Chương 44: The Lull Before - Part 18

The wooded area behind the hunting lodge was small – not thick enough to be the home of boar, but that was a blessing as they were wildly underprepared for that.

“Snowbirds love these woods,” Heiko warned softly, eyes scanning the tree branches above them. “But I needn’t remind either of you of the consequence of killing one.”

Rudolf made a gesture to ward off ill luck and it took all of Batt's power not to laugh. He always had been a superstitious man. Every Friday, at the break of dawn, he could be found bowing before the statue of Ozik in the palace temple. At the first of every month, before speaking even to his prince, he would pour cherry mead near the base of a tree for Vingi. There was even one time that he forgot to toast the gods at a feast, and, in recompense, he abstained from alcohol for an entire fortnight.