Chapter 21

Griogair gripped his dirk, wishing he had opted to ready his bow and arrow instead, but knowing it was too late to try. He’d have to hope for the best against the massive dog with nothing but his hands and a wee dirk.

Just as the animal was about to crash through the bush directly in front of him a hare leaped from underneath it in a mad dash for its life. When the dog’s eyes and angle of attack shifted to follow the prey, Gair let loose with his dirk and it embedded in the hare’s neck, pinning the animal to the ground. The dog snarled but picked up the twitching hare. It looked towards the men, then at Gair and back again before finally deciding to take its catch to its master, as the beast had been trained to do. Gair headed out after it, breaking into a slight jog when he left the dense trees.

He heard the men drawing their swords as he approached so he raised his hands to show he wasn’t armed to attack.

“I just want me dirk back,” he spoke in Scotts as he slowed to a walk and app