[Arry]

From their vantage point on the roof, and in the shadow of the chimney, the three Halflings could see the shadows of the great wolves as they moved across the flat little space of plain that stood between the foothills and the village. The moon was bright and threw the shadows across the expanse of snow like long sharp claws of darkness. At the rate the wolves were traveling they would be to the gates in a very short span of time.

Andwise whistled low, a short shrill little sound that trailed off at the end . . . the call of a nighthawk hunting. It was answered by the soft calls of several night flying raptors . . . ‘They stand ready,’ he whispered to his brothers and to Birger. ‘It is as the great owl told the tall men. They will come down on silent wings and drop their pouches of oil on the wolves. The hounds, then and I think the great bear will drive the pack toward us, distracting them as they harry the beasts with tooth and claw.’

He signaled to Birger to stand just behind the three of them with the bucket of live coals and the bundle of arrows with their wrapped tips soaked in oil. ‘When they are in bow range, we will begin to fire among them.’

Willem bore a worried look on his face. ‘What if the wolves get too close, all burning and such? Won’t the Inn be in danger of catching fire, too?’