Once breakfast was through, I
helped him wash off the dishes in a large wash pail. After that I watched as he
fed his hunting dogs. They were large creatures, all of them, and covered in a
soft, thick downy fur that was made for enduring the cold and burrowing in the
snow. There were eight of them in total and the din they raised was deafening.
Out in the cold, the huntsman tossed his fur-lined gloves aside, running strong
hands across backs and heads, patting and ruffling; each movement was a gentle
caress for the friends he loved dearly, in spite of the language barrier. The
dogs lifted their noses and called loud enough to bring the moon back into the
sky.
The huntsman tramped back into
the cabin, shaking the snow from his feet.
“Are you coming with me? It’s not
dark out—at least, I imagine that it’s not.” His mouth curved at the joke, and
his teasing manner even surprised a smile out of me. For a moment I forgot my
grief and nodded, before I remembered that he couldn’t see the motion.
“Yes.” I said. “That is, if you
don’t mind the company.”
The huntsman said nothing as he
jammed a small blade into its sheath and tied a hunting horn securely over his
shoulder. Still, I gathered that my acceptance had been acknowledged when he
handed me a pair of small, soft winter boots. They were beautiful in the intricacy
of their design.
“Thank you. They’re lovely.” I
murmured. The huntsman smiled. I began to see that the huntsman had a treasure
trove of smiles, each unique in its form and meaning. This one was clearly a
smile of pride. “Did you make them?” I asked, taking an interest. The shoes
managed to be both sturdy and practical, yet also dainty somehow, in spite of
their bulk.
He nodded.
“You have a talent.” I said. The
huntsman only gazed beautifully at nothing, his dazzling broken eyes veiling
his emotions. I pulled my cloak across my shoulders, fastening the clasp tightly
to keep out the biting wind and we stepped out into the light of day. I closed
my eyes, feeling that they would burn up completely under the dazzling sun.
Against the snow, the glare was heinous.
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