[Arry]

Wulfham

What a curious breed are human females! He found Incana’s reaction to his offer of comfort disquieting. She’d held his hand and thanked him, then turned from him with an embarrassed smile and walked away. Now, Brand had older sisters, but none of them were in the least shy or perhaps the word, ‘delicate’, would be closer to the point. And Incana seemed delicate, like a flower almost. He shook his head wondering what he should do, if anything. And decided in the end just to catch up to her.

Not too far away, he could see Vaenosa exerting some effort to haul an animal into camp. ‘Now what’s she got there?’ he asked, pointing to the largish animal that lay on the ground in front of her as she stopped to talk to Dorran. ‘We’d better go see,’ he said to Incana, giving her a quick smile. ‘Looks to me she might need help skinning it out.’

When they got closer, Brand could see the displeasure with which Dorran listened to Vaenosa as she spoke to him. Taking a deep breath, he simply shrugged it off.

His eyes went appraisingly to the boar. It was a large one and would give them much meat for the days ahead. He drew his knife and wiping the blade on his trousers' leg he went over to it and began to peel back the skin.

Someone might want to build up the fire,' he called out, intent on the task at hand, there will be a lot of meat to cook here . . .'