There was no telling where they would find the herd of deer, which Valentius had observed more than once.
But Thorn was a part of their family. Thorn mattered.
Valentius aimed at a squirrel.
It was such a calm creature. It was as if the creature didn't know that they were there.
The animal could have a stash of nuts, Valentius thought. It had done well in the world by planting new trees.
But Thorn was already eyeing it the way Valentius had eyed a cake, once upon a time.
"Hold," Marek told him next to him. "Hold, look above the squirrel."
Valentius did. It was a nest!
"Eggs?" Valentius wouldn't put it past the man to have magicked the nest there himself.
"I wouldn't call them eggs," Marek said, making a step forward, heading for the tree.
The squirrel's ears twitched. It ran off, not sparing them a glance.
"That was Thorn's lunch!" Albert yelled.
"Yeah, it could have been," the Boliarin began to climb the tree. "Both of you stay back."
