A Time of Dread

  He stared at it.

  And then he lifted a hand to the claw about his own neck, gripping it tight and he swayed a little as the truth hit him.

  Because the wound upon his da’s chest was given by a bear with five claws, and the white bear only had four.

  Drem reined in his horse before Asger’s house. It was on the outskirts of Kergard, a sturdy cottage of wattle and daub with a grass-sod roof, a side gate and track running between house and barn. Drem heard the creak and roll of wheels and saw Asger emerge from the barn, sitting upon the bench of a heavily loaded wain, reins in hand, his wife and bairns snuggled up close to him. There could have been a dozen more of them wrapped beneath the folds of blankets and furs they were buried beneath, guarding them against the dawn cold.

  Asger smiled when he saw him, reining in the two sturdy ponies that were pulling the wain.

  ‘I’m glad to see you,’ Asger said. ‘You’re coming with us, then?’

  ‘No,’ Drem said, dismounting from his pony. ‘But I wanted to give you my thanks, for your offer. It was a kind thing you did.’

  ‘Ach, lad, it was more to save my failing back!’ Asger grunted, though Drem saw his wife dig him with an elbow and heard the giggle of bairns somewhere beneath all the furs.

  ‘And maybe a hint of kindness,’ Asger admitted.

  ‘More than a hint,’ Drem said. ‘And I’ll not be forgetting it. Ever. When you came to see me yesterday, I thought I had nothing left to live for, and now I have two. You have a friend in me, Asger. For life.’ He looked the trader in the eye, as his da had often told him to do when you mean what you say, and Asger nodded.

  ‘Sure you want to stay?’ Asger said. ‘Kergard’s not what it was, and I think it’s only going to get worse.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re right, but I have some things to do. Have to do,’ Drem said. ‘But, there is one favour you could do for me. I’d be grateful.’

  ‘I’ll tell you when I know what this favour is,’ Asger said, a suspicious twist of his eyebrow.