Taste of the Hunt

by Matt Mememaro

  “I hold something,” Abner said. He pulled the amulet he carried on his person from underneath his armor. The plain amulet faced up at the ceiling, sparkling in the firelight. “Will this suffice? I dare say it would fetch a reasonable price at any jeweler.”

  “Leave it on the table, where I can see it,” Jack said.

  “Fine, leave your hands on the table where I can see them,” Abner said. “Let’s see if you win having your hands where we can see them.”

  Jack glanced around once at the surrounding men that eyed him closely. “Easy enough,” he said. “Now let’s get this underway.”

  Power and Influence was one of the many card games played throughout Taagras. In each deck there were six different cards with seven copies of each. Having placed their bets Jack shuffled the deck before tossing three cards to Abner’s side of the table, leaving three out of the main deck.

  Abner gathered his cards flicking them up to check what he had received. He gave a non-concerned grunt as he found a Sword Lord, Queen and King, a decent hand for any player. Yet with how Jack had been playing, something was wrong. The Officer flicked his own cards up, smirking as he looked at his opponent.

  “Are you ready to lose that pretty amulet of yours, boy?”

  “Are you ready to return Harper’s belongings?” Abner asked.

  “They’re mine now, as your amulet will be. Reveal your cards, oh fuck!” Jack said.

  At the last second Abner kicked the table, throwing Jack off balance. Cards spilled from inside his Officer’s jacket. The men roared in upheaval, two moving forward, grabbing Jack by the arms lifting him up. The rest continued to shout and throw beer at their Officer.

  “You fucking thief, Jack!” A clobbering blow from Harper smashed into his skull.

  “Let me go!”

  “Take him to the Commander,” Abner said. “We don’t tolerate thieves amongst the Black Shards. You can all reclaim your lost possessions from Jack and we will speak of this incident no more come the dawn. We’ve got a battle to win. I’ll be in my tent if anyone needs me.”

  Dawn came quickly, the sun rising from the south over the Rhorn Mountains. Abner was one of the first men awake, lighting fires to begin cooking for those around him. Within minutes the sun had risen fully over the peak of the mountains, basking the entirety of the Renori plains in warm sunlight.

  As the sun rose further, more men emerged from their tents beginning to assist Abner with the upkeep of the camp, preparing for the inevitable battle. The horses were fed and freshly watered by one man, while another sat on a small wooden stool sharpening his blade. Harper spotted Abner near their fire and approached.

  “I appreciate what you did for me last night.”

  “It was nothing, don’t worry about it,” Abner said.

  “No, thank you. Because of you, I slept in my tent for the first time in a week. There’s something about you Abner. Stay close to me in the battle today and I’ll make sure you see the end of it,” Harper said.

  “I can take care of myself,” Abner said.

  “Aye, but it never does any harm to be watching a man’s back, now does it?” Harper asked. “We should be right.”

  There was a soft rumbling of hooves and Abner turned trying to gauge the direction of the sound. A second later, a brown mare leapt over the small mound that kept the Black Shards sheltered from the encampment of the Orange Suns. Upon the mare sat an armored soldier, long sword in hand as the beast trapped over tents.

  “Get up! Arm yourselves! We’re under attack! Defend yourselves!”

  He rushed to his tent, ducking inside just as the rider made a pass, missing with his sword. Abner felt the wind of the blade on his back as he dived for his own. Grabbing the runed blade, sheath and all Abner rolled back outside, looking for any of the Orange Suns to strike. Men from both the Black Shards and Orange Suns had converged to this one point, the former severely outnumbered. Only Abner, Harper and a handful of the Shards stood against the Suns that were running over the hilltop.

  The mounted horseman had paused, driving his sword through a Black Shard before turning his horse once more. He saw Abner, his original target, alone and almost defenseless. Abner rose to full height, sword still hanging by his side in its sheath. With a spur on the reigns the horse bolted forward, its eyes focused on the small man before it.

  As the beast approached, Abner waited for the precise moment he needed to move. The rider’s sword came up, anticipating to cut the warrior in half where he stood. A split second later the horse and rider tumbled to the ground, Abner’s sword cutting a line through its front leg. Upon crashing to the ground there was a sickening crack, the rider never to rise again.

  “Help us out, lad!” Harper said. He kicked one of the Orange Suns away, narrowly avoiding a hooked dagger thrust at him from another.

  Abner raced forward, ducking underneath a sword swung at him, hamstringing the Orange Sun, leaving him to crawl on the ground. Harper recoiled savagely as another blade took him across the forearm, screaming wildly. Abner ran the man through the back as he prepared to finish Harper off.

  “Good save,” he said. Harper turned, ducking under another sword, connecting with a punch to the ribs of the man wielding it. “Finish him!”

  Abner jumped forward with a savage roar, swinging his sword down in an arch, cutting the bent over man clean in half. Harper’s eyes widened, seeing a threat. He pushed Abner out of the way, catching another sword, grabbing the solider by the wrist turning the blade away. Harper struggled against the strength of the other man, only to have his young companion make the save, running him through.

  More Orange Suns continued to surge over the hill and the Shards began to thin. Harper grabbed a sword and stood side by side with Abner, cutting down any of the Suns that came close. They battled on together as more of the Shards fell. After what seemed like minutes of fighting, Abner struck a riposte taking down the final Orange Sun that was left standing.

  “By the hells, Abner,” Harper said. He held his hand over his arm where he had been struck. “Have you ever thought about competing in one of the tournaments? You fight well.”

  “No I haven’t,” Abner said. He wiped the blood off his blade with a ripped cloth before returning it to its sheathe. “And you’re hurt!”

  “Aye, just a glancing wound, nothing more.” Harper said, checking on it once again.

  “Let me look at it. One of my first lessons was to take care of wounds like that. Without attention it’s going to fester,” Abner said.

  “I know the fucking risks,” Harper said. He lifted up his shirt. “Look.” All across Harper’s muscular chest were white scars by the dozen left by battles long forgotten. A man with that many scars was either stupid or incredibly lucky. “This one I’ve got now is no different from any of the rest. As for all these fuckers.” He gestured to the dozens of corpses that lay strewn around them.

  “Just let me look at it. We’re going to have to fight today!” Abner said.

  “Put it down boy, I’m not going to be treated. Any day that I leave a battle with a wound has been a glorious one. I’ve fought for the Black Shards ever since I broke out of the Lock. They tortured me in there and these battle wounds are nothing compared to what pain they inflicted on me there,” Harper said.

  “Are you still sure you’re alright to fight?” Abner asked.

  “Yes!” Harper waved the warrior away. “Now get your armor on. We need to see if the whole camp was attacked. I reckon this was just a probing force to see how strong we were.”

  “The Commander will want to push the attack immediately,” Abner said. “But now we have to ensure our flanks are secure and that’s going to take men off our frontal assault.”

  Harper slouched down on a nearby stool, groaning in pain. “Take it up with him then. Here he comes.”

  More horses neighed, this time from within their own encampment, trotting into the area that Abner and his men had allocated themselves. Three men covered in the black
and crimson armor of the Shards rode forward with six men on foot behind them. The heavy brown eyes of the first man washed over the scene, dismounting quickly.

  Abner snapped to full attention. “Commander Layton, sir!”

  “At ease, soldier. What happened here?”

  “We were set upon by Orange Suns as we began setting up for the day. They came in over that hill there killing almost all of us within this area of the camp,” Abner said.

  “Aye,” Harper said. “The bastards got us good. Luckily for us, Abner is a wrecking ball. Took out three men and a horse in a matter of seconds and plenty more afterwards. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here talking to you right now.”

  “Is that so?” Layton asked. His warm eyes looking Abner up and down.

  “Aye, it is, sir,” Abner said.

  Layton paused, giving himself a moment to think. “You two fine gentlemen seem to have displayed a level of skill I would expect from my personal bodyguard. From what my eyes tell me you two stood alone for quite some time. Unfortunately an assassin infiltrated the camp and killed one of them so I would like for you to ride by my side. Do you accept?”

  3

  Stone Cold

  The rain drummed down in the southern parts of Tyrain near the town of Teltar which bordered one half of the Grawlwood. Two hooded figures slipped over the walls under the cover of darkness only to scale the nearest building with haste. They remained stationary for several minutes, undiscovered by the guards below.

  “Do you know where your target is?” Marco asked.

  “Do I know that every time we touch you are instantly pleased?” Lois said. “Hmm?”

  “You have left your mark on me,” Marco said.

  “And just to think I started out as a young girl that you would only allow into your bed,” Lois said. Her hand ran down between Marco’s legs.

  “You’re here on a mission, Redjay, not to fuck with me,” he said.

  “And what are you going to do, Brother? Threaten me with torture? That doesn’t work on me anymore. Time heals all wounds.” She moved her hand closer.

  “Enough, Redjay!” Marco said. He pushed her away. “Save this for the target. And remember what I taught you.”

  “Remove your armor, seduce the target and make him believe that he is yours, right before you push the dagger into his skull,” Lois said. She had grown tired of the lessons. “Do you do that to your female targets, Marco?”

  “Of course, it’s the easiest way to kill them,” Marco said. His face was still, not betraying anymore emotion.

  Lois looked up and down at her partner. “How many in the whole year I’ve been yours?”

  “Three. It was my assignment, Redjay. You kill the target by any means necessary. It just happened to be that seduction was the easiest method available to me. It’s only a job.”

  “I understand what it is. Give me the bag.”

  Marco rolled a heavy hessian bag off his shoulder dropping it at Lois’ feet. She opened it to find revealing garments, common of a whore, the complete opposite of her armored cloak and tunic.

  Lois wrinkled her nose up in disgust. “I’m not fucking wearing these.”

  “You’ll hardly get anywhere near the target then,” Marco said. “I’ll be watching but I won’t be helping you. Tiberus is surrounded by dozens of guards that patrol his estate. We’ve already lost one recruit to them and I’d hate to lose another. Put the clothes on and use what the gods gave you. Hurry up about it.”

  “Turn around then,” Lois said.

  Marco turned further to face her, standing with his arms folded glaring at her. “Anytime you’re ready. I’ve seen you naked a hundred times. Get to work, Redjay.”

  Tiberus’ estate was a sizable affair located a short walk away from where the assassins had first entered the city. Lois approached the front gates slowly, umbrella in hand, smiling at the two drenched guards. Their eyes sharpened as the young, beautiful woman with full breasts and subtle curves that was Lois neared.

  “How can we help ya this evening, ma’am?” one asked with a jagged accent.

  “I’m here to see Tiberus. Master Tarnal sent me to see that his needs were properly attended to,” Lois said.

  “Of course he did. I dare say you could attend to all the men’s needs here,” the other guard said. He stepped forward. “As a matter of fact why don’t you come to our barracks first and we can see how well you’ll serve Tiberus?”

  “Take another fucking step and I’ll rip your fucking ball sack off,” Lois said. Her hand dropped to her concealed knife.

  “Hah, she’ll do just fine for Tiberus’ tastes. Follow us ma’am. Oy, open the gate!”

  “You know it’s hardly fair that Tiberus gets all of these women while I haven’t had the taste of a woman’s wetness on my lips for almost two years,” the pike wielding guard said.

  “Maybe it’s because your spear is too long,” Lois said.

  “Why haven’t you bought a whore for a night, Ipus?” the first guard asked.

  “Tiberus doesn’t pay me enough, you know that. I stand out here all fucking day and night guarding his estate and I get pittance for it. Next to no time to fuck a woman either,” Ipus said. “It’s a crying shame.”

  “Quit your bitching and deal with it. Just through that door over there ma’am and Tiberus should be in his study. We’d take you but we can’t leave our posts for long.”

  “Thank you gentlemen, your assistance have been much appreciated,” Lois said.

  She looked over her shoulder, eyes scanning the rooftops for a split second. The crouched silhouette of Marco was barely visible against the grey sky, rain smashing down into the roof tiles all around him. Lois then shouldered gently through the guards, lowering her umbrella before pushing the oak doors open.

  The estate manor was a luxurious affair on both the outside and inside. White walls were covered in rich tapestries flowing from the ceiling, resting just off the floorboards. Lois walked slowly around the large room, examining the wide staircase that led to the second floor. A door with two guards standing stationary on either side creaked open beside her and an elderly, graying butler emerged, dressed in fine purple garments.

  “I assume that Tarnal sent you? Master Tiberus will see you now. Please follow me.”

  Lois bowed her head. “Of course.”

  The butler opened the door once against, that opened onto a dining room. A single man, in his mid-thirties sat at the head of a large table that stretched the entire length of the room. He rose as he spotted Lois, his dark eyes looking up and down her body in an approving way. His very being made her sick the closer she got to him.

  Tiberus rose from his heavy army chair. His belly spread, fat with food and wine. “Yes, you’ll do nicely to ensure that I don’t trample on Tarnal’s toes again.” He held out his arms waiting for Lois to return his embrace.

  She drew level with him and entered his embrace. She tucked into his ear and began to whisper. “Truth be told, whoever this Tarnal is, he didn’t send me. I was meant to seduce you, lure you to a bed and push a dagger between your bones. Now before you yell out Tiberus, Brother Marco of the Blood Brotherhood gave me a contract with your name on it. If you scream and your men come running in here, Marco will be forced to kill them all. Do you want their blood on your hands?”

  “Guards!” Tiberus said. “There’s an assassin!”

  “I fucking warned you,” Lois said.

  Tiberus staggered back into his chair, collapsing in a clumsy heap. Lois’ dagger punctured deep into Tiberus’ chest just as the doors to the room swung open, the four guards drawing their weapons. With two more deep stabs, Lois rose from her kill, her arm dripping red with blood.

  The four guards paused, the butler pressed against the far wall, a look of terror in his eyes. Lois grinned mischievously at the five men, her whore-like outfit exposing her breasts and stomach. Taking a hit with no armor on would surely be dangerous. Regardless, she stood over Tiberus, with a manic g
rin on her face as they approached.

  Armed only with a small punching dagger, Lois charged forward, swiping at the closet man, a red line opening his face from ear to ear, going straight through his eyes tearing a violent scream him his lips. She pivoted down opening his leg before ducking under a second sword, stabbing upwards into the owner’s stomach, covering her face with blood.

  The last two guards retreated into the main hall, desperate for support but found none. Lois slashed wildly at the butler as she passed the huddling man in the corner, the grins still spread wide across her face, blood covering her entire arm.

  Lois paused to look out at the estate through the glass windows. The rain continued to tumble down and a crack of thunder almost masked a scream. Using Lois’ distraction to their advantage the two guards ran at her again. She ducked underneath both blades, stabbing both men in the leg before finishing them with a jab to their throats.

  She walked outside into the rain, embracing the cold liquid splashing down upon her body, cleansing her of the kill. One of the guards hung by his feet from a nearby tree. Another was slumped beside the door, his throat slashed open. Another clap of thunder sounded as a lightning bolt burst from the clouds.

  “Marco! It’s done!” Lois said

  “You didn’t do what I requested you do,” Marco said.

  “Tiberus is dead, that’s all that matters,” Lois said as she turned out to wrap her bloodstained hands around his shoulders.

  “You were meant to take him to his bed, seduce him, and then kill him,” Marco said. “You disobeyed my direct instructions.”

  “Does it matter how it happened? In an ideal world I get paid no matter what,” Lois said. “Besides, I thought you of all people would have respected me killing him in the way that I did. Plenty to sacrifice to the Blood God.”

  “If I wanted you to sacrifice something to the Blood God I would have requested it,” Marco said. He grabbed her by the throat and started to crush her windpipe. Lois tried to scramble away, but Marco was too strong. His grip cut off any blood flow to the rest of her body. “You’re lucky it was a good kill otherwise I would not have been so lenient. The fact that you are my favorite and that you killed five other men gave you grace in my grading.”