Silvertip Mountain I don’t see how he can ever finish, if he doesn’t begin

The wait was excruciating. Aventus took comfort in the absence of sound coming from the cave mouth. Surely if the bear was mauling Val, they would be able to hear every gory detail? Those claws couldn't rip through flesh in silence.

His belief was confirmed when the bear parted from the shadows, pausing only to eye his wife before moving on. The entire time, Aventus held his breath. He was faithful. He tried to be, anyway, despite the knowing in him that bears were dangerous, unpredictable. Suppose it attacked Arielle? Would he stand aside and allow it to happen, knowing it was what the bear spirit decreed, or would he step in and sully his good standing with the bear?

If the spirit knew his secret heart, then it knew his standing was already unsteady, so at the end of everything, he guessed it wouldn't matter if he intervened or not. Aventus let out a quiet breath when the sow went on its way, glad that he would not have to test that theory out.

He thrust his ears eagerly upright and followed Arielle toward the darkness where Val was hidden, his steps slower but no less hopeful than the Bruin-heart.