Hunter's Bounty (Veller) (38 page)

“So will you at least tell me what in all the levels of hell is going on in my academy?”

“The fugitive Veller was here.” Grey announced as he entered the stables through the far doors followed by two other hunters from the Azintar Guild House.

“Veller… Kile Veller was here? Why?” Oblum asked.

“To kill me obviously.” Boraro replied as he pulled his healed hand away from Daniel. He looked it over carefully, trying out each of his fingers before he grumbled a thank-you.

“I don’t see anything obvious about if.”
Erin said as she held up the dagger.

“May I see that?” Daniel asked. He held the dagger carefully in his hands as to not touch the blade, and then fell into his edge once more. When he opened his eyes he set it carefully on one of the workbenches.

“Poison for sure, natural in origin, venom would be my guess, but from what, I don’t know, either way it looks to be the same compound that killed Saybela.”

“So if Kile wasn’t trying to Kill Garrett, then who was?” Oblum asked.

“A hired assassin from the Assassin’s guild I wouldn’t wonder.” Erin replied. “It would appear that someone involved with the death of Prince Jonland has targeted anyone associated with the matter.”

Erin
wasn’t sure if she was supposed to divulge the identity of the man who hired this assassin, but figured it was better to be safe than sorry.  They were not entirely convinced that it was Prince Jonland who was behind the assassinations of the members of the so called dark conspiracy or just someone seeking a skewed form of justice for something that had been done. Erin pushed past Grey and stepped out into the night air. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Noise from the Eastern Gate caught her attention as more guards, more dogs and more hunters began to filter in. It had become some kind of circus and Kile was the main event. Where was Master Latherby she wondered, if anyone could put a stop to the inevitable disaster that was about to take place, it was him. She turned as another Hunter approached.

“She’s out there somewhere.” Folkstaff said as he turned and looked back toward the west. “
I followed her trail as far I could, I got close to her, but lost her somewhere in the woods. All I know is she’s hurt, and she’s hurt bad.”

“And this isn’t going to help bring her in.”
Erin said as she gestured to the crowd that had gathered outside the stables. Grey was already giving his motivational speech as he dividing the hunters and members of the city guard into groups.

“What’s going on here then?” Folkstaff asked.

“Grey has it in his mind to sweep the forests with as many men as he can convince to help.”

“That… may not be a very good idea.” Folkstaff said grimly.

“I know, they’re going to try to bring her in any way they can, and I can’t help her.”

“It’s not her I’m worried about, it’s them.”

“What do you mean?”

“I said I got close to her… she’s not… acting
… well, she’s not acting normal.”

“Normal?”

“I have tracked a lot of people through the a lot of places, you know that Erin. I know how people act, what they do when they’re being chased. This… This is more like tracking down a wild animal, one that’s been wounded. She’s dangerous, to herself and to anyone that goes after her now, and that’s not the worst of it.”

“What now?”
Erin asked, although she really didn’t want to hear any more problems at the moment.

“The forest is alive.” Folkstaff
replied.

She
had never seen the big hunter so nervous, dare she even say even scared. For Folkstaff to fear the forest when the man spent most of his early career isolated within it was not to be taken lightly.

“Explain, what do you mean?”

“I mean the forest is awake and it’s really ticked off. I spotted at least seven wolves and two bears in the short period I was out there. I dare not pursue her any further, it’s too dangerous. She’s too dangerous.”

“She’s not dangerous.” Daniel shouted as he came up behind Folkstaff. “She didn’t do any of this, this is not her fault.”

“Fault or no, she’s not exactly herself at the moment.” Folkstaff replied.

“But you’re talking as if she was an animal.”

“She’s more animal now than she is human.” Erin said softly as she stared off to the western gate. Was this what Morgan hinted at, was this what the old mystic was afraid of, that she would completely lose herself to the natural world.

“Then I’ll find her
myself and I’ll bring her back.” Daniel said, but before he could even take a step, Folkstaff grabbed him by the arm.

“At the moment, that would be foolish.”
He said. “We don’t know… we don’t know how badly off she is.”

“But if she’s hurt, I can help.”

“You may not be able to help this time.” He said shaking his head. “This goes beyond the physical.”

“I don’t believe she would hurt me.” Daniel replied.

“Think about it, boy. Would the Kile Veller you know leave that yarrow behind?”

Daniel reached into the
bag he wore over his shoulder to feel the soft, yet very nervous body of Vesper. He was surprised to have seen him in the stables alone, surprised that the yarrow had even come to him when he called. He had tried to calm him down, but it was no good, the yarrow was agitated for some reason. So agitated that he wouldn’t even accept the bit of food that Daniel offered him and for as long as Daniel had known Vesper, he had never seen the yarrow turn down food before.

“So what do we do?” Daniel asked.

“There’s not much we can do.” Erin said as she turned to where the men were gathered by the western gate. Grey was giving them their final orders and appeared very pleased with himself as he stood before them in all his glory. The guards appeared a little nervous, but it was no secret that they didn’t trust Hunters and their mystic ways. The hunters on the other hand were eager to get the search underway, a little too eager, but not as eager as the hounds that were straining at their leashes.

“The dogs.” Daniel exclaimed as he started to run across the field towards the groups of men.

“What are you on about boy?” Folkstaff called out.

“Of course, he’s right.”
Erin replied as she ran after him.

“Right? Right about what?” Folkstaff called out as
chased his two companions down the hill toward the western gate.

“Let the dogs loose.” Daniel cried as he came up to the first
guard and wrested the leash from his hands.

“What’s all this?” The guard exclaimed.

“Release the dogs, all of them.” Daniel said as he unfastened the lead to the dog’s collar. The hound, unhindered, ran for the gate, the other hounds now pulling harder on their own leads, eager to follow.

“What are you mad boy.” One guard said, pulling the leash out of Daniel’s hand, but Daniel simply unfastened it from the dog’s collar and the second dog was quickly closing in behind the fist that had already passed under the Western gate.
The guard took a few quick steps as if to follow, but thought better of it as he turned to Daniel.

“Do you know what you’ve done boy? Those dogs will tear her apart.”

Grey grabbed Daniel by the back of his tunic and pulled him away from the third dog. “What do you think you’re doing boy, releasing the dogs isn’t going to stop us, it isn’t going to help your friend.”

“Maybe, maybe not.”
He said pulling away from Grey.  The larger hunter motioned to two of the guards.

“Detain him
. I will not have anyone interfering with my investigation.”

“Your investigation?”
Erin said as she came up beside Daniel, pushing the two guards back. “If you haven’t forgotten, this is my bounty, assigned to me by the Guild Master himself.”

“And you have failed.” Grey said as he stepped up to
Erin.

“
Whether that is true or not… Hunter Drain placed you under Erin’s command.” Folkstaff added. “Therefore she is still technically in charge of this search, unless of course you wish to go against the Guild Council.”

Grey quickly turned to where Folkstaff was releasing yet another dog. This one didn’t hesitate as it ran off after the others.
He watched the dog head off into the woods but said nothing to stop it. He was already in hot water with Drain over the incident in Littenbeck. If this didn’t go as planned, he wasn’t sure if Drain would be as understanding. He could find himself back to delivering mail for the next few years, and not even the high priority mail, the stupid little correspondences from insignificant people.

“Fine.”
He grumbled throwing up his hands. “But I will not take the fall for this, this is all on you Erin, You’re in charge”

“Release the dogs.”
Erin said.

“And what do you plan of achieving with this?”

“What difference does it make, release the dogs.”

The guards looked first at Grey, and when it was clear that he wasn’t going to say anything more, they started to release the dogs one by one.
There were twelve of them in all, not counting the three that had gone on ahead, and not to be left out, both Hunar and Gorum quickly followed, ignoring Sir Oblum’s calls for them to stop.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Folkstaff whispered as he stepped up beside
Erin.

“I haven’t a clue.” She replied.

“Now what?” Grey asked.

“We wait.”

“For what, to pick up the pieces when the dogs tear her to shreds. I guess I can live with that.” The hunter replied as he strolled off to the dinning hall.

It didn’t take nearly as long as
Erin thought it would when the guards at the western gates called out that the first of the dogs had returned. It was one of the guard dogs. As he came forward he stopped just under the arch of the western gate and sat down, staring at the group of men that had gathered. He was soon joined by a second, and then a third and finally a forth, each one just sitting in a line under the arch, waiting.

“You’re
going to want to see this.” The guard at the gate called out.

A few of the hunters and one or two of the guards attempted to get a better look as they approached the gate, but the four hounds had other plans, and the
y rose as one, bearing their teeth. The men thought better of it and backed away. Only when they were far enough did the dogs calmly sit back down again.

“I don’t think we’re in charge of this operation anymore.” Folkstaff whispered to Erin who shook her head in amazement.

The remainder of the pack, thirteen dogs in all exited the forest and came slowly down the road. Hunar, by far the largest of the dogs, was in the lead. Gorum was walking on one side of a very shaky, very pale young girl who leant on him for support. The pack stopped just behind the four advance hounds.

“Place her under arrest.” Grey shouted.

One hunter attempted to do just that, and may have succeeded if it wasn’t for the seventeen snarling dogs.

Kile said nothing as she
fell to her knees. Daniel raced out to help her. The dog did nothing to stop him.

She
looked up at him as he approached and he stopped midway. Her eyes were of a golden yellow with slits for pupils, much like those of a cat. She closed them slowly and when she opened them again, they were the same hazel colored eyes he remembered.

“I messed up big time didn’t I?” She said with a weak laugh.

“Don’t speak. You’re going to be alright.” He assured her as he knelt down beside her, pulling back the cotton tunic. He touched the wound on her side and she flinched.

“Did I ever tell you how bad your bedside manner was?”

“Quite a few times if I can remember.” He said nervously as he slid his arm around her and helped her to her feet. “And I told you that I would have to start charging you if you kept doing stupid things like this.”

“Put it on my bill.”

He walked her slowly through the western gate, the dogs created a perimeter around them, not letting anyone within ten feet of the pair. The other hunters could only watch as he took her to the healing halls.

***~~~***

21

Kile woke up to the familiar feel of cold steel on her wrist and a small warm body on her chest. She looked down to see Vespers staring back at her.

-Kile okay?-

The yarrow asked, and there was so much worry and concern in the words that she had to blink back the tears.

“I’m alright.” She told him, wiping her eyes with her one free hand. At least they hadn’t shackled both of her
wrists to the bed frame.

She looked around the room and found the place surprisingly familiar. It should be she thought
. She had spent many an afternoon recuperating in the academy’s hospital. The hall she was in was empty. Was it because they had no other patience, or was it because she was some dangerous criminal that had to be isolated? She tried the shackle that bound her right arm to the bed. It wasn’t very secure, nor did it fit very well and she was sure that she could either slip out of it or pull it away from the wall altogether if the need arose, at the moment she was in no moor or condition to do either. The pain in her side was down to a dull ache, the pain in her head was throbbing as good as ever.