” She laughed. “We don’t have cold rooms in the Village, or not that I know of.”
Billi stared. Five minutes and she was starting to organise him, though Bliss might be right. He felt the humour from Rabbit. They’d better get out before the pair of them were organised and dusted and polished as well. One-shut would get a shock, and so would Hektor if Bliss caught him. Billi picked up his pack and headed for the Forest still smiling. Rabbit’s happiness might be that, or just being out in the green again.
* * *
Billi stayed out overnight, and then spent a day at home, then went out just for the day. This time Bliss met him at the door looking worried. “I heard noises outside, in your garden. Voices. I shouted and then they were quiet.”
Billi looked around, relieved that the chickens and goats were still safely shut in. “Did you see anyone?” He looked at the small, thick glass pane in the door. “Not that you’d see much through that.”
“No. I went outside after a little while but couldn’t see anybody about. The catch on the goat pen had been undone but the gate stayed closed so I put the loop back over to keep it shut.” Bliss looked more annoyed than frightened now. “It was Edan again, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, or at least I think so.” Billi sighed. “I’m sorry Bliss, I’ll just have to find another way. We can’t risk you being alone if he’s bringing friends.”
