by Garry Spoor
“To let you know the Hunters will be leaving soon.”
“Thanks, but I already knew,” she replied. “I just wish I had more time to dry my clothes.”
“I can help you with that,” Daniel said, taking a step forward. Two wolves quickly looked up and he stopped dead in his tracks. “Are you sure it’s safe?” he asked.
“As long as you don’t do anything to annoy them or me, you are perfectly safe.”
He swallowed hard and slowly walked toward her, never taking his eyes off the wolf. Taking a deep breath, he places his hands on her shoulders.
She looked at him curiously.
“You did say, you were going to help dry my clothes, right?”
“What? Yeah… of course… what… what did you think?” he stammered.
She laughed “I was just asking.”
He closed his eyes, and fell into his Edge. She smelled the magic first. It wasn’t the same smell as when he tried to save Captain Jax. Instead of an ocean, she was reminded of the old lake back home, if it could be called a lake. It was more like a pond, but everyone called it a lake. Then she saw the blue strands slowly flow from his fingertips, and wrap themselves around her. She wondered what he would do, if he could see all the places his magic touched. She thought about teasing him, but refrained when she started to feel the effects. The water was being drawn from her clothes, all of her clothes. It was a bit invasive but at least she was dry. The magic faded when he removed his hands from her.
“That was interesting,” she said with a mischievous grin.
“What? What’s so funny?” he asked.
She laughed. “As if you didn’t know.”
“What? Know what?”
“Nothing. Just tell them I’m on my way,” She said as she started to clean up her campsite.
When she exited the forest, the wolves remained behind, but the ravens followed. They took to the air around her, circling the sky. The soldiers watched her carefully, as she approached the camp. They didn’t say anything, but then, they didn’t have to. She already knew what they thought of her. Ignoring them, she headed toward the paddock where Grim was already waiting.
-You’re looking better.-
He said.
“Feel better,” she replied. “Ready to go riding?”
-As long as we’re not heading into a pack of those damned dogs.-
“Let’s hope not. I didn’t sense any around, anyway, so I think we’re safe, for the time being.”
-Saved you something-
Grim said, motioning to his feeding trough. When she looked in, she saw the carrots he had pushed to one side.
“You know you should be eating these,” She said when she retrieved them. “They’re good for you.”
-I hate carrots-
“Fine, when we get to Forthbar, I’ll see if I can’t score you an apple pie,” she said as she pulled herself up onto his back. Leaving the campsite, they headed to where the other Hunters had gathered.
-So, why are we invited on this little trip?-
Grim asked.
“Because I’m that good,” she replied.
-Wonderful, now she’s having delusions of grandeur.-
“Actually, I think they just want to keep an eye on me.”
-Why, in case you go bonkers, loopy, dodgy, nuts, spastic?-
“Will you knock it off?”
-Coo-coo, crazy, one foot short of a yardstick.-
“One foot… what?”
-I don’t know, I was running out.-
“Are you okay, Kile” Folkstaff asked, coming up alongside her. Ever since that night in Moran, her old survival instructor has been keeping a close eye on her.
“Yes, sir,” she quickly replied.
He looked at her carefully. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”
“Trust me. I’ll be better once I’m away from here.”
“Fair enough.”
There were five other Hunters in the scouting party, and although Folkstaff was officially in charge, they were taking orders from Erin. The only other Hunter, Kile knew, or at the very least, had previous contact with, was Larks. She had not seen him since her days at the Academy, and then, very briefly, during the breaking of the siege of Moran. The bandage was off his head and his hair was pulled back in a ponytail. He had striking features, more so than she remembered. The first time they had met, she tried to pull him off his horse. It was a simple misunderstanding.
She was surprised to learn he was still only a Level Five, since he was one of the better students in their class. She figured he would, at least, be a Level Four, possible a Level Three, by now. Since she was a Level Three, she technically outranked him.
-Oh, wonderful, company.-
Grim complained when Larks steered his palomino toward them.
“Mind your manners,” she whispered.
-It is good to see you again, Kile-
The horse said when she came alongside them.
“It is good to see you too, Lionora. How have you been?” she asked.
-I have been well, thank you.-
“He’s treating you all right, then.”
-Oh yes, he has been a wonderful master.-
Kile turned and looked at Larks. “Good, that’s what I want to hear,” she said with a grin.
“What has my horse been telling you?” Lark asked a bit nervously.
Kile laughed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied.
“So, you really can… you know… talk to animals.”
“I don’t know where you heard that.”
Now it was Larks’ turn to laugh.
“It’s all over Forthbar,” he said.
“What is?”
“That you can talk to animals, that the dogs do your bidding, and you can use birds to survey the surrounding area.”
Kile stared at the young Hunter.
“How do you know this?” she asked.
“I’ve watched most of your stories,” Larks replied.
“My what?”
“Your stories. You know, the ones that Hunter puts on back in Forthbar.”
“What Hunter?”
“The little guy, I think he was in our class at the Academy.”
“Alex,” she replied, as if she didn’t know. Daniel had warned her about this; about Alex’s collection of new stories, but where was he getting his information from?
“Yeah, that’s him.” Larks said with a grin. “He’s really good. He creates these wonderful illusions and narrates the stores and everything. It’s his Legend of the Wild Hunter series, or so he says. It’s really something, if you get a chance to watch them.”
“Wonderful,” Kile replied. “I’m going to strangle that little gulrik.”
“Sorry?”
“Nothing.”
“Well, I wouldn’t worry too much. The hero in his stories doesn’t look much like you.” Larks said, looking Kile over. He was looking a little too closely. “The only reason I knew, was because he told one about the siege of Moran.”
“Figures.”
Lark’s laughed. “You know, it’s kind of nice to have someone to talk to for a change.”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“This mission, it’s been rather boring,” he said with a sigh. “Back in Swanford, where I was sent before the war, I ran messages between towns and I got to know a lot of people. Back there, they liked seeing Hunters. Here, not so much. The military doesn’t really trust us, so we end up sitting around, doing nothing. I thought this mission would be different. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I don’t really want to get into any battles or anything, and I definitely wouldn’t want to go through what you did back in Moran, I just wanted a bit of, I don’t know, excitement.”
-He wants excitement, what an idiot.-
Grim snorted.
Kile ignored the pony. “Well, you are traveling with other Hunters. That’s something, isn’t it?”
“You would think, but, they don’t
really talk to me.”
“Why not?” she asked.
“I’m the junior member. I’m still only a Level Five. The only time they need me is if they want to send a message and Steele isn’t around.”
The way he said Steele’s name, Kile got the impression he was jealous of the Hunter. It didn’t really surprise her. Steele had a tendency to rub people the wrong way. In truth, he has a strong personality and sometimes lays in on a bit thick.
“Steele’s not all that bad,” Kile added.
“Oh no, Steele’s all right. He’s been great. He taught me a few tricks about my Edge that came in useful. He was also the one who talked Hunter Silvia into letting me join them for the first assault on Moran, but he doesn’t stick around too long. He’s always busy, always in demand.”
“He does what he does best, and he’s good at it,” Kile replied.
“Yeah, I suppose.”
Kile looked around at the other riders. Erin and Folkstaff remained on the road, but the other Hunters started to fan out. The group appeared to know what it was doing, and she was starting to feel like the odd man out again.
“So, you’ve been here before. What does one do in a scouting party?” she asked.
“Whatever you can. Master Folkstaff keeps telling me to keep my eyes and ears open, but it doesn’t do much good, not with those two around,” he said, pointing to two riders who were a few lengths ahead of them on the road.
“I don’t understand.”
“Well, you see that guy over there.” Larks said, motioning to the tall, lean, bald headed, Hunter who was riding a bay roan. “That’s Certified Level Three Hunter, Cort Sias. They say, with his Edge, he can hear a mouse pass wind ten miles away.”
“Sounds like a useful skill.” Kile replied.
“It is, when you’re on recon.”
“What about the other Hunter?” Kile asked, pointing to a dark haired man with a long braided goatee.
“Oh, that one, that’s Rien Bere. He’s a Level Two. He has the eyes. If Cort can hear it, Rien can see it.”
“Do they often work together?”
“As far as I know, yeah,” Larks replied.
The idea of partnering up with another Hunter did sound appealing. She could see the advantages, but would she really want to work with another Hunter? She enjoyed her solitude. Being on the road alone, not having to answer to anyone, not having to compromise or argue with anyone, that’s really the only way to travel. The last month, being a member of Perha Squad was an experience, but not one she would want to continue. Everything turned into a debate, and nothing ever got done. Being on her own, she never had those problems, of course, with Grim and Vesper, she was never alone.
“Do you enjoy being a Hunter?” she asked.
“Sometimes, I guess. As I said, it was better before the war. At least then, I felt useful, now, not so much. I just thought, you know, it was going to be… different.”
“I know what you mean,” Kile replied. This wasn’t exactly what she signed on for either.
“All in all, I guess it’s better than the family business.” Larks added.
“Why, what does your family do?”
“They’re rat catchers. My father is a rat catcher. My brother, my brother-in-law, my uncle, they’re all rat catchers.”
“Charming.”
“Tell me about it,” he laughed. “I couldn’t do it. Don’t get me wrong, I respect my father, but I couldn’t do what he does. So, when I turned fourteen, I took the entry examination. I thought, being a Hunter had to be better than being a rat catcher.”
“My family were farmers,” Kile replied. “My father was a farmer and his father before him. Now my brother has taken over the business, if you can call it a business.”
“And what? You couldn’t see yourself as a farmer?” Larks asked.
“It was more than that,” she replied. “It was… personal. Let’s just say, my father had other plans.”
“Don’t they all? My father didn’t really want me to follow in the family business, he wanted me to make a name for myself, go into a proper trade. I don’t think he really meant the Hunter’s Guild, but he was proud when I graduated.”
“I can’t say the same about my father. He…”
Before she could finish her sentence, everything shifted out of focus and she suddenly found herself staring down at the world around her. It was so quick, and so disorienting, she thought she had slipped out of her reality again, and fallen into the darkness. But it wasn’t dark. The sun was still shining as clouds rolled across the sky, and some of those clouds were rolling under her. She was flying, higher than she had ever flown before.
It took her a few moments to get her bearings, to see the world through a different set of eyes. But, once she realized what was happening, once she realized there was no danger, she quickly embraced her new found freedom.
Seeing Callor stretched out below her, the province didn’t seem nearly as big, or as powerful as people made it out to be. It was just another large plot of land, dotted with a few towns and farms. There was nothing to distinguish it from any other province. Even the road, she was riding on, was no more than a thin line drawn across the landscape. It winds its way through the hills and across the fields, branching out this way and that, unit one of those lines reached, what had to be the city of Forthbar.
As she got closer, she was able to see more detail, but it wasn’t the city she was focused on, but the road. Someone or something was heading west, and moving at a fairly decent speed. If it kept to this course, it would reach the scouting party within minutes. Breaking the connection, she quickly returned to her own body. Fortunately, she was still riding Grim and hadn’t fallen off the mountain pony when she zoned out.
“Kile, what’s wrong?” Larks asked. The urgency in his voice, could only mean, that this wasn’t the first time he asked her that question.
She didn’t reply, instead, she quickly turned Grim off the road and cut across the open field. Looking up, she found the eagle she had shared the vision with. He was already answering her call.
It was a large white tailed eagle, larger than even Lindear, the vulture from the wastelands. With a wingspan wider than Kile was tall, he flew over her head and landed on one of the branches of a large oak tree. She could hear the wood creaking as it bent under his weight. Grabbing Vesper, Kile quickly shoved him into the satchel. It wasn’t worth taking any chances. Most birds had a tendency of viewing the yarrow as a light snack.
“Show me, please,” she said when she reached the eagle.
Closing her eyes, she fell into her Edge, and the eagle showed her what he wanted her to see. He took her down through the mountain valleys, across the open plains and over the tall city of Forthbar. There was quite a bit of activity going on in the streets. People were running around, shouting and waving, but there was no fear, or sense of danger. It appeared to be a celebration of sorts. Was the war over, she wondered? That would be too much to hope for. As the eagle circled once more, she saw a line of riders, moving through the streets. They were carrying the banner of the kings. Was the King in Forthbar? After one more circle, the eagle passed over the western walls, and took her along the road leading out of the city. It was there, she spotted the rider, and knew it had to be the figure she has seen moving west along the road. Only when she got closer did she realized it couldn’t be a rider, mainly because he had no horse.
“Steele.” She said when she came back down to earth. Steele was on his way with news of the King’s arrival, and he was moving fast. “Thank you, my friend,” she said to the eagle.
Spreading his great wings, he took to the sky. Kile watched him go and wished she could follow him. She was about to return to the road to inform the others, but didn’t have to go very far. The other Hunters had gathered behind her, a safe distance behind her, but behind her nevertheless.
“What is it, Kile?” Erin asked.
Folkstaff was watching her very closely. Was he eager for
news, or was he looking for some sign she was going to go feral again? Lark was staring at her in awe, and Cort and Rien just looked confused.
“Steele is on his way,” She told Erin. “He’s brining news of the Kings arrival in Forthbar.”
“Are you sure?” Folkstaff asked, he couldn’t hide the skepticism in his voice. “The King isn’t expected in Forthbar.”
“Well, he’s there,” she replied. “Whether he’s supposed to be there or not, that’s his problem.”
Why did everyone always question her information? Was it the source, or was it her they distrusted?
Cort rode forward and turned to Folkstaff. “I haven’t heard anything, sir,” he said.
“Steele’s still some distance away, but given his speed, he should be here soon,” Kile replied.
“Either way, we keep moving,” Folkstaff said, turning his horse back to the road.
Why did she even bother?
When they reached the road, they spread out again. Cort and Rien took the lead while Larks and Kile followed up the rear.
“So, did that eagle really tell you the King was in Forthbar?” Larks asked.
“Told me, showed me, he would have drawn me a picture if I asked him too, but I doubt if anyone would have believed me, even then.”
“Well, I for one believe you.”
Kile smiled. “Thanks,” she said.
“I mean, I’ve heard most of Alex’s stories, and if even half of them are true, then you, getting information from a bird, is normal.”
“Well, don’t believe everything Alex says. Most of his stories are exaggerated.”
“Someone’s coming.” Cort shouted.
Folkstaff held up his hand, the riders stopped and waited. It was only a matter of time before they heard from Rien.
“I see him, it looks to be a Hunter,” he called out.
“Gee, I wonder who that could be.” Kile shouted.
Folkstaff looked over his shoulder at her, Erin held back a laugh.
It wasn’t long before the runner came around the corner. He kicked up rocks and dirt when he slid to a stop.
“Didn’t expect to see you guys here,” Steele said, catching his breath.
“Funny, we were kind of expecting to see you,” Erin replied. “What’s the report?”