Caradoc

Taking an arrow from his quiver, he fitted it to his bow with painstaking care and deliberation.  Then gingerly, he took a pace or two forwards.  To get a clear and lethal shot he needed the bear to face him.  Instinctively and ignoring any danger, he put his bow down on the ground and picked up a stone.  His intention was to throw it at the bear in the hope that it would immediately turn round towards him.  This was a foolhardy action and the old warrior watching from behind, could see the measure of Caradoc’s difficulty.  He quickly gave Slinger a nudge and using hand movements, instructed him to attack the bear first.  Slinger nodded and crept forwards towards Caradoc, getting there just as he was about to take aim.  Gently tapping him on the shoulder, he reached forward and took the stone from him.  It was the wrong size and shape for his sling so he carefully laid it down.  Watching the humped shape of the bear’s back the whole time, he took a pre-selected stone from a pouch tied to his waist and placed it carefully in the leather pocket of the sling. 

At this point in proceedings, fortune really did shine on them.  The bear suddenly shuffled round so that it was half-turned towards the boys.  Whirling the sling above his head, Slinger let his stone go in a frenzy of movement, and in the blink of an eye, followed it with two more.  The first stone flew over the bear’s head but the noise of it landing caused the animal to turn to the left away from Caradoc and his bow.  However, the next two followed in such quick succession that the bear soon turned in the intended direction.  Two soft thuds marked the hits scored by Slinger’s second and third missiles.  Both hit the animal on its head, one just behind its ear and the other on its face where a small crimson patch started to grow.  The bear roared terribly.  It was hardly in pain but it was angry and confused by this attack from an unseen assailant.  Slowly the bear turned round to face its attackers exactly as had been planned.

Caradoc had picked up his bow again and was ready.  It was vital that he kept a tight and controlled grip of his weapon.  While Slinger had been at work, Caradoc had rubbed sandy earth between his hands to dry his palms.  The bear was now directly facing the two hunters.  It had become quiet but as it caught their scent, it roared again.  It was a huge creature.  Caradoc would hardly have come above its shoulders if the bear was on all-fours and he were to stand next to it.  There was no time to stand and admire it as it started to make a move towards its enemies.  Slinger fired off two more stones to encourage its progress.  Both missiles hit its face with deadly accuracy, provoking more anguished howls of pain and rage.  Slinger retreated while Caradoc crouched and remained in position.  There was no need for stealth now, just caution thought Caradoc.  Slinger released two more rather wild shots at the bear, which missed their target by a considerable margin.

Meanwhile, Profiadol signalled for Diffyn and Taradd to move forward and join the foray.  They moved past the retreating Slinger and took their place next to the Prince.  They would wait with their spears until Caradoc had fired his arrows.  Meanwhile, he continued to wait with enforced patience until he was absolutely certain of some success.  Just as he had imagined in his dream, the bear ambled towards him, locating him more by smell than sight.  Caradoc remained frozen, holding his bowstring taut while he told himself over and over again, to wait.  Now he could see into the creature’s angry eyes and he felt sure that it could almost reach him with its murderous claws.  Now was surely the right moment.  His companions willed him to fire his arrow.  Still Caradoc waited, even as the bear caught sight of him and reared up fully on its hind legs to slash at him with its massive paws tipped with razor-sharp claws.  Behind him, the whole hunting party could almost be heard thinking as one, ‘Now Caradoc! Now!’