Under the spreading canopy of branches sunlight became a green, translucent glow, filtering through layered leaves until the tall trunks looked like sunken pillars in some drowned and long-forgotten hall. Though occasionally a bird sang, the liquid notes were oddly flat and lifeless and soon died in the oppressive silence. Aldric’s moccasin boots hissed softly through the grass and bracken, while Evthan the hunter made no sound at all. That there were no dogs had been a source of some slight friction between the two men. Laine had refused to let his precious pets be subjected to the lurking dangers of the woods, and Evthan had not pressed him over-hard. Aldric might have done so but for lack of time—and a feeling that Evthan’s reluctance could well prove significant. He paused, uncased his heavy composite bow and nocked an arrow to the string. His fingers were clumsy, and when he saw Evthan was watching he restrained a scowl—he would have preferred the Jouvaine not to see that momentary fumble.
