Sceapig Isle, Kingdom of Kent, 855 AD
Sceapig Isle, Kingdom of Kent, 855 ADAmid the forest on the Ness, Faruin cursed under his breath; hunting was so much easier in pairs, with one to rouse up the game and the other make the kill. Now that he was alone—Deormund was in Rochester—he had wasted the morning.
Just as he despaired of returning home to Minster without anything for the pot, he froze. Was that a partridge foraging in the undergrowth? Moving his arm stealthily, he nocked his arrow, took careful aim, only for the fowl, as if by a sixth sense, to make its ungainly flight towards the edge of the trees. Cursing again, but not to be dissuaded so near to his prey, Faruin moved silently, despite his lanky frame.
Drawing back his bowstring, he made no mistake this time. Years of competi
