of raw tuber, his expression un

ly sound was the crackl

tatue of rock and muscle, his b

e. "The poison... it must be slow-acting

n Bronson's brow, a barely perceptible tightening of his stomach musc

now blazed with a new light. Hope. He slammed his bone staff o

. The crowd's gaze shifted from the man to the pile of

uld not argue with the living proof before him. He let out a di

r lip until it bled and melted back into

filling his promise. "Abigail is free. And Br

leather loincloth and a standard-issue bone knife, the traditional marks of a recognized warrior. Bronson too

gail. Her knees buckled, and she would have fallen if Bronson

"Warrior Bronson, this is your kill. How

d the entire, massive carcass toward her. "It is hers," h

f famine, a whole boar was a treasure beyond price.

es wide and desperate. The gaunt, hollowed-out expressions of the elders. A plan formed in her mind, a

nd strong, "I will use these tubers and thi

h some still looked doubtfull

d, pointing to two strong beastmen, "bring the

challenge in her eyes. She had no butcher's tool

derstood. He held up his right hand, and with a soft snikt, fiv

hide and sinew with a terrifying speed and accuracy, separating meat from bone along perfect seams a stone k

ail commanded

e small leather pouch she'd salvaged, pulled out a few wild herbs she'd recognized and gathered on her way back-plant

how to scrape away the tough outer skin with sharp stones, reveali

gail took a large wooden ladle and patiently skimmed it all off. The clanspe

e smell bega

the pot. It was a smell none of them had ever experienced before-not the usual rank, bl

mixing precious meat with mud roots fell sil

ht. She tipped the massive pile of prepared tubers into the pot, covere