by Garry Spoor
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” Kile said. “When the siege of Moran was broken, I saw Hunters working together. They called themselves the Stone Brigade, and it was pretty frightening what they could do.”
“Come on, Kile. Do you actually believe that many Hunters are affiliated with the Sons of Terrabin?”
“What, they haven’t come for you yet?” Oblum asked.
Daniel suddenly looked at the old man. Was that fear or anger in his eyes? “What are you saying?”
Oblum grinned. “It’s the purge. It’s as I said, they’re doing it from both ends. They go after the oldest members and the youngest. First, they’ll simply ask you to join them, and if that doesn’t work, they’ll try to persuade you. They’ll offer you wealth, power, position, anything your heart desires, and if you turn them down again, they’ll make your life miserable. The oldest are easiest to get rid of. Seeing the direction the Guild is moving in, they’re looking for an excuse to leave. Offer them a cushy job or a decent pension and they’ll be more than happy to take it and look the other way.”
“Is that what you did? Take the pension and look the other way?” Daniel asked.
“As a matter of fact, I did,” Oblum said. “The funny thing is, there was a time I might have joined them. I thought much like they did, back when I was more idealistic. Unify the Hunters and turn them into a peacekeeping force. But I was deluding myself. It’s no wonder the mystics avoid any form of confrontation. The power is too great, too dangerous, and too easy to abuse.”
“So, what changed your mind?” Kile asked.
“Actually… you did.”
“Me?”
“I didn’t think the Hunters were any place for someone like you. A farmer’s daughter who was too naive about the world around her and too weak to even wield a sword. I was positive you would drop out and run home the first chance you got.” Oblum grinned and raised his glass to her in a mock salute. “Now look at you. You’ve proven them all wrong, didn’t you? You see, that’s what the Hunters need. People like you. People like you to keep them grounded, keep them humble. And that’s why they’ll never try to recruit you. You’re the flaw in their plan. Hunters like you. But Daniel here, Daniel is another story.”
Swinging around in his chair, he looked at the young man suspiciously. “They honestly haven’t come for you yet?” he asked again.
“No,” Daniel answered.
“Now, that’s surprising.” Oblum leaned back in his chair. “You have assets they want that they can use. You would be a feather in their cap. Kile here, there’s no place in the Guild for her anymore, but you could go far.”
Kile quickly stepped forward, stealing the man’s attention. “Daniel would never join the Sons of Terrabin.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Oblum said. “There are a few people who I didn’t think would join but have. They can be rather persuasive. Who knows, they might be able to change his mind… if they haven’t already.”
“Well, I don’t care what they offer. I know I would never join.”
“That’s all fine and dandy, but it’s as I said before. They won’t even try to recruit you because they don’t want you. You’re probably already marked for disappearing. It’s a matter of how they will achieve it.”
That was a bit of news she could have done without.
Kile turned to the window and looked out at the old bell that sat in the middle of the compound. Every morning, Master West would ring the bell to start a new day, and the cadets would race out to see who got to the list first. At the time, the only thing they had to worry about was being late. If you didn’t make it on time, if you weren’t standing in formation before the gate closed, they would reprimand or humiliate you depending on who you were and how late you arrived. Everything seemed so important to her back then, as if being late was a matter of life and death. Now, it all seemed pointless. Did it ever matter who was first in the list?
“Do yourself a favor.” Oblum rose from his chair. “Run, get out while you still can. Just go.”
“Go where?” she asked.
“It doesn’t matter. It never did.”
Kile turned and faced the old man she had both feared and admired during her Academy years. Now she only felt sorry for him. There was nothing left of him, nothing but a hollowed-out soldier filled will alcohol. He didn’t have to worry about the Sons of Terrabin making him disappear; he was fading away right before her eyes.
“Thank you, Sir Oblum. For everything.”
“I won’t say, I’ll see you around, because the way things are going, either one of us, or both of us, probably won’t be around for much longer,” he said.
Kile looked past him at the old dog on the sofa.
“Good-bye, Gorum. Fare journey.”
-Farewell, pup.-
She exited the building in silence, with Daniel close behind her. They said nothing as they crossed the compound, heading back to the streets of Azintar. Hunar watched them from atop the hill. Kile had a feeling this would be the last time she ever came back to the Academy.
It was well past midnight when they returned to the Guild house. Fortunately, the doors of the houses were never locked, so they were able to enter without disturbing Kalk. Kile didn’t have much of an appetite after what she had heard and left Daniel to raid the pantry as she continued on to the third floor.
The room was dark, with a pitched ceiling that ran all the way to the far wall. An open window looked down on the streets of the city. There were twenty beds total, ten on either side of the room. Kile had her pick of where to sleep since only one of them was occupied. That had to be the Probie Hunter, Lichas Sweet. She couldn’t tell much about the man, save for the fact he had long blond hair. The rest of his face was buried under his blanket. She quietly walked past him and headed to the far side of the room, taking the bed closest to the window.
Removing her boots, she placed them under her pillow and lay down on top of the blankets. Vesper quickly curled up on her chest as she lay awake, staring out the window at the stars in the sky. Everything Oblum told her was circling in her head. How much of it was true and how much of it was a delusion fueled by a drunkard’s fear? The problem with conspiracy theories was that they required too many people to keep the same secret. Could there truly be that many Sons within the Guild, all with the same agenda? All willing to keep the same secret? Daniel didn’t seem to think so, but Daniel also became defensive when Oblum hinted the Sons might want to recruit him if they hadn’t already tried.
At the moment, there was nothing she could do about it, not that she was planning to do anything anyway. If it was true and the Sons did take over the Guild, that was another reason for her to leave. Although, the way Oblum hinted, leaving the Guild wouldn’t be enough. He made it sound as if the Sons had a more permanent solution for her. Would they take it that far? She might have been a thorn in their side, but she was hardly a threat to their existence.
Before she made any decisions about her life in the Guild, she would have to find a more reliable source.
When she heard Daniel coming up the stairs, she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. She wasn’t sure why, but she wasn’t in the mood to talk. She must have pretended too well since that was the last thing she remembered.
5
When Kile awoke the next morning, the light from the window had already filled the room and it didn’t improve the appearance. The place was dusty and dingy, but she’d come to expect that from Guild houses. She would have been more surprised if somebody had actually cleaned the rooms once in a while. No wonder none of the Hunters wanted to stay here. All the beds were empty now. Even Lichas Sweet was up and about somewhere. Probably on a routine deliver or out looking for his horse. How could a Hunter possibly misplace his horse? A Hunter’s most prized possession was his mount. Master Latherby once told her there were only four things a Hunter needed: a good horse, a good weapon, a good heart, and a good head on their shoulders. It would appear Sweet was lack
ing at least two of these things. Was his name on one of those lists in Sir Oblum’s office? Was he a red mark, someone who managed to get through on his own, or was he a green mark, the son of someone with influence?
Climbing out of bed, Kile grabbed her boots from under her pillow and pulled them on. She stood in front of the open window and looked out on the streets of Azintar. There was a gentle breeze blowing over the city, but it was stale and smelled sour. She could even taste it. It was like vinegar, sharp and acidic. The streets were filled with people, carriages, horses, and noise, so much noise. How could anyone live in a place like this?
The other side of the room, opposite the stairs, had a lavatory which she hadn’t noticed last night. It wasn’t exactly the most sanitary of places, but it served in a pinch. There were a cracked pitcher and a bowl of water for washing up, but it didn’t look as if the water had been changed in a while. She was sure the water in the horse trough was cleaner. Brushing her hair, she looked at herself in the mirror. She was happy to see it was almost back to normal, except for the green tips, but they were hardly noticeable.
Making her way downstairs, she found Daniel talking with a young, blond-haired man. From the length of his hair, this had to be Probationary Level Five Hunter, Lichas Sweet. They were eating a fare of bread, cold ham, and cheese. Between them, on the table, Vesper was feasting on a bowl of grapes and didn’t even look up when she entered the room.
“So, started breakfast without me.”
Daniel spun around in his chair. “Hey, you’re finally up. Thought about waking you, but I didn’t want to risk it. If you know what I mean.”
“You’re Kile Veller,” Sweet said, stumbling to his feet and nearly upsetting the table in the process.
He was a big man, towering over her at six feet, but he looked so young. Clean shaven, he had a little boy’s face that seemed out of place on his large frame.
“And you must be Lichas Sweet.” She accepted his hand.
His face lit up when she said his name. The idea of being known, by someone like her, was likely a big deal for him. Kile didn’t have the heart to tell him that he was the only other guest at the Guild house besides Daniel and her. It wasn’t difficult to figure out who he was.
“Would you care to join us, ma’am?” he asked, directing her to one of the chairs.
“It’s just Kile,” she said, taking a seat.
“Can I get you something, ma’am… I mean, Kile? There’s more ham where this came from.” Sweet stuck a large fork into the center of a ham hock. Kile was forced to divert her eyes. It was difficult to eat something she might have been able to make friends with.
“Um… no, that’s all right,” she answered.
Vesper pulled a bunch of grapes from the bowl and dragged them to where she was sitting.
“Thank you, Vesper.”
“Wow, it’s weird how you’re able to train him to do things like that,” Sweet said, returning to his seat. “Was it hard? How long did it take?”
“I’ve never trained Vesper,” Kile said. “He does it because he wants to do it.”
That, and the fact it would almost be impossible to train a yarrow, she thought as she watched Vesper crawl back into the bowl. She popped a few of the grapes into her mouth.
“Danny here says you guys are going to the palace and that you’ve been summoned by the king himself. Is that true?” Sweet asked.
It didn’t take much to impress this guy.
“Uh, yeah, something like that,” Kile said.
“Wow, but the king himself and the palace. I’ve been here five months now and I’ve never even been near the place.”
“It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Is it like a mission or something?”
“We don’t know, yet,” Daniel said. There was a smug tone in his voice. He was enjoying the attention too much. “It could very well be, you know, for the war effort.”
“And it might not be,” Kile added.
“But still, the palace and the king.”
“Well, Kile knows the king personally.” Daniel folded his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. “She’s been invited to Windfoil on several occasions.”
Sweet’s eyes lit up again. “Really, you know the king.”
“It’s not that big of a deal,” Kile said. “I met him during some party thing… or other, that’s all.”
“That’s not what I heard.” Daniel grinned. Kile shot him a look and he shrugged. “I’m just saying.”
“Try not saying anything,” she said. “So, where are you heading off to, Sweet?”
“Deliveries.” From the tone of his voice, he wasn’t enthusiastic.
Kile remembered her first assignment, and even though she’d known she would be making deliveries, she was still disappointed.
“We all start off with deliveries,” she said and patted Daniel’s arm. “Except for Danny here. He wasn’t cut out to be a field Hunter.”
Daniel snatched his arm away. “Hey, I run the Guild Hospital in Littenbeck, thank you very much.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Kile said. “How long have you been doing that?”
“Four years now.”
“And what level are you?”
“Not funny, Ki.”
“Oh, I don’t mind the deliveries so much,” Sweet said. “But it would be easier if I knew where my horse was.”
“Yeah, we heard about that,” Daniel said, a grin forming at the edge of his mouth. “How did you lose him?”
Kile shot him another look and he gave her another shrug.
“Oh, it’s all right,” Sweet said. “He’s right. I lost him. I was celebrating my first pay, and I guess I celebrated a bit too much. I must have put him up in one of the stables on the upper north side and got carried away in one of the local pubs. Somehow I stumbled my way back to the Guild house without him.”
“So, you honestly have no idea where your horse is stabled?” Kile asked.
“Not a clue,” Sweet answered. “There are a dozen or so stables in that part of the city alone, and I’ve been to them all, at least I thought I had. I’m afraid by now, they might have gotten rid of him, and if they haven’t, I can’t image what the stable fees will be like.”
“Never thought of that,” Daniel said.
“It’s all I’ve been thinking of.” Sweet sighed. “I suppose I’m gonna have to borrow some coin from my father. I hope this doesn’t go against me. I’m still a Probie.”
“So, your father’s well off, is he?” Kile asked.
“Oh, yeah, he owns most of the horse ranches throughout Fennel.”
That would mean Lichas Sweet had a green mark next to his name.
“I think we should probably be heading out.” Kile pushed herself away from the table. “Sweet’s likely got things to do and so do we.”
“Can’t wait to see the king again, can you?” Daniel remarked as he stood up from his chair.
“Look at it this way, Danny. If this turns out to be a royal mission, you might even earn your Level Three Certificate.”
“You mean my Level Four.”
“Oh, that’s right, you’re still only a Five, aren’t you?” Kile shook her head. She held her hand out to Vesper who quickly scrambled up her arm and took his place on her shoulder.
“If you guys are hanging around the city for a while, maybe we can meet up again,” Sweet suggested, although he was completely ignoring Daniel when he said it. His eyes never left Kile as she retrieved her bag from where she had dropped it the night before.
“That sounds… nice, but I don’t know how long we’ll be in town,” she said.
“Well, I’m here most nights, and if not, Kalk knows where to find me.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll have to see what happens, you know? The life of a Hunter.” Kile grabbed a few apples and shoved them into her pack before heading for the stairs.
“And if we come across your horse, we’ll send word,” Daniel said as he followed her.
“Oh, yeah, please do,” Sweet called after them.
Daniel was in a fit of laughter when they reached the street.
“How did someone like him get through the Academy?” he asked as they rounded the side of the Guild house.
“Maybe what Oblum said wasn’t as ridiculous as you originally thought.”
“What? You think the Sons of Terrabin want someone like him in their ranks? The man lost his horse for crying out loud. How can you lose your horse?”
“Didn’t you hear what he said about his father?”
“So, the guy owns a few ranches or something. It’s not like Sweet is of noble birth.”
“Maybe not, but if you were forming an army, horses would come in handy. If his father truly owns most of the stables in Fennel, that would go a long way. It’s not only people of noble birth the Sons are after, it’s people of wealth and influence as well.”
“Yeah, maybe. But still, he lost his horse.”
Grim was already waiting for her in the courtyard when they reached the stables. Kile was grateful he’d left the place in one piece.
-About time you got here. Are we on the move again, or do you expect me to have to stay in this hovel for another night?-
“And a good morning to you too, Grim.” Kile reached into the satchel and pulled out one of the apples. Holding it out to the mountain pony, he took it in one bite. “I see it didn’t affect your appetite,” she mumbled, wiping her hand on her pant leg. Grabbing another one, she started cutting it into slices.
“Is that safe, to feed him a whole apple like that?” Daniel asked as he led Maliea out of the stables. “You remember what Master Pike said.”
“Believe me, I could feed that one a painted rock and it wouldn’t affect his digestive system,” she said as she offered the sliced apple to Maliea.
The mare was thrilled with the treat, and Kile was kind of surprised Daniel hadn’t thought to bring her one himself. It would seem the Hunter was starting to take his horse for granted. That was the difference between academic Hunters and field Hunters. Field Hunters knew if they didn’t have a happy horse, they may find themselves walking home.
