A Grey Dawn

arneth had been complaining about food for nearly an hour into dawn.

“I’m just sayin’, a dwarf fights half the bloody goblin population of Aranthor, he ought to get a meal afterward.” He sat near the dying fire with one axe across his knees, glaring into the coals as though they personally had failed him. “Had breakfast two days ago. Think I did. Might’ve been the day before. Hard to tell when every hour ends with somethin’ tryin’ to eat ye.”

Gaz looked up from where he sat against the cave wall. “You ate at the Silver Stag.”

“I drank.”

Navian rubbed a hand over his face. Oesora remained beside Av’elyth, checking the bandages along the elf’s ribs while doing her best not to encourage Karneth.

The dwarf’s stomach growled loudly enough to settle the argument for him.

Karneth pointed downward. “There. Even he agrees.”

Gaz opened his mouth to protest.

A sound came from outside.

Karneth froze.

A low growl.

Fast.

Coming straight toward the cave.

He was on his feet before anyone could speak. The axe left his hand in the same motion, silver spinning once through the warped darkness of Gaz’s ward.

There was a heavy crack.

Then an enormous crash.

Silence.

Gaz slowly stood.

Karneth stared toward the entrance.

The ivy shifted.

A grey horse lay collapsed just outside the cave, Karneth’s axe buried squarely between its eyes.

Behind it stood Jaeshu and Lunara.

Neither moved.

Jaeshu looked at the horse. Then at Karneth.

Lunara looked at the horse. Then at Karneth.

The dwarf remained frozen with one arm still extended from the throw.

Navian turned his head toward him. Gaz did the same. Oesora’s hand rose slowly over her mouth.

Nobody spoke.

Jaeshu glared at the dwarf, then bent, snatched his bow from where it had fallen beside the horse, and slung it over his shoulder.

Lunara did the same.

They looked at one another.

Then, without a word, both turned around and started walking back into the night.

Karneth watched them disappear through the ivy.

The cave remained silent.

The dwarf slowly lowered his arm and stood straight.

His eyes moved from Navian, to Gaz, to Oesora, and finally back to the dead horse.

“...Well.”

An hour later, strips of meat hissed over a roaring fire. Karneth sat with a wooden plate balanced on one knee, chewing thoughtfully.

Gaz stared at him from across the flames in silence.

Karneth swallowed.

“What?”