Krelik’s face was pale and he was sweating. “Where are these from?” He turned to me and stared into my eyes. “In that book does it say they live in Tullinbran at all?”
“It doesn’t say.” I turned the page over then closed the book.
“There aren’t any here. I studied whole books written on the ones that live in the swamp north of the isthmus near Telincroft. Professors at the university talked about other swamps in other lands, but there are no swamps that I’m aware of in this area.”
Krelik pushed me aside and stepped outside. He talked to his men, who quickly mounted and left.
“My apologies, Beatrice. I believe this may have been the work of Etikstan. Before they sieged Kelzisan, before the armies even left Jadenroth on the coast, people started appearing dead. Officials, generals, and farmers murdered in their homes. Etikstan shouldn’t have been able to take Kelzisan, but they did it easily. Yandhill fell faster than any city in history without surrendering. It is unnatural. I sent my men to check on the other farming families around the city and a detachment of soldiers you’ve trained are going to travel down to the fishing piers on the coast.” Krelik took a deep breath, then looked back at Skrale. “Skrale, hunters, please help us.”
We went back to camp where the rest of the company was already together around a big fire. Skrale explained what we found and what Krelik asked.
“I won’t make this decision for us. Do we stay and help or do we leave? Take a moment and talk it over.” Skrale walked away from the fire and looked at the sky.
The squads gathered in clumps and talked. As soon as we all grouped, Ralet smiled at me, but it was the smile he does when he isn’t happy. “We want to help. We’ve already talked.”
“Cremn would’ve helped,” said Palon.
I nodded and sat on the dirt in front of the log they were all on. Kully and Oitter quietly argued over something stupid that I ignored.
Heff looked over at me and I nodded. Lekk and Teke saw and gave their own nods.
Teke walked over to Skrale and put his arm around his shoulder. After a while, Teke came back to the fire. “He needs a moment. Jenn, Prenn, go to the east gate and tell Krelik we’ll stay. He should be there with some other men and he may have some requests or information.”
The moon was high in the sky, dimmer than before. It looked like there were twice as many stars, and the small fires around camp didn’t illuminate the night. We fully geared up and took food and supplies off the cart. I could see torches and a whole collection of people far off at the gate, but there wasn’t much movement.
Jenn and Prenn went directly to Skrale when they finally returned. He listened to them in the dark by his tent before shouting to call us over.
“Krelik sent soldiers to each farmhouse. Henrik’s family wasn’t the only one killed. Three others have died, but it doesn’t seem like they were all killed tonight. There are still eight families left and each squad is going to go protect a family. I want the other scouts to join squads. Always keep each other in sight. Tullinbran soldiers we trained will cover the others. Scouts know the way.”
Jenn went with First, Yutt with Second, and Prenn with Third. Groose helped Palon finish putting on his armor then we followed Oitter into the night.
Groose’s munitions bag rattled, which made me nervous. We traveled in a small line with Palon in back and Oitter and Ralet in the front. We walked on a thin dirt path that wove through tall grasses north of the city. I regularly looked back to ensure Kully and Palon were still behind me, and I could always see the weak moonlight shining off Palon’s armor. Dark shapes of trees rose on both sides of us as we walked into the edge of a forest. I followed Ralet’s silhouette until both him and Oitter stopped. Kully ran into me and quietly apologized.
“What is it, Oitter?” I loudly whispered.
“I thought I heard something. Sorry.” He started again and we continued to follow.
We swerved back out of the forest and started walking beside a wooden fence. Oitter followed it until it turned. The smell of manure was overpowering and I wasn’t confident that the ground we were walking on was anything other than feces. Torchlight illuminated the grass and the corner of a house ahead. We reached the corner and peeked around. A Tullinbran guard stood in front of the door. He looked over and stared at me and Oitter until we stepped around.
“I wanted to be sure,” I said.
“I understand.” He knocked on the door once and another guard stepped out of the house. “There’s seven people inside. An old woman, parents, and four kids. We’ll head back and tell Krelik you’ve arrived. A messenger will come if Krelik or your captain need you.”
“Travel safe,” I said. “Palon and Ralet outside the door. Everyone else with me right now.” I went inside. It was a large house with stairs going to a second floor. An elderly woman sat in a chair right in front of the door.
“Hello, I’m Beatrice.”
She stared at me.
“Have you been told of the situation?”
She nodded.
“Okay. We’re going to handle everything. You can go to sleep.”
She waddled off to a bed in the corner behind a curtain.
“Oitter, watch that window. Groose, watch the other window. Kully, do something.”
I waited until it felt like I couldn’t wait anymore. Staying awake took all my effort, so I stood up and quietly paced until I noticed it was bothering Oitter. Palon and Ralet had switched the sides they originally stood. Both looked at me when I stepped out of the door. Around their eyes was dark. They looked exhausted. I tried to smile at them, but I was too tired. Anxiety grabbed the back of my eyes and kicked at my heart. My stomach rumbled and everything felt fake.
Throughout the night we swapped places and walked around the house. Nobody fell asleep, despite the exhaustion we all faced. Nobody talked either. We didn’t want to wake the family and no one had anything to say. We left to head back to camp as soon as the tip of the sun was over the horizon. Some others had made it back before us, but we were all going to sleep anyway.
Day 176
Skrale woke me at midday. I felt worse than I did before going to sleep.
“Everything good?” I asked.
The captain looked terrible. His beard was tangled and his face looked pale and gaunt.
“Everything’s fine. Wake your squad and get some food in you. Come talk to me and Teke when you’re done.”
They were all grumpy when they woke, but they woke without arguing. We ate bread and fruits and drank all the water we had with us. Palon had his eyes closed while he ate like he was asleep throughout the meal.
Skrale and Teke were sitting with the rest of First squad. Orkin waved me over to sit beside him.
“Heff and Lekk will be here soon. I’ll wait for them before we start.”
“How are you, Orkin?” I asked.
He loudly sniffled. “Tired as shit. You?”
“Same. It was a long night.”
Skrale noticed I had the journal and said, “Catch up while we wait.”
It always bothers me when he tells me to write or notices me writing. I feel like he watches me and I don’t think I like that.
Heff and Lekk walked over together after a while, prompting Widdy, Trennor, and Orkin to go for a walk.
“Before I talk to the whole company, I wanted to discuss this as a group. It seems like a high risk to spread the company out so far to protect the families. I think we should bring them to our camp. We know it, we can protect it.”
“I like it,” I said. “I would rather be here with everyone else. We don’t know how many there are or even exactly what they are. I don’t want it to be like the clay mason hunt again.”
Heff and Lekk both agreed. Teke sat quietly and didn’t protest, which meant he agreed.
“Each squad will go gather the families they were with last night and escort them to camp, then go gather another. I’ll stay here with some guards so nobody is left alone.”
“Get inside,” I yelled. “Check the family.”
I climbed over the fence nearer the house and hurried around to the front door. Ralet stood in the doorway and placed his hands on my shoulders to stop me.
“They’re dead. All of them.”
I sighed and wiped the manure off my shoes on the front stairs. Oitter, Ralet, and Groose stayed outside with me and watched the woods and the field in front of the house. I could tell the cattle were confused and upset with the dead one, but there wasn’t anything we could do. Kully came out and confirmed their deaths. His eyes were red. He was crying.
“Oitter, do you know where the second family is for us?”
He nodded and rubbed his right eye.
“Let’s hurry.”
Oitter led us away from the house, following the treeline. A big pasture covered the land on our right with the forest on our left. Some cattle walked past, which made me hopeful that the family would be alright. Palon wasn’t wearing his armor, so we were able to jog the whole way there. The house was sitting on a small hilltop near the forest’s edge. Oitter stopped at the side of the house and signalled to be quiet. A moment later, he smiled and nodded.
I walked to the front door and knocked.
A bald woman opened the door.
“Good afternoon, ma’am. I’m Sergeant Beatrice with the hunters.”
“Hello. What can we do for you?”
“We need to escort you back to our camp to ensure your protection.”
She shook her head. “We’re still trying to collect food before Etikstan arrives. My family is out working.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to insist. We went to help another family first, but they were already dead. It was a family I protected last night, which means the creatures aren’t only feasting at night like we thought. Where is your family right now?”
“Just down the path there with the animals.”
I looked behind and saw the path she mentioned. “Oitter stay with me. Everyone else follow the path and find the family. Ralet, explain the situation.”
Ralet nodded and led the squad down path at a hurried pace.
“While they are with your family, you should gather any supplies or belongings you would like to bring along. Leave valuables and anything heavy, as it is a bit of a walk and limited space at the camp.”
She stepped away from the door and started looking around the house. I stayed in the doorway and Oitter paced in front of the house, regularly looking around the corners.
“Beatrice.”
I stepped off the stairs onto the grass and looked at Oitter, who was kneeling in the grass with his face close to the ground.
“What is it?”
He looked up. “Look at this.”
I approached and bent over, but I couldn’t see anything.
“Get closer.”
I kneeled and looked, but I still couldn’t make it out.
“It might be a footprint. Have you seen a footprint for the creatures Skrale mentioned?”
“I haven’t. But Skrale might recognize it if you can show it to him.”
I ripped a page out of the journal and handed him the pen. I left Oitter and walked back to the house. The woman inside was still shuffling through drawers and chests as she gathered everything they would need. I sat down on the wooden step and watched Oitter carefully sketching the footprint that I couldn’t see.
“You said your name is Beatrice?” asked the woman.
I stood and took a step into the doorway. “Yes, ma’am.”
“How long have you been a monster hunter?”
“More than three years.”
She stopped and looked at me in the eyes. “You look so young. Why would you choose a life like this?”
“It was the best option at the time and I wouldn’t choose a different life.”
She smiled at me, but it was a sad smile. Like she felt sorry for me.
Ralet whistled as they were getting close with the rest of the family.
“Are you almost ready, ma’am?”
“Yes, just another moment.”
Once Oitter and the lady were both ready, Oitter led us back to camp. It was a faster route without stopping by the other family’s house. We cut through small paths that weaved through a field of low-growing crops. Lamberg’s walls quickly rose on our left as we neared the city from the north side. Jenn ran out of the northern gate and started waving to us. Oitter kept his course to the camp and made Jenn run to us.
“You have people. Is this your first family?”
“No, our second. The first one was killed,” I said.
Jenn’s lips tightened and she nodded. “Two others were also killed this morning. Only five farming families left. Krelik called to bring all families inside the walls so we can focus on hunting and not protecting.”
“Can you lead these people to the other families? We’ll return to camp.”
Jenn nodded and walked back to talk to the family. I waved to the lady and she sadly smiled again.
We jogged back to camp and went straight to Skrale. About ten Tullinbran soldiers stood throughout the camp, and Skrale sat on a log with his sword across his lap. I pushed Oitter forward and prompted him to show Skrale the sketch. The captain took the paper and slowly looked over it, then set it face down on his lap and looked into the sky.
“I think you’re right. Nice find, Oitter. Do you think you can track it?”
“I can try. It’s been some time.”
Skrale nodded and waved me over. “I want to modify some squads to send into the forest to scout it out. Everyone will gather at the edge of the forest, but not everyone will go in immediately. What do you think of that?”
“It could work. What are you thinking?”
“I want you to go with Oitter, Yutt, and Kully. Nearby but separately will be Orkin, Trennor, Henli, and Prenn. The rest of us will be at the edge, ready to run inside and help once we locate the creatures. It would be too loud with everyone at once.”
“It’ll work.”
“Beatrice, if my suspicions are right, you’ll find some soldiers from Etikstan.” Skrale grabbed my hand. “You know what that means?”
I nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
“Just live and stop the creatures. If humans are controlling these creatures, they’re monsters themselves.”
“I understand. You don’t need to convince me. I’m okay with this.”
He stood and squeezed my hand. “Be careful. We can’t lose you.”
Skrale released my hand and stepped into his tent. My hand was still warm and I didn’t want to move. Some time later, Skrale stepped out and smiled at me. He was wearing full leather and had his sword sheathed at his side and an axe in his belt. We walked over together as the other squads returned. They listened to Skrale’s plan, then everyone put on their armor. We broke into our new squads and immediately left. Oitter shared the sketch with Yutt and Prenn as we all walked towards the woods. After all the scouts looked at the sketch Oitter slid it into a pocket and joined back with me. Kully quietly walked beside and Yutt fell in behind me.
“You and Yutt will lead us through, but I’m commanding.”
Oitter smiled. “I know. You don’t need to worry about us.”
It was a slow walk to the woods and the sun was slowly falling to the western horizon. There was still plenty of daylight, but shadows in the forest would be dangerous. Orkin’s group went straight in, while we went closer to the farmhouse to see if we could find any tracks. Yutt found the same shape left in a big piece of feces. The footprint looked like a huge egg with six small points or toes around with three on each side of the foot. Usually the
footprint would only be the six points, but the imprint in the turd was really clear. Oitter easily followed the path into the forest from the smell and remnants of manure. Yutt followed and seemed to pretend to help track more than actually assist.
The forest was quiet, and we aimed to be quieter. Without fully knowing what we would be fighting against, we didn’t want to approach this as a normal hunt. Skrale’s idea of scouting was smart so we could discover what the remigins were doing. There may be other places they could hide, but the forest seemed to be the only real location close to the city. We quietly walked and avoided fallen sticks and twigs. Each step was carefully planned and as silent as possible. Oitter held up a hand and we all pricked up our ears to listen. A voice that only sounded like mumbling came from ahead of our location. Oitter waited for my nod before continuing on. We stayed behind trees with wide trunks and spread out just enough to all stay hidden. Oitter and Yutt led just ahead of me and Kully. We went tree to tree, taking a moment’s break at each new tree until Oitter held his hand up once again. He waved me up to the tree beside him. A small opening was ahead of us, still rows of trees away. A tiny fire burned, not giving off enough smoke to rise above the forest’s canopy. There were voices we didn’t recognize of people we couldn’t see.
A metal cage about as tall as a normal man stood on the edge of the clearing near us. I couldn’t see what was inside, but it was an easy guess.
“Let’s get closer,” I whispered.
“Me first,” said Oitter.
I nodded. He slowly moved forward, still crouched and stopping behind trees. The scout Oitter moved expertly and silently. He froze with only one tree between him and the clearing, then waved us forward. The sun was starting to vanish for the night, leaving the sky colorful but the shadows long and dark. It would’ve been difficult to see the forest floor if my eyes hadn’t adjusted to the growing night. I stopped at a tree near Oitter’s that was closer to the cage. Inside was a dark green skinned creature lying with its shoulders and head resting against the side of the cage. Its belly was swollen like it was pregnant. The feet matched Oitter’s sketch with the six points around each egg-shaped foot. The arms were long and skinny with hands and fingers that looked incredibly human, except there was no little finger. It’s head was hairless and had small ridges running over the scalp. The eyes were small and dark with a large brow and the nose was slitted like a reptile’s. Its mouth was closed, and the lips were big.
Notes on Monster Hunting Page 24