TWENTY-SIX
The day ended without anyone sighting the boar, but Reidar was content. There'd been signs of the beast, and they were certainly in its territory now.
He shared a cup of ale with Rudolf by the fire as servants pitched his pavilion and prepared their meal.
"You should have seen your face. You were so certain you'd found the beast in the bushes, and that it would be your kill, when all the rest of us said we were too far north. Standing there like some ancient colossus...and out popped...a squirrel!" Reidar roared with laughter.
Rudolf didn't seem to find it as funny, though he did laugh. "You always were the better hunter. I left before I was old enough to join your father's hunting parties. It sounded big enough to be a boar!"
"Rudolph the great squirrel slayer!" Reidar h
