Antlers, but no other part of the deer. As if he'd butchered the carcass and buried it, like a man might.
"I suppose for someone the size of you, a whole deer wouldn't last you more than a week," Rossa said. A memory pricked at her mind, and she searched through her things until she found the sack Sal had given her. "Here, I brought you some apples. The castle cook, who is also the innkeeper in the village, said I should give them to you." Honesty made her add, "Actually, she said I should give them to you to distract you, so I could get away."
Surprise widened his eyes, before the bear bowed again, gesturing toward the cave entrance.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you're telling me I'm free to go," Rossa said, eyeing the bear as her hand closed around the knife at her hip.
The bear inclined his head. Almost…regally.
She dropped the sack of apples at his feet. "Well, enjoy them. There's plenty more back home, though I suspect if I'm not quick, someone will turn them into cider. Maybe I should ask the cook to set aside a barrel or two, so I can bring you some, if I come to visit you again." She'd definitely hit her head, if she was talking about paying visits to bears. "Nice to meet you, I guess."
Her shoulders itched as she turned her back on the bear, and forced herself to stroll out of the cave, across the clearing, and all the way back to the castle, without pausing to look back.