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. He also took a large pack of black hunting hounds,
each of which was held on a leash by an iron-collared slave
who ran along on foot. The hounds were vicious, long-
fanged beasts, and sometimes, out of impatience to be let
loose, they nipped at the slaves holding them. All the
hapless slaves could do to defend themselves was keep the
mongrels at bay with sticks found along the way.
Also for the hunt, Toede surrounded himself with half a
dozen pony-backed, spear-carrying bodyguards -
hobgoblins all - just in case he came upon a particularly
nasty poacher. Toede himself wore his armor, which, of
late, had become an especially tight fit, causing his flab to
squeeze out of the chinks. Only Groag, preferring to remain
in his fancy, flowing robes and rings, went unarmored. As
he rode beside Toede, however, he did carry his master's
bow and arrows.
It was late morning when the hunting party paraded
through the crooked, filthy streets of Flotsam. Soon they
entered a large, grassy field, at the far end of which was a
somber fringe of dark pine forest. Not surprisingly, no
poachers were quick to reveal themselves, but Toede did
spot a great big stag at the perimeter of the woods. As the
party approached, the animal raised its magnificently
antlered head and sniffed the air suspiciously
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