Hunter's Bounty (Veller) (21 page)

Andrew Drain was a round, vain man who fought against aging every step of the way. He wore a girdle under his fine silk clothing, dyed his hair with coal oil and combed it in creative ways to cover the fact that he had very little of it. None of it actually worked, and now he only looked older as he dropped back into his chair, burying his face in his hands.

“We ran into a little… bad luck sir.” Grey remarked, although with his nose bandaged up
, he didn’t sound very convincing.

Drain looked up from between his fingers. “Bad luck?”
He repeated. “You had a little bad luck?”

“Well
… yes sir. We had her surrounded, we were closing in but… well sir… the bats.”

“Bat?”

“Yes sir, it would appear that my men ran into a nest of… bats.”

“Bats, so you’re saying bats stopped you from capturing her?”

“Well… no, not exactly sir… they just…”

“They just what? Did they carry her off? Did they cover for her? Maybe the deliberately helped her to escape, that’s it, isn’t it Grey, The bats actually helped her escape is that what you telling me.”

“Well… it kind of seemed so.”

“I give you three level one Hunters, two experienced trackers, six soldiers and you give me
… bats.”

Erin
sat silently beside the door, watching the exchange. Although she enjoyed seeing Grey chews out by Drain, she couldn’t help but think that the old man might be on the right track. How else could she explain where the bats came from, or why they attacked her on the rooftop, okay, maybe attack is a strong word, they didn’t do any harm, they just interfered. She had never heard of anyone being able to summon bats as a defense before but there had been rumors of certain Hunters that had unusual or unique edges. They had often been referred to as freaks. Was Kile one of these freaks? Then again the jump she made across the alley could have been a type of wind walking art, although Erin never saw her actually use the edge. The more she thought about it, the more question it rose.

“Certified level one Hunter Erin Silvia.”

Erin looked up to see Drain staring at her. She quickly got to her feet and stood beside Gray who seemed relieved that Drain had another target to aim his frustrations at.

“Sorry Councilman Drain.”
Erin replied.

“Am I to believe that you are after the fugitive Kile Veller as well?” He asked, although it was clear by the tone that he already knew the answer.

“Yes sir, I was appointed the task of bringing her in.”

“By whom?”

Again, he already knew the answer.

“Guild Master Latherby.”

“I see.” Drain replied.

She
was grateful to see that the name of Latherby still held a little power in the council room as Drain’s temperament subsided, although it wasn’t all that much.

“So, Guild Master Lathery has appointed you to bring in Veller?”

“Yes sir.”

“What success have you had?”

Prudence was necessary at this point. Although Drain couldn’t reside over Kile’s hearing, should it get that far, he would still hold sway over the council. That meant that any evidence that Erin revealed at this point could be manipulated against her.

“Well sir, we tracked her to Coopervill, but a clumsy attempt by a couple of
overzealous Hunter to bring her in resulted in her fleeing before we got there. We continued our investigations which lead us back to Littenbeck, but our assistance was denied, and it would appear that she had gotten away again.”

“I see.” Drain calmly replied as his eyes shifted over to Grey. “Do you know where she could be heading now?”

“I’m afraid not sir. The guards that pursued her outside the wall returned… unexpectedly.”

“Why was that?”

Although she wanted to tell him it was because the guard’s mounts had decided they wanted to return home, much to the guard’s embarrassment, she didn’t want to set the old man off again.

“They did not say sir.”

“So, this young girl has not only managed to elude some of the best Hunters, but the entire Littenbeck guard.  How do you account for that Hunter Silvia?”

“I have no explanation sir.”

“It would seem to me, that at this junction, we should be pooling our resources. I wish to have Hunter Grey assist you in bringing in the fugitive Kile Veller.”

“But sir, I don’t think
that's necessary.” She objected.

“Nonsense.” Drain replied with a wave of his hand as if he was doing
her a favor. “I insist. Grey has an excellent retrieval record. He could be of great help to you in tracking down and apprehending this fugitive.”

“Yes sir… of course sir.”
She replied.

Although she would prefer to be as far away from Grey as possible, she also knew that having him close meant she could keep an eye on him. His attempt to bring Kile in at the Tally house was too heavy handed. It appeared to be more of
an extermination rather than an apprehension.

“Then it’s settled.” Drain said, rubbing his hands together. “If you would wait outside Hunter Silvia, I have a personal matter that I must discuss with Hunter Grey.”

“Yes sir.” She replied with a nodding bow.

It was never a good sign when Councilmen Drain was happy.

She stepped out into the hall, letting the door close behind her. Why did his office always feel like it was stuck in the middle of winter she wondered as she rubbed her arms?

“So, how did it go?”

“Not too good sir, I think he’s up to something.” Erin replied.

“I know he’s up to something, I just don’t know what
… yet.”

Mathew Latherby stepped out of the shadows as he stared at the closed door.

“I don’t think he has any intentions of brining Kile in… alive.”

“I was afraid of that.” Latherby replied.

The door opened as Grey stepped out. He didn’t look nearly as annoyed as he had when he first learned he would be working with Erin, which only meant that the personal matter that Drain needed to speak to him about, was something that set the Hunter’s mind at ease. It was either that or the fact that his bandaged nose made him look too comical to take seriously.

“Who
were you talking to?” Grey asked.

Erin
looked down the hall, but Latherby was gone.

“Nobody, so, are you ready.”

“I suppose.”  He said as he fell in step behind her. “So, what now?”

“Information, but first we get something to eat.”
She added.

***

The Iron Table was a small establishment just outside the ring of Guild buildings, which meant that most of the Hunter came there to eat, and today was no exception. The topic of conversation at each of the tables didn’t really come as a surprise to Erin as she walked to the back of the room with Grey in tow. It was all about the mass confusion throughout the streets of Littenbeck, even if most of the hunters didn’t really know what it was all about. Hearing the different takes on the events of last night was rather amusing as they covered everything from a rabid dog to an escape Wili.

She found Daniel and Folkstaff sitting at one of the tables, tucked away in the back of the room, away from the crowds. Daniel stood up as
Erin approached.

“What’s he doing here?” He asked as he pointed a finger at Grey.

“He’s going to help us.” She said, and as the words left her lips, she found them hard to believe.

“The more the merrier I suppose.” Folkstaff replied in his casual way.

“So, did you get in contact with him?” She asked a she took a seat opposite Folkstaff.

“I found him.” Folkstaff replied. “And I told him you wished to speak with him. Whether he actually comes or not, well, you know how they can be.”

“I suppose I do.”

“And who are we suppose to be meeting here?” Grey asked.

“I’m hoping someone who can give us a little more information on our target.”

“Kile is not a target.” Daniel shouted.

“Ease up boy, your scaring the civilians.” Folkstaff replied. “It’s just a figure of speech.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t like it.”

“Maybe we should leave the… kid at home.” Grey added.

“Kid! I’ll have you know that I’m the same age as Kile, and from where I’m sitting it looks like she kicked your ass pretty good.”

“Is that what you think kid?” Gray asked as he pushed out his chair.

“Oh come on. It’s like watching a pair of first years. We don’t have time, and I don’t have the patience.”
Erin interrupted.

Grey slowly sank back into his seat, his eyes never leaving Daniel as he addressed
Erin. “So, who is this informant we’re supposed to meet.”

“I’m assuming that would be me.” Morgan Vain replied as he appeared in the vacant seat beside
Erin. He was a tall, slim balding man with narrow eyes and sunken cheeks, a pair of thin wired rimmed glasses perched on the end of a pointed nose. He wore the yellow robes of a scholar mystic. Daniel almost fell off his chair at the sudden appearance of his mystic arts instructor. Even Grey seemed unnerved by the old man, only Folkstaff showed no reaction.

“I’m glad you could make time for us.”
Erin said as she tried to hide the fact that even she had been startled by his sudden appearance.

“Time
… I do not make time, I use the time that is available to me.” Morgan said as he produced a cup of rosemary tea from the air in front of him.

“And I’ll try not to take up any more of your time
than necessary.” Erin replied. “I just have a few questions, what do you know of Emara Lon.”

“Emara Lon. What does she have to do with finding Veller?”
Grey demanded.

“This is my investigation Grey. If you don’t like the way it’s going, you’re more th
an welcome to return to Councilmen Drain and ask him for another assignment.” Erin told him. Grey leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Emara Lon is a very skilled mystic, or she would be if she would concentrate more on her studies.”

“So she’s returned to the tower?” Daniel asked.

“No, as far as I know she had not. She went missing over a week ago
. We have yet to find her.”

“She was taken by the fugitive Veller.” Grey replied. “She’s probably dead by now.”

Morgan casually took a sip of his tea, before replying. “If you truly believe that, then you know very little of your subject.”

“So you don’t think Kile could have done it?”
Erin asked.

“I’ve taught her for three years at the Academy.
Not one of my best students when it came to the mystic arts, but definitely up there. If you believe that she killed, let alone kidnapped Emara Lon, then I’m afraid you’ll never find her.”

“What’s that suppose to mean.”

“It means… you’re obviously looking for the wrong girl. The Kile you’re looking for, does not exist.”

“So you say.” Grey replied. “If you’re her mystic instructor, then what’s her edge?”

“Even you should know that I cannot tell you that. The edge of a Hunter is known only by the Hunter and the mystic that teaches them.”

“
Her Hunter status has been revoked. She is no longer a hunter and therefore is no longer afforded the privilege of your silence. So, what is her edge?”

“So, she ha
s been tried already?”

“Tried… well no, not yet.”

“Not even in abstention.”

“
Um… no, not exactly.”

“Then I’m afraid I can not tell you anything. Your council may have revoked her status as a hunter, but that does not mean I have. Until she is found guilty of the crimes you believe she has committed, she is still a hunter.”

“Is there anything you could tell us about her, anything that might help?” Erin asked.

Morgan set his cup down on the table, leaning forward as he stroked his beard the way most mystics did when they were thinking.
He looked at Erin carefully, and when mystics look at anyone carefully, it was difficult to know what they were actually seeing, but what he saw did force him to hesitate.

“I understand.” He said, nodding his head slowly, although
Erin wasn’t sure what he understood. “I will tell you what you need to know, but only you.”

“Doesn’t work that way mystic.” Grey replied. “We’re looking for Veller together,
whatever you tell her, you tell me.”

“Of course, I did not mean to be rude.” Morgan said as he leaned back in his chair, pushing his glasses back up his nose. “But not here, too many ears. There is a lovely spot just outside the city walls. I will meet you there, but I can’t stay long, there is so much for me to do.”

“If we must. Shall we go then?” Grey asked as he pushed himself away from the table and got to his feet.