Hunted

by Matt Mememaro

  Barros fell back, retreating once again. He held his side and grimaced up at his son. “You’ve gotten stronger.”

  “We haven’t sparred since I was a child, Barros. Now I will be your end.”

  Barros ducked out of the way again as Zarazenih’s monstrous fist came crashing down again. He flicked a knife out from inside his coat, a beautiful jeweled blade with a silver hilt and red runes engraved throughout the blade. Barros rolled away again and leapt to his feet, holding the knife out in front of him.

  “Come on, try and take me then,” he said.

  Zarazenih leapt over the velvet lounge chair and tackled Barros to the ground. The wolf howled as the knife punched through his skin into his stomach. He howled five times before Barros rolled him over onto his back. Zarazenih clawed at his stomach, howling in pain, a burning sensation filling his body wherever Barros had stabbed him.

  “So it actually works,” Barros said. He sat down beside Zarazenih and placed his hand on the wolf’s head. “Be silent my son, the pain is your ally. You will rest, and you will heal. Then I will give you this dagger and for you to complete your task, all you have to do is give the blade to Abner Toldar.”

  “You’re going to kill him?” Zarazenih asked.

  “No, not me, but someone else will for me. Do this and I will let you live freely, my son.”

  22

  Old Foe

  The tavern door opened and a soft breeze blew in. Abner looked up from his drink, the tip of his hat slightly rising. A man walked in, the lower part of his face covered by a red and stone rawhide mask. He was dressed in a similar fashion, rawhide red and stone vest as well as an overcoat, to keep out the cold. He had dark cold eyes and his hair was a wavy black mess atop his head.

  The tavern patrons had all returned to their drinks while the man took off his mailed gloves. He did not lower the mask, but instead surveyed the room scowling at anyone that looked at him. The man watched everyone in the room and his eyes finally set on the Hunter, in the very back corner of the room, almost out of sight.

  Abner adjusted the small crossbow on his leg and aimed it where the unknown man might sit. The Hunter then continued burying his face inside the tankard in front of him, while the red and stone man approached, who took a seat opposite the bartender.

  “Give me ale,” he said banging a gold coin on the counter, his voice cold, dark and powerful with a distinct purr in his voice, marking him as a Renori.

  “One ale coming right up sir,” the barkeep said. He handed over a tankard and took the coin cautiously, expecting a trap.

  The Renori finished his drink, his back to Abner the whole time, who had no doubt that he would be facing a dangerous man. Abner saw the twin swords across his back and another at his belt. It could get messy.

  Once the Renori had finished his drink he turned and stared straight at Abner. Abner looked at him from the corner of his eyes and tensed as the fighter got up and walked towards him.

  Abner checked his leg to make sure the crossbow was still there, loaded and ready to fire.

  “Hunter,” the Renori said as he sat down. “I’m looking for one of you. I doubt you’d know him however. He is the scum of the earth.”

  “Much like you then,” Abner said. “You look like you work for the Blood Brotherhood, if I’m not mistaken. I thought we finished you off years ago?”

  The assassin looked taken back. “How do you know of my past?” he asked.

  “I killed a few of you when I was a boy competing at Renor’s tournament. I also have a close relationship with the one you called the Redjay,” Abner said.

  “You’re the one I seek, Abner Toldar. It will be said that the Rattlesnake bought the greatest Hunter of the modern era to his knees.”

  “If you know so much about me, you know you’ll have a hard time,” Abner said. “I’m a half Vampire, you can’t really do anything to me.”

  “No, you can’t but I know someone that can. Bring her in!” the Rattlesnake said.

  The door opened again, and two men wearing tattered Renori Vanguard uniforms struggled in with Lois, unconscious, held between them. Another Vanguard strode in behind them, with a feathered helmet and a better suit of armor marked with a four-stripe red and gold insignia.

  “Laksha,” Abner said.

  Captain Commander Laksha, shrugged off her helmet pulling it over her head and resting it by her side. The last eight years she had spent wandering the greater parts of Taagras had served her well. Her face was hardened in an intense glare, her skin more worn than it had been eight years ago.

  “Abner Toldar, we meet again. And you no longer have your protectors. You are alone and I now have two hundred ex-Vanguard at my disposal that has surrounded this building. Resist and you will be killed. If it wasn’t for the insanely large bounty on your head I would kill you right now,” she said.

  Abner took his hat off his head and casually spun it around on one finger. “Laksha, frankly I couldn’t care less about your numbers, I couldn’t care that you have me here and alone or my partner in chains. I will come with you willingly, but just let me do one thing first, as a last request.”

  “What is it?” Laksha asked. Her eyes narrowed as she frowned.

  “This,” Abner said.

  The bolt leapt from the crossbow and buried itself inside the Rattlesnake’s kneecap. Abner lifted the table and flung it onto the already weakened assassin. He crumpled under the impact, leaving Abner to deal with the Vanguard.

  The first rushed at him sword in head high above his head coming for a down stroke. Abner flicked his hat at the Vanguard, temporarily blinding him, ducking into his chest and throwing two quick jabs, one crushing a rib.

  The second Vanguard used his sword in a two-handed grip attempting to cut Abner in half. He had seen Abner’s speed but thought he was faster. Abner grabbed his hands and stop the attacked instantly. The Vanguard begged with Abner to let him go, but to no avail as Abner twisted and heard the bones in his wrists grinding and breaking.

  Once he was satisfied he knocked the man out with a single blow to his temple.

  Looking for his next opponent Abner turned to Laksha. The Captain–Commander had a pistol drawn and it was held to Lois’s head. Lois rolled around when Laksha moved.

  “You might be immortal Abner, but what about her? Is she?”

  “You’ve only got one shot Captain; you’ll be dead by the time I’m onto you. Do you really want to throw away your life like that? Lois didn’t kill a Councilor. I did. She didn’t commit any treason,” Abner said.

  “No she didn’t, but that she was there when Reiner died and that makes her as guilty as you!” Laksha said.

  “I’m immortal. I can’t be killed by any normal weapons. If you kill her I will just find another girl, it makes little difference to me. You on the other hand, you only have one life to give. Like I said before, do you want to waste it?” Abner asked.

  Laksha turned the pistol on Abner. “Fine. What do you want?”

  “I want you to let her go, and I will come with you willingly. You will take me to face the courts and have me trialed. Just let Lois go.”

  “Alright, she can go. That’s a fair trade. She’ll come for you. Men!” Laksha said. “I have Toldar inside, bring the irons.”

  More Vanguard burst into the tavern, several of them carrying iron chains. They all looked surprised as they saw their two comrades on the ground, one unconscious and the other writhing in pain.

  They stepped cautiously towards Abner, and two men went to aid their fallen comrades, dragging them away from the figure destructive figure that was Abner. He held his arms out and rolled his eyes as he waited for the Vanguard to chain him. They put two sets on his wrists and another pair around his shins.

  “I don’t want you escaping this time,” Laksha said. She turned to leave the tavern. “Men, take him to the keep. Tie him down to the cart. We’re not missing this opportunity.”

  The Vanguard were unceremonious in putting Abner on
the cart. Two of them shoved him towards it, smashing his head into the side. They refused to help him walk even with his legs chained.

  “Get in.”

  Abner gestured to his chained limbs. “Hmm good luck with that,” he said.

  “You won’t be feeling so good when we’ve got you locked up tight in the Maw,” the Vanguard said.

  The other Vanguard, closed fist punched Abner square in the jaw. Abner blinked from the impact, he was surprised how much force it contained. He turned around and allowed the Vanguard to lift him into the cart.

  It was filled with hay, and several tools that Abner could use to his advantage, but not before the Vanguard spotted him. As per their instructions, the Vanguard took great care in tying Abner down, with nails inserted between the chain links securing him further. Abner had no choice but to remain seated in the cart, surrounded by the enemy as they marched higher into Etia, through the slums and closer towards the Citadel.

  A short time later the Citadel was now high above Abner; its black spires a similar color to the now ever darkening sky above. Another snow storm was coming and Abner could feel it in his bones and he could sense a new urgency amongst the Vanguard. Laksha rode at the head atop her stallion, calm and collected as ever and Abner wondered if any fear ever struck into the heart of the Captain-Commander.

  The contingency was stopped at the gates by an Alilletian guard, covered in typical thick Alilletian furs. His black hair was covered in a light layer of snow, and his face icy, making him appear much older than he was.

  “Who goes there and what is your business here at the Citadel?” he asked.

  “Captain-Commander Laksha, formerly of the third Renori Regiment, requesting to transfer a prisoner to the Maw. We request a trial for him on the accounts of treason and murder.”

  The Alilletian guard suspiciously eyed Abner. “Who is it?” he asked.

  “Abner Toldar of the Tyrain Huntrey”, Abner said. He rolled his eyes. “Accused of killing both Councilor Graytooth and Councilor Reiner during the forty seventh tournament at the Renori arena.”

  “You’re Toldar?” the guard asked. “If the rumor is correct, the newly returned son of Graytooth will be wanting your head. He arrived in Etia only a few days ago and the Graytooth family steward recognized him instantly and now is putting himself before the Regents in order to take up his father’s mantle. Open the gate!”

  The bulky gate slowly began to rise, metal gears clunking and grinding together as other guards worked to pull it up. Abner’s cart moved under it and he saw that it would be next to impossible to get in from the outside. If Lois or Gareth were to attempt a rescue they would need a small army to get in or over the walls that were hundreds of meters high.

  The wagon came to a halt outside the main entrance to the Citadel and the Vanguard were met by a small party of Alilletians. Laksha approached them with both her second and third in stride behind her.

  “Captain Commander,” an elderly Alilletian said as he approached. “What brings you to the Citadel?”

  “Abner Toldar, war child of Malvrok the Exile and the murderer of both the late Councilors Graytooth and Reiner. I have come to request his imprisonment inside the Maw until the Regents allow for him to be trialed,” Laksha said.

  He looked at Laksha and nodded his head slowly. “This is the man that killed Councilor Graytooth?”

  “Aye it is, Regent,” she said.

  “Very well, we have three Regents currently not in session. Get him out of that wagon and bring him inside. Courtroom four is available.”

  Abner was strapped into a cold metal chair inside of the massive courtroom, which suited the giant structure it was in. There was a bench in front of him which was designed to have those that sat upon it the ability to look down over whoever sat in this doomed seat. Laksha was beside him staring forward at all times.

  Abner had already tested the chains to no avail, which had been doubled against once he was seated. The courtroom around him began to fill as more people from all across the Citadel came to watch the trial. While most Alilletians were barbaric in nature, the elders were not and liked doing things in an orderly manner before proceeding to the bloodshed.

  He waited, chained to the chair as the room was packed to capacity and let the trial begin. The same Regent that had welcomed Laksha at the entrance now stood and the assembled crowd fell silent before him. The Regent wielded a small hammer and hit it three times on the stand in front of him, each strike symbolizing each Regent.

  Laksha stood up straighter at Abner’s side as the hammer made the wooden hitting block sing.

  “This courtroom is now in session, and the manner of this court is to address the murders of both Councilors Graytooth and Reiner. The Regent members for this trial are Redmane, Frostsight and Lord Thornstrike. The defendant is Abner Toldar, war child of Malvrok the Exile, stealer of the red amulet and exile. Regents Redmane and Frostsight, how do you answer to these claims,” Thornstrike asked.

  “True and honorable my lord,” the Regent on the left said. He wore his long scraggly hair in a bun that looked like a wave of fire. It could only be Redmane.

  “Proper and true,” Frostsight said.

  “Very well, with that business taken care of, I summon the one true heir of the late Councilor Graytooth to grace us with his presence and give the final judgment at the end of this trial.” The huge doors that momentarily shut now reopened and Abner turned his head as far as he could to see who the heir of Graytooth was. Loud footsteps echoed off the walls in the hushed silence. When Thornstrike spoke Abner didn’t need to see the face of the heir to know who it was. “Councilor Gareth Graytooth, come forward.”

  23

  Once A Friend

  Tension in the room immediately rose to an all new high as Gareth strode past Abner, a look of understanding passing through the pair. Dressed in his new Alilletian brown and gray furs, completed with a bear’s head as a hood, Gareth looked very much the part, like his late father. He wore his hair much like the late Councilor and a new air of confidence could be felt radiating from the young man. The change in the past days had turned him into a new man.

  His nose and chest could not have possibly been any further forward and an arrogant smile had spread across his face as he moved to shake each of the Regent’s hands in turn. Each of them shared several quick words with Gareth before he moved onto the next. Every person in the crowd stretched their necks to get a look at the newly announced Councilor; the man that would lead their country into the future.

  “Abner fucking Toldar,” Gareth said. “To think I’d see you with your hands bound, standing before me as my prisoner to answer for what you’ve done. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.”

  “So this is why you ran from us. You’re Graytooth’s son then? I’m glad he didn’t get the chance to raise you,” Abner said. “Have you sold out the Huntrey yet?”

  “No, as surprising as it may be to you. I am still yet a Hunter, but soon the Huntrey will fall by my command,” Gareth said. “However, today is not that day and we are gathered here for other reasons. Namely the part in crimes you have committed against Alilletia and her people. What do you have to say for yourself?”

  Abner paused and glanced over each shoulder at the crowd watching on behind him. “What crimes are you talking about?”

  Gareth remained stone faced, looking ready to put his fist through a wall. “Murdering Councilor Graytooth and the slaughter of our allies in Renor, eight years ago. The list is endless, Toldar. Don’t try your false bravado with me! You have no witnesses to attest your innocence, no testimony, no reasons as to why you would kill hundreds of innocents. What do you have to save yourself?”

  “I admit, I have nothing. My friends are gone, and here I was thinking you could be trusted. I did what I had to do to ensure my own survival and to avenge my family. Your father executed my uncle when I was fifteen years old. I wasn’t going to forget that and if you think he was any kind of innocent, he sho
uld have been standing trial here with me,” Abner said.

  “This is your trial! Not his! My father has already answered for his crimes in death,” Gareth said. “Laksha, step forward!”

  The Renori Commander wove her way through the crowd, passing her men that stood by Abner. She shot him a glance and a toothy smile.

  “Captain-Commander Laksha, formerly of the third Renori Regiment, is your testimony true and proper?” Regent Redmane asked. She nodded. “Very well. You have the floor,” he gestured.

  “Councilor, Regents, my case will be brief. I can remember that day eight years ago on the hot, dry sand of the Renori arena. My regiment and I were cut to pieces by Toldar and the rest of his Hunters, one of whom I have in my possession. Should I bring her forward?” Laksha said.

  Gareth waved his hand with a careless flick. “Leave her. Lois Behan has committed no crimes against Alilletia and thus has been found innocent of any crimes committed against Renor. She is free to walk. Please continue, Commander.”

  “As anyone who was there that day would tell you, Abner Toldar engaged Councilor Graytooth on the orders of Councilor Renor at the time in the finals of the forty seventh Renoir Tournament,” Laksha said.

  The news hit Gareth in the face like a bull whip. “Wait, so you mean to tell me that your Councilor that hosted this event willingly set Toldar against my father.”

  “That is correct,” Laksha said.

  “My Lord,” Redmane said to Gareth. “If this is true, then the act of killing your father is not in fact treason or murder. By Renori custom, murder is legal inside the tournament.”

  “What about Renor?” Gareth asked. “Surely there has to be some grounds there.”

  “Yes, tell me, Commander. How did the death of Councilor Renor come to be?” Redmane asked. “Was it on the same grounds as Councilor Graytooth?”