Bearskins

Drachen’s compliment toward her son brought a faint smile of maternal pride to her features as her eyes followed the man’s to her son where he battled with the carcass of the bear, getting it positioned for skinning it out. “And a great King, I hope.”

She nodded at his assurance that it was only a bruise, though she wondered if his injured ribs might have taken a further beating in the fight. Her head tilted as the man next spoke, and a smile bloomed on her features. “I’d be willing to offer you a home in Valhalla if you’re open to it. You’ve shown your strength and courage in taking on a bear to help a stranger. If you’re anything like that while hunting, you’ll climb swiftly.”

She grinned and stepped aside with a nod toward her son and the bear, accepting his second offer to help with skinning the bear.

“I see you made a friend with your Hawk. How have you been since we met?” She pulled a strip of sharped metal from her pouches and offered it to the man. The blade was attached to a leather brace that, when wrapped around the wrist of a front leg, would leave the dull edge of the blade braced against the underside of the wearer’s paw, allowing for a cleaner, more precise cut. It was a new tool Ardyn had gotten together with his father to make and try out.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think