Notes on Monster Hunting

by Chad Retterath

“It sounds like you’ll be able to handle the training without me,” said Skrale. He smiled a lot. We all knew Krelik was nearby listening in and Skrale was definitely proud of our answers.

  During lunch, I sat with Palon with our backs against a tree in the shade. We were up on a small hill while most of the company was at the bottom beside the road. Jenn and Oitter copied us and sat in the shade as well, but they stayed away from the tree because Palon tried kicking them when they got close to us.

  “What will the scouts even teach the soldiers?” asked Palon.

  “We know just as much as you do about hunting,” said Jenn.

  I started laughing and choked on the bread I was eating.

  “It’s not a joke,” said Jenn. “We were trained too.”

  “You were trained, but when was the last time you used a sword?”

  Jenn held up a finger, telling us to wait as she took a long drink of water. “We were involved with the wood wraiths.”

  “We were?” asked Oitter.

  Jenn shoved him. “You’re not helping.”

  “I was actually hoping to join your squad for the training,” said Oitter. “The kingdom has scouts already. There’s nothing new to learn.”

  “Why Fourth?” asked Palon.

  “You’re my favorite,” said Oitter.

  Jenn rolled her eyes.

  Palon looked at me.

  “I’d be happy to take you, but it’s not my say.”

  Oitter nodded. “I’ll talk to Skrale later.”

  Jenn quietly mocked Oitter until he threw his waterskin at her. It hit her in the face. She picked it up and drank from it, then spit inside and handed it back to Oitter. He tried looking inside and sighed. Palon and I watched without saying anything.

  Low-growing crops covered the fields on both sides of the road. The little green bushes grew in perfect rows as far as I could see. It didn’t take long for me to lose track of how long we’d been walking because of the monotony of seeing row after row slide past.

  I walked, unaware of time and distance, until the sun sat on the horizon behind us and cast our shadows far down the road. The walls of Lamberg soon towered over the crops and fields. Krelik pointed out the city, as if we weren’t able to see it. The walls looked taller than the ones at Geziksan and the other cities of Tullinbran that we’ve been to. Skrale called for a stop once we were closer.

  “We’ll be camping outside the walls. The king has graciously offered materials for new tents and bedding since we’ll be here for a long time.”

  Krelik stepped up beside Skrale. “We will escort the king back into the city, but if you need anything just ask any guards by the gates or within the city. You will have a day to settle and get any new supplies. On the one hundred sixtieth day of the year we will have a full contract prepared in the morning so we can begin training that afternoon. Thank you for your company during the travels. You’ll be shown to your camping grounds.” Krelik bowed and walked away.

  One remaining guard waited until the king was farther down the road before guiding us to a flat field. It was nearby, but the sun was nearly set when he stopped walking.

  “This will be best place for you to camp and to train our soldiers. This is farmland, but it hasn’t been used for crops in the last few years because we occasionally use it for exercises. The family in the house over there owns the land and our king pays them for its use. Try to be respectful, as the farming families of Lamberg are dear to King Hogreth. The closest gate will be the western one just over there. Somebody will be out later tonight or tomorrow morning with the materials the king promised. We have a market on the eastern side of town in the mornings where the farm families sell their crops and the fishermen will sell anything they caught. We’re a half day from the coast, so there isn’t seafood every morning. You can check in the afternoon or evening for the freshest catches. I’ll be off now. The guards at the western gate should be able to answer any further questions. Farewell.” He quickly ran away like he was very late for something important.

  Skrale looked around and stomped his foot on the ground a few times. “It’s a bit bumpy, but it won’t be the least comfortable place we’ve camped. Let’s set up a big fire in the middle and spread the squads out around the center. Each squad should leave some room for a small cooking fire.” He paused and looked at the stars shining between the clouds. “You all know what to do. You’ve done it enough times.”

  We gathered around the center after finishing setting up camp, but there was no fire.

  “There’s no wood. Or stones to build firepits.” Skrale ran his fingers through his beard as he looked around. “Anyone want to come see if the farmers nearby have anything? We only have a bit of firewood in the cart.”

  I volunteered with Palon, Iliun, and Rexel. We walked with Skrale over the bumpy ground, then carefully stepped between crops until we reached the farmhouse. It took us some time to reach it and my stomach growled angrily from hunger. Light came from the single window on the front of the building.

  Skrale knocked and waited until a blond boy opened the door. A little girl and the parents sat just beside the door at a table with food.

  “Hello,” said Skrale. “I’m sorry to disturb your dinner. We are camping nearby and we were wondering if you had any firewood and stones for a firepit that we could use. I’d be happy to pay you.”

  The man stood and came to the door, gently pushing his son out of the way. The man had a beard similar to Skrale’s, but the top of his head was balding. He was shorter than me, but he was built like Palon.

  “You the new army?”

  “We’re traveling monster hunters. We’ve come here to train the army to fight all types of creatures. My name is Skrale. I’m the leader of the company.”

  The man looked at his wife. She shrugged. “What do they need to fight monsters for?”

  “It’s just good training, I suppose.”

  “Well, alright.” The man stepped out the door and waved at us to follow him around to the side. “Grab what you need of the wood. There should be some stones just over there.” He pointed into the dark field. “There’s a pile that’s a bit overgrown.”

  “Thank you, sir. How much would you like us to pay you for the wood?”

  “Just restock what you took when you collect your own later on.”

  The farmer went back inside with his lantern, so we were left in the dark.

  “We didn’t think this through,” said Iliun.

  “We really didn’t,” said Skrale.

  “How are we going to carry enough?”

  “I can’t even see what we’re carrying.”

  Skrale laughed. “Just pick up anything you can carry and bring it back to camp. If we can find camp.”

  “Rexel and I will carry as many stones as we can manage,” said Palon.

  “We will?”

  Palon pulled off his shirt. “Yes. We can use this to carry more.”

  “This isn’t going to work,” I said.

  It took us some time to grab things and carry them back. Skrale took a different group back with an actual cart for stones. While they were away, we set up the beginnings of a pit and started a small fire so they could find their way back easier.

  We ate dried food for dinner with water to drink. It was a boring meal, but something we are used to while camping. I made plans with the other sergeants to go to the market in the morning to get enough to have communal dinners for the next few nights.

  None of us know what to expect for the training. It’s unlike anything else we’ve done. It doesn’t help that I’m the only sergeant, and Ralet the only corporal, that haven’t trained new recruits.

  Day 159

  Teke and I were awake just as the sun started to rise. The rest of the camp was asleep. The walk was long and fast yesterday and everybody wanted to use the rare chance to get some extra sleep. We planned on eating before we went to the market, so we were going to get an early start. Lekk and Heff apparently forgot about waking ea
rly. I went to Heff’s tent and Teke went to Lekk’s and we kicked them until they were up.

  Lekk handed out sweet rolls and jerky and Teke made tea. We were mostly silent because we wanted everyone to get the sleep they needed. But I was tired too. The food and tea helped. The warmth in my stomach gave me some energy.

  “Please wait until I finish this,” said Heff while he stared into his tea. The rest of us were already done. Heff looked at us with what should’ve been big, sad eyes, but his right eye didn’t heal properly. The bone was chipped, so his cheekbone looked a bit misshapen and his eyelid sagged down.

  Teke poured another cup of tea for me and himself. Lekk declined the offer for another.

  We started walking to town as soon as we all finished. I felt small walking with just the three of them. Teke was the tallest in the whole company, so I always felt short beside him. Heff is only slightly taller than me, and Lekk a bit taller than him, but both are stocky men. Everyone in the original company was so strong except Teke. He’s always been the gangly one.

  The sun was fully in the sky by the time we approached the western gate and the air felt like it was going to combust. The shadow from the wall sheltered us as we walked closer. A guard nodded to us outside the gate. He wore a burnt orange tunic with brown stripes. I had wondered what Lamberg’s colors would be since Hogreth’s guards were disguised before.

  “You’re the hunters, right?”

  “We are,” said Teke.

  “I should have some things here for you before midday. They told me they would deliver things to this gate.”

  “I thought they were bringing it to camp,” I said.

  The guard’s face went blank. “I have no idea. I’m sorry, ma’am. I just know what I’ve been told.”

  “We’ll send somebody if we can’t carry it back on our way out,” said Lekk. “Where do we go for the market?”

  The guard stepped from the stone wall and pointed through the gate. “Just follow this main road straight across. It curves, but you shouldn’t need to take any real turns.”

  Everything impressive about Geziksan seemed slightly less impressive upon walking into Lamberg. The city built on a hill on the shore is still amazing, but Lamberg did everything better. Buildings reach three, even four floors on each side of the street. Some buildings were built against the wall and rose above it. They were all made from beautiful light brown wood and grey bricks. The houses and shops were some of the nicest buildings I’ve seen.

  The street itself is made of perfectly fitted bricks. Everything about the city looks organized and refined. Like it was all planned before any stone was ever set into place. People were out sweeping the streets and cleaning windows. The city felt alive with all the movement.

  “What are we here to buy?” I asked.

  “Yeah, what are we here for?” asked Lekk.

  Teke sighed and looked around the market. It was in a large square right beside the eastern gate. The large road we took in ran through the middle and out the gate. The other major road that ran south through most of the city intersected the other road in the center of the square. Market stalls were set up throughout in a more haphazard fashion than how the rest of the city appeared.

  “Food for your squads. And anything else you might need. We’ll meet back here,” said Teke.

  They dispersed and wandered through the market without ever deciding when we would meet back at that spot. I walked around and bought enough vegetables to fill my bag. I also stuffed in some wrapped fish that had been salted and some other kind of meat.

  It’s enough for Fourth squad to eat for two nights with the breads and leftover scraps we have. I looked at most of the stands and ran into the others a few times before I decided I didn’t want to buy anything else, so I’m sitting on a bench next to an old lady. The city is so much larger than Geziksan that the streets seem less crowded, but only because the streets are twice the size.

  I read through more of Skrale’s book until the sun climbed above the wall and unleashed its heat upon me. I swear the old lady beside me will melt any second. Some of the journal is thoughts or facts. Or even half written things about a monster or contract that he never finished, so it’s always nice to find something like the company structure.

  Year 541 - Current Company Structure

  First Squad:

  Skrale - Captain

  Teke - Sergeant

  Lekk - Corporal

  Urny

  Jerum

  Second Squad:

  Cremn - Sergeant

  Heff - Corporal

  Widdy

  Orkin

  We grew a lot in a short time. Rux and Wennel joined shortly after this entry. Then came Iliun, Trennor, Henli, and Rexel and the formation of the third squad. Skrale really rearranged the squads as more joined.

  A market stall near the bench sells hoods, so I bought one to hide from the sun. It’s a thin fabric that’s been dyed light blue. I’ve never owned something like it before.

  The old lady is sitting with her head back and her face to the sun. I’m worried she might be dead.

  Update: Not dead, but very crabby that I woke her. She scolded me loud enough that Teke rushed over. He just laughed when he saw what was happening, so I grabbed my bag and the two of us went into the shade away from her.

  “You can’t mess with old ladies,” said Teke.

  “I figured that out. I just checked to see if she was okay.”

  Teke leaned against a brick wall that was shaded by the building’s overhanging roof. He set a heavy bag down beside him.

  “Find anything good?” he asked.

  “Just some food for the next few nights. And this hood.”

  “It’s a nice hood.”

  I sat on the ground and leaned my back against the cool brick. Teke seated himself and grabbed two red apples out of his bag. He looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

  “Is this you asking if I want one?”

  He handed me the apple and I could see the faintest hint of him blushing. I pulled Skrale’s book back out of my bag as Teke took a loud bite out of the fruit.

  “I was looking through this.”

  “Yeah?” He looked at it and took another bite. He chewed quickly and swallowed. “Find anything interesting?”

  I opened the book and flipped to the page I was just on.

  “I remember when he wrote that,” said Teke.

  “Is Jerum-”

  “Yes,” he interrupted. “He’s the one that was killed by the first witch.” Teke leaned close and looked over the page. “There should be a page or two about him somewhere in there. Skrale wrote entries for most people who joined.”

  “I’ll look for it later.” I put the book away and took a bite of the apple. The skin was tough, but the inside was soft and tart.

  “Have you found anything else interesting in the book?”

  “Everything in here is fascinating. Is there a reason it says University of Telincroft?”

  “I think you already know the answer to that.” He set the thin apple core on the ground.

  “I do, but I want to hear your story.”

  “Skrale and I were students at the university. We both studied medicine at the start, which is how we met. He quickly began to focus on animals and studied everything he could about them. I was focused on people and took some courses taught by retired army medics. I had no reason to focus on battlefield injuries, but it interested me more than what many of the other students were doing. Skrale and I stayed in a room together at the university and we stayed there for a few years before we left to start the company.”

  “What was little Skrale like?”

  “Thinner with a lot less beard.”

  “What about little Teke?”

  “Fatter, but just as tall.”

  We laughed and talked while we hid from the sun and waited for Heff and Lekk to finish looking through the market.

  He told me that they attended all of their classes and were great students
during the first year they spent at the university. Teke started to rise above the rest of the class because of his incredible abilities with surgery and the alchemical side of medicine. Skrale was decent, but never fully paid attention during any of the classes. During their next year, Skrale focused entirely on animals and learned about all types of creatures that had been recorded. Scales, chitin, skin, hair, horns, talons, fangs. He had diagrams and books of ‘natural weapons’ all around their room. He studied the food chain and how animals work with the world around them. Skrale became more involved with husbandry and general animal studies. During the third year, he started to disappear for days at a time with the journal he gave me. He would come back from these trips with scars and bruises and he usually had random collections of paper with him. After half the year, Skrale asked Teke to drop out and travel him to hunt the creatures hurting people and protect the ones that needed help. Teke was confused, but he trusted Skrale and went with him. Neither of them graduated or told the university why they left.

  Heff and Lekk returned with some foul smelling fish and a whole bag of some vegetable that smelled even worse. They reasoned that if you cook it all together in a stew, it’s bound to taste better than it smells. Teke and I don’t agree.

  We made it back to camp around midday and sent the scouts to grab the bedding materials from the guard at the gate. I expected some complaining, but they hurried off without a word. Ralet came and grabbed the bag from me and sorted the foods into containers with our leftovers from traveling.

  Skrale, Orkin, Rux, Henli, Urny, Rexel, and Palon all returned late in the afternoon with a large wagon full of chopped firewood. Skrale and Palon went directly to the farmer’s house and restocked more than the wood we used last night.

  After dinner in the evening, Krelik came by with another man I hadn’t seen before. He had a contract that just required Skrale’s signature. He looked it over on his own before calling me over. I looked through and hid my excitement for the ‘150 gold for every five days of training’ section.