Shoots a Man

Mat nodded at a nearby tree, and Josh saw Onar’s bow and a full quiver of hunting arrows. He seized the bow and strung it in one smooth motion. Then he cocked an arrow and pulled it to his cheek. Suddenly he paused.

“Shoot! Shoot!” Mat urged.

Josh had never loved hunting, though he had often accompanied his father on trips. Looking at Onar’s back, he realized that he was about to take a human life. Everything in his past said no.

Yet, even as he wavered, Sarah cried out again.

Mat whispered desperately, “They’ll kill Sarah, Josh. They’ll kill all of us, if you don’t get us away from here! And you can’t do it as long as Onar is alive!”

Perhaps even this would not have been enough, but then there came into Josh’s mind the same faint voice that he had heard once before. He heard the words again, The House of Goél must be filled.

Josh set his jaw and sent the arrow right through Onar’s broad back. The Servant grunted once, then fell forward.