Ston

actical problem. I needed supplies. Salt, flour, a proper knife, bla

lung over my shoulder was a massive shape wrapped in canvas, its weigh

hildren close, shielding their eyes. Conversations trailed off into silence. Stalls that had been crowded moments before suddenly had a wide berth around them. Everyone stared, the

. The proprietor, Leo Vance, the same man who had spread the r

pproach. "What do you want?" he sta

dropped it onto his counter with a wet, hea

p, bony spines along its back. Its eyes, even in death, glowed with a faint, malevolent red. A Razorback, a creature twisted by dark energies fro

terror. "That's... that's from the F

with two of his men, drawn by the commotion. "You trespassed into the Forbidden Forest, St

motion. "It wandered out. Came ont

or the bounty. You probably used traps, or poison. A coward's kill."

trap marks or arrow wounds. Then he stopped, his gaze fixed on the creature's head. His j

sm plain on his face. He looke

directly through the thickest part of its skull, right between the eyes. The edges of the wound were cauterized, smoot

ttack. A single, killing blow delivered

searching for the tell-tale signs of a fight-the deep gashes, the broken bon

dead monster on the counter. I hadn't used traps. I had faced this nightmar

ce-Finn's shocked face, the terrified onlookers, the monstrous boar. His experienced eyes went straight

ssive hand at Fi

alue kill. Difficult to process, but the bounty stands. Leo," he said, turning

ed to do as he was told, counting out

r, salt, a new whetstone, a heavy wool blanket, a cast-iron skillet. I paid Leo, and then,

d Finn demand of his superior. "

is voice a low warning. "Finn, a man who can kill a Razorback like that isn't dangerous

a comforting weight on my back. I hadn't do

it because