Wolves and War
Page 44
In the north Jim Cranston and Robert Lutterell were having a conversation.
“There is no comparison,” said Jim.
They had both gone to the devastated farmstead so that Jim could see for himself what the Larg looked like. Afanasei had permitted Robert to ride on his back in order to cut down on the journey time. Robert, after due consideration, now decided it was the most uncomfortable mode of transportation imaginable and vowed to never again attempt it except in the most dire emergencies.
“This Larg is no more like the Lind than a carthorse is a thoroughbred racehorse.”
This ill-judged announcement meant that he was soon embroiled in another lengthy explanation to Larya and Afanasei as to just what he meant.
“Ugly brutes,” agreed Robert. “Your Larya is far more attractive.”
Larya cocked an ear at him. She looked pleased.
“Flatterer,” said Jim humorously. “Seriously though, we’d better get back to the settlement. The meeting is scheduled to start soon.”
Robert Lutterell sighed gustily and his shoulders sagged, just a tad. It was time to mount Afanasei again and to grit his teeth as he bumped along on his back for the journey.
“Okay,” he said and added, “but can we go a little slower than on the way out? I’m aching all over.”
Afanasei’s tongue rolled out and his eyes glinted wickedly. He snuck a glance at Larya who grinned back. The Lind certainly enjoyed having the untrained on their backs. It was so much fun to joggle them around and to pretend to throw them off. Their best ploy was to stop with a jerk, lower their heads and force the unsuspecting rider to slide down their necks. Robert’s face when Afanasei had succeeded in dislodging him had been a picture, half outraged, half embarrassed and very annoyed.
Afanasei and Larya agreed wholeheartedly about the decision to return. The Eldas of the Gtratha were expecting a full report by nightfall and they wished to send good news. Not that the news so far was bad. The humans were accepting them as friends and allies, though Afanasei realised that if Jim had not been there with the authority to plead their case the situation might well have been very different.
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