Hunter's Bounty (Veller)

by Spoor, Garry

  The lone guard drew his weapon and the sound of steel sliding from its sheath sent a chill down her spine. He stepped between her and the man she had been talking to. It was obvious he had intended to protect the man and his dog from her, but he had also managed to block her access to the kitchen, and her only means of escape, unless she wanted to try running for the front door.

  “By the order of the High King of Aru, you are under arrest.” The guard shouted.

  “This is not necessary.” The man yelled from behind him as he got to his feet.

  “She is wanted for crimes against the crown my lord.” The Guard replied, but he had no intention of waiting to see if she was going to surrender as he launched his first attack at her. She easily avoided the stroke of his sword and recognized his stance as the clumsy maneuvers they taught at the Academy. She was sure she could defeat this one guard if she had to but there were already more coming through the doors. She had no desire to harm an innocent man, especially when she was trying to clear her own name.

  The hounds were released at the front of the room and quickly covered the ground between their handlers and Kile, but, much to everyone’s surprise, they stopped short of actually attacking. There was a momentary pause as all four dogs sat down in the middle of the hall and stared at her.

  -Watch out pup.-

  Tyler’s voice echoed in Kile’s head, and even though she wasn’t looking, she could see through the words of the old dog the guard had seized on her momentary distraction. She turned just in time to see the flash of his blade and spun away from his attack, but she wasn’t fast enough as she felt the tip of his sword bite into her arm. There was a deafening bark as one of the four hounds charged, plowing into the lone guard, sending him sprawling across the marble floor.

  -Get out of here pup.-

  Tyler shouted, filling Kile’s head with a sense of urgency.

  She leapt over the fallen guard and sprinted to the open door that led back to the kitchen. As she exited the room, two hounds were right behind her and more guards were coming in through the dining hall doors.

  “She went that way.”

  She heard one of the guards yell.

  “Are you alright your majesty?”

  Another guard was asking the man she had recently been speaking with.

  She stopped suddenly and turned around.

  “That was the King?”

  -Get down.-

  She quickly fell to the ground as one of the large hounds leapt over her, barreling into a guard that had come up the other side of the hall, knocking the man back hard onto the floor. Jumping to her feet she maneuvered around him and ducked back into the kitchen, slamming the door behind her and throwing the deadbolt. She made for the back of the room and had only just pulled up the grate when she heard the something strike the kitchen door.

  -We leave now?-

  Vesper asked.

  “Yeah, I think it’s time to go.” She said as she swung down into the hole and pulled the grate shut.

  She was only three rungs down when the door shattered.

  “Search the room, find her, she couldn’t have gone far.”

  Kile descended down to the refuse pile, crossed over to the hole in the wall, pulling herself through she was gone.

  ***~~~***

  18

  The wound wasn’t nearly as bad as it felt, but she managed to clean it in a small stream and wrap it in a clean cloth, or as clean a cloth as he could find, before setting off to Azintar. The day was already breaking when she reached Grim on the ridge, and although she should have stopped to rest she knew the guards would be searching for her. Why were the guards looking for her? How did they know she was going to be there? She didn’t even know she was going to be there until she actually arrived but somehow the guards had been alerted. Did somebody figure out the connection between Saybela and the other men, or did they already know.

  -You’ve been quiet.-

  Grim remarked as he plodded across the field, moving in a southerly direction. They knew the city of Azintar had to be around here somewhere.

  “Sorry, I was just lost in thought.” She said as she shifted her weight on the pony and laid crossed his back to stare up at the sky. “All the pieces are starting to fall together, but something is missing.”

  -And that would be.-

  “If I knew what it was, it wouldn’t be missing.”

  -Perhaps you are looking at it from the wrong point of view.-

  “What do you mean?”

  -If you look at it through the eyes of this… Ravenshade…-

  “Ravenshadow... and I have been doing just that. If Ravenshadow was the original assassin, why would he be so caught up in revenge, I mean, he was the one that was in the wrong, he can’t very well blame everyone else for doing what they were suppose to do.”

  -Was he in the wrong?-

  “Of course he was. He killed the Prince, if that wasn’t wrong then what is?”

  -But this Ravenshadow didn’t say he wanted revenge.-

  “No, he didn’t, did he.” She replied, sitting back up. “He said he wanted justice, but justice for what?”

  -What does a vir know of justice anyway?-

  “But that still doesn’t explain why these five men. What did these men have in common? Was it something to do with the prince? If that were the case, why were they all in hiding? Could Ravenshadow actually be innocent of the crime?”

  It was not that far fetched of an idea. She was innocent of the crimes she was being hounded for, why not Ravenshadow. Could these five men have conspired somehow to arrest an innocent man?

  No matter how many times she spun the pieces, no matter how many times she put them together, the puzzle just didn’t look like the box cover. Something was definitely off, and maybe it was in Azintar.

  She stopped Grim along the side of the road.

  -What is the matter now?-

  The pony grumbled.

  “I was just thinking. We can’t enter Azintar.”

  -And why not?-

  “Well, to put it simply, you’re too well known there.”

  -Me.-

  “Yes you.” She said as she slid off his back. “Don’t forget all the attention you drew last year at the academy.”

  -I was not the one that burned down the Great Hall.-

  “I did not burn down the Great Hall.” She shouted. “That was an accident, and it wasn’t even me. That was Eric’s doing.”

  -If you say so.-

  “And if I’m not mistaken, you did walk through the stable wall.”

  -That was to save your life.-

  “And what about chasing the horse master through the dinning hall and up a tree, was that to save my life? Do you think that went unnoticed?”

  -He was an annoying little vir.-

  “The point is we both have a reputation, but I can probably hide among the vir, you can not hide among the other horses, you stick out like a sore thumb.”

  -And you don’t.-

  Grim replied with a harsh snort.

  “And what’s that suppose to mean?”

  -You smell like a compost heap.-

  She had to admit he was right, she hadn’t been able to change or bath for some time now and crawling through the refuse pile within Windfoil didn’t help in the hygiene department.

  “Well… I can’t do much about that now, can I?” She said. “We’re going to have to find a place for you to hide.”

  -Fine, then once again, I shall wait while you go and get yourself stabbed.-

  “That wasn’t my fault.” She said as she touched the bandage on her arm. “And it’s not like I plan to get myself in a situation like that again anyway.”

  -Vir come.-

  Vesper said from his place between Grim’s ears.

  She quickly sniffed the air, but the mixture of smells made it difficult to figure out who these vir were, all she knew was that they were heading in her directions. She moved further back from the road with Grim and waited.
It wasn’t until they got closer that she could hear them singing. They definitely weren’t professional entertainers with the noise they were making, banging on boxes and blowing small horns. Their voices weren’t even in harmony and she wasn’t even sure they were all singing the same song, but they did sound like they were having fun.

  As the caravan came into view she could tell by the number of carriages that it had to be one of the merchant trains. Grim must have stumbled onto the trade routes. The lead carriages were round barrels. Large wagons with round back that were often used as portable houses for long journeys. Following behind them were a series of flat bed wagons carrying an assortment of sacks, barrels and boxes. Where ever they were coming from, they had traveled a great distance.

  As they got closer, she stepped out from the trees and stood on the side of the road. She wasn’t sure what they would do, whether they would pass her by without a second glance, or stop to give aid. As it was the driver of the lead carriage pulled his team to a halt and with a simple wave of his hand, the entire train slowly rolled to a stop.

  “What do we have here?” He bellowed.

  He was a loud heavy set jovial man with a round face and a neatly trimmed white beard. His clothes were finally tailored and had to be custom made to fit his girth so perfectly.

  “Excuse me sir, I don’t mean to be of any trouble.”

  She said as she came up beside the round barrel.

  A rather plump woman stuck her head out of one of the windows.

  “What is it dear, why have we stopped?”

  “I seemed to have found a stray.” The large man laughed.

  The plump old woman craned her neck around to see what her husband was referring to and when her eyes fell on Kile, they widened in surprised. At first she thought that she might have been recognized by this woman and was about to make a hasty retreat when the wagon began rocking. The back door suddenly popped open and the plump old woman climbed out. Two men from the second wagon also got down and followed the woman to where Kile was standing. One of the men was rather young, stocky build with honey brown hair and bore a striking resemblance to the large man leading the craven, but it was the other man that Kile was a little leery of. He was slightly older, slightly taller with an angular face and long blonde hair that was tied back in a tail. He wore a sword at his side and walked like a man that knew how to use it.

  “Oh, you poor dear.” The plump woman exclaimed as she got closer drawing Kile’s attention away from the blonde haired man. “Torin, go fetch Leeta”

  “Yes mum.” The younger of the two men said as he quickly dashed off to the second caravan.

  “You come here child.” The woman said as she took hold of Kile’s hand gingerly and led her to the back of the wagon. She flipped down a small seat, or it could have been a step, and directed her to sit.

  “What is your name child?” She asked.

  Kile didn’t answer at first as she caught sight of the green signet ring on the blonde haired man’s hand and realized that she may have just made a terrible mistake. The idea of traveling with the caravan into the city to avoid suspicion had crossed her mind. Merchant caravans are governed by the Merchant’s guild and therefore care little and have little knowledge of the current events within the cities. These people may not have recognized someone wanted by the crown, but the green signet ring was a clear sign that this man was not a member of the Merchant’s guild and was, in fact, a Member of the Hunter’s guild.

  “I think she’s in shock.” The plump woman remarked.

  “What? Oh, sorry, no, I’m fine. My name is… Alisa, Alisa Reaba.” She lied.

  “What brings you out here Mrs. Reaba?” The hunter asked.

  She looked at the hunter for a moment, she had to be careful. If he was a hunter, and the ring identified him as one, then he would know who and what she was, and then there was the small matter of his edge. What was it? As far as she knew there was no edge that allowed a hunter to read the minds of another vir or detect lies, but then again, there wasn’t supposed to be an edge that allowed a hunter to speak with animals either.

  “I was on my way to Azintar and I seemed to have lost my way.”

  “You travel rather light, for someone on the road. Are you afoot?” The hunter asked.

  “No, my horse is in the wood waiting for me.” She replied.

  “And where are coming out of?” The hunter asked.

  “That's enough Robert, can’t you see the child is hurt. You have to forgive Robert. He’s a hunter and is overly suspicious of anyone we meet.”

  “One cannot be too careful Mrs. Undack.” Robert remarked.

  “So you keep telling me Robert, but I will not badger a child out of paranoia.”

  “I think she’s safe Robert.” Mr. Undack laughed as he jumped down from his driver seat. The entire wagon rocked as it was suddenly released from under the big man’s weight. Kile had to grip the side of the seat as not to be thrown off. “She doesn’t look as if she could cause much harm.”

  “No, I suppose you’re right.” The hunter remarked. “Accept my apologize Mrs. Reaba, I meant no ill by them.”

  “No harm done.” Kile replied, although she couldn’t help but wonder how much the hunter thought he knew.

  The young man named Tobin arrived with an even young girl in tow. She couldn’t be any older then fifteen with her long honey brown hair tied up in pig tails and her round smiling face so much like Mrs. Undack. She carried with her a small pouch that she set down on the end of the carriage.

  “May I look at your arm?” She asked, taking Kile’s arm and slowly removing the bandages.

  “This is my second eldest daughter Leeta.” Mrs. Undack said, placing a motherly arm on the girl. “Don’t you worry now, she’s a trained healer, Better than any of the doctor’s in Littenbeck she is.”

  “Mother.” Leeta protested sharply.

  “We should probably see about getting your horse Mrs. Reaba.” Mr. Undack remarked. “Come on Tobin, give me a hand.”

  “Yes father.” The younger man said, rushing off after the larger man.

  Leeta cleaned the wound with an ointment that had a rather strong acidic smell to it. She quickly glanced over at Robert who was now pacing along side of the road. Hunter’s never liked to be kept waiting if they didn’t have to, time was money.

  “Mother, look at this.”

  Mrs. Undack came up behind her daughter and looked at Kile’s arm.

  “This is a sword wound.” The young girl said.

  Kile looked between the two of them, and when her eyes connected with those of Mrs. Undack, the older woman smiled.

  “Looks like a simple cut to me, bind it.” The older woman said calmly.

  “Yes mother.” Leeta replied as she spread some foul smelling ointment on Kile’s arm and gently wrapped it with some clean gauze she took from her pouch.

  “I just discovered the funniest thing.” Mr. Undack bellowed as he came out of the woods with his son in tow. “There is a mountain pony in the woods with a rat sitting on his head.”

  “Oh don’t be ridiculous Gunthor” Mrs. Undack replied.

  “I’m quite serious.” Mr. Undack laughed. “Damnest thing I ever saw, ain’t that right Tobin.”

  “Its true mother, he’s just standing out there. Shouldn’t get close to it though, Mountain ponies have a bad disposition.”

  Kile looked to the hunter who was now looking at her. Did he know about the girl that rode the mountain pony? She fell into her edge and calmly called to Grim, and she knew he heard her and was coming.

  “I’m afraid that’s my horse.” She said.

  “Is it now?” The hunter asked as he came over. “Not too many people ride mountain ponies.”

  “I suppose not.” Kile replied.

  “Well then, I should probably check on the other wagons, let them know what’s going on.” The hunter said, then, much to Kile’s surprise he nodded to her and tapped his signet ring before heading off down the train.r />
  Leeta gasped and Mrs. Undack whispered something under her breath that sounded a lot like a prayer for protection as a large black shaggy eyesore emerged from the forest. Grim walked passed Mr. Undack and Tobin to stand beside Kile. Vesper leapt from the horse's head onto Kile’s head and then onto her shoulder.

  “My word.” Was all Mrs. Undack would say.

  ***

  After a tepid bath in one of the wagons, Kile was dressed in a rather comfortable, snug fitting cotton tunic and pants as she sat with Mrs. Undack’s daughters in the third round barrel wagon on the train line. She had learned that the first wagon belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Undack who ran the Undack Merchant Line and had traveled the trade routes between Baala and Aru for nearly forty years. The second wagon was for the Undack’s oldest son Tobin and his wife Ester and their four year old child Mary. The third belonged to the Undack daughters of which there were three, Magan, Leeta and Jennie, and the fourth wagon was for the Undack sons Gilbert and Chriss. Following up the rear were twelve flatbed carriages carting supplies from east into Aru on their way to Azintar.

  As the carriages started to roll, the drivers started to sing the same, somewhat nonsensical song that Kile had heard earlier. Something about a fish traveling through the forest, that was if she understood the words correctly. She had to admit that the driver of the round barrel wagon, she found herself in, had a rather thick eastern accent and it was difficult to make out the words. It also didn’t help that the Undack’s son, Gilbert she believed, rode with the eastern driver and was banging on a crudely made drum to keep the beat.

  She shared the wagon with only two of the Undack’s daughters, Leeta and Jennie who seemed more interested in playing with Vesper than to badger Kile with too many questions. The eldest daughter Magan, whose clothes she had borrowed, rode on one of the supple wagons. If the stores that the two youngest Undack daughters told her were true, it would appear that Magan was smitten with one of the easterners and were to be married upon their return to Baala. Grim had been tied off, with some difficulty, among the other horses that were being brought to Azintar, none of which were mountain ponies so there was still a chance of that being a problem, but for now it was out of her hands. She lay back on the small cot and in spite of the rocking carriage, the banging drum and the strange eastern song, or maybe it was because of them, she slowly fell into a carefree sleep.