And still Shar-hai was nearly upon him before he could thrust the weapon
between them, holding the top of the blade with his other hand which now
bled with a sharp pain. And as the wolf stepped back and began to turn,
the tortured muscles at the back of his leg made it hard to stand.
But he knew he must stand, and he still had a little courage left. So
he rose and faced his foe, who was through with running, and tried to
aim a blow at his head; but his hands would not stop shaking. So he
made one last swoop and ran in the direction it carried him, and for all
his shame at leaving Akar his one thought was to break free of the
circle and run, so hard and so far.....
But Shar-hai rushed up behind him, and his teeth found their mark in the
soft flesh and tendon at the back of his knee. Kalus reeled and fell
forward, the sword flying from his grasp. And he knew it was the end.
He covered his head with his hands and cried out, and waited for the
rush of tearing, yellow teeth.
*
Shar-hai stood for a moment catching his breath, stood glowering over
the man-child whose weapon he had truly feared. Not for nothing had the
hyena bitch warned him of men. This death he would not savor. It must
be swift and final.
He thought he heard a rustle behind him, and one of his guard spoke in
alarm.
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