Hunter's Bounty (Veller) (14 page)

As she got closer she fell into her edge, stretching out to touch every animal in the immediate area, but there was only one that she was looking for, and when she found him, he knew it.

“Then you’re turning yourself in?” Kevin asked as he drew his sword.

She
couldn’t tell whether the idea of her surrendering made him happy or not. She was sure that this vir was looking for an excuse to get violent.

“That is one scenario, although I really hadn’t considered it.”
She replied. “I mean, what chance would I have of a fair trial, assuming that I even reached Littenbeck in one piece?” She said a she stopped just a few yards in front of him.

She looked Kevin over
. He was young, fit, and probably good at what he did. He would have to be either a level two or a level one to be sent out to bring back such a wanted bounty which meant he was probably very good at what he did. She had no idea what his edge was, which was the biggest obstacle, but on the other hand, he had no idea what her edge was either.

They stood for a while staring at one another, size each other up. He had to be wondering how she eluded capture for so long, that was if he actually believed what the rumors had to say about her. He wasn’t going to make the first move, he was playing it by the book, but then Kile had read that book, in fact she read most of the books that Master Adams had in his small library
. There was little else for her to do back at the Academy.

Steel had pulled Alisa back and was now standing between her and them.
She wasn’t sure if he would get involved, it was difficult to tell. He didn’t appear to be completely on their side, but on the other hand he was still a hunter and she was an open bounty. The man with the crossbow was slowly maneuvering himself to get a clear shot at her, since she put Kevin between them. She waited until he made the mistake of standing in front of the stable doors, but then he didn’t know any better.

It was like a crack of thunder that rang through the early morning. The crossbow wielding hunter didn’t have a chance of getting clear of the stable doors as they
flew off their hinges, slamming into his back, knocking him clean off his feet. He scrambled for his crossbow but a platter sized hoof attached to a really ticked off Mountain pony quickly put an end to that as it crushed the weapon and, more than likely, a few of the man’s fingers as he screamed in pain. Kevin instinctively turned to see what had happened behind him and Kile brought the walking stick down across his wrist, forcing him to drop his sword, she quickly spun into him and brought the stick across the back of his head before he could react. He suddenly dropped to the ground, she hadn’t expected it to work that well. As she grabbed the fallen sword she noticed the ring on his finger. She didn’t know why she noticed it, it was a Hunter’s ring, similar to the one she had, but there was something different about it. Unfortunately she couldn’t compare it to hers, since hers was taken along with the rest of her stuff, and she didn’t really have time to contemplate it.

She quickly turned to face Steele, gripping the rather large and awkward sword, but before she could find out whose side he was on, a very intense, very vivid image filled her head.

“GRIM NO!” She shouted, turning toward the Mountain Pony.

She didn’t have to see what he was about to do, she could feel it in
every bone in her body as the Mountain pony stood posed with his hoof over the fallen hunter’s head.

-Why?-

He asked calmly, and that calmness sent a chill down her spine.

“Because it’s not right.”

-Who’s to say?-

She had no doubt that the Mountain pony would have thought nothing of crushing the bowman’s head, and that was what scared her.

“I say.”

He paused for a moment, his hoof still hovering over the man’s head.
The Hunter was staring up at the Mountain pony with fear in his eyes.

“Please Grim, don’t do it.”
She pleaded with him as she tried to keep an eye on Steele, but the Hunter was more interested in what happening with the pony than with trying to stop her.

Grim
snorted and slammed his foot down, about three inches away from the bowman’s right ear. He lowered his massive head toward the man and snorted again, blowing the hood back away from his face. Kile had never seen the man before, but she had a feeling she would never see him again. The Mountain Pony eventually backed away.

-It’s not worth it, trying to get a
vir’s brains out of your hoof is a nightmare.-

It was not a very nice image that he presented to Kile, and she wondered why it was so detailed.
As Grim moved across the yard toward her, he got dangerously close to the unconscious Kevin.

“Don’t even think about it.” She told him.

-Just a leg, it will slow him down a bit.-

“No, nothing.”

-I see being taken by the uhyre hasn’t diminished your nobility.-

That was either
an insult or a compliment, she would have to sort that out later.

“So, what are you going to do?” She asked Steele who was still watching the exchange between her and her horse.

He removed his hand from his sword and held them apart.

“Although I should arrest you, and collected the sizable bounty on your script, it is clear that you overpower me and got away.”

“Is that what you’re going to tell them?” She asked him as she lowered the sword.

“Does it really matter, unless of course you do plan on turning yourself in, then I would escort you to Littenbeck.”

“I don’t think that would be very healthy, for me or for you.”

“No, you’re probably right. Things have changed in the council, and not all for the good.”

“What about Guild Master Latherby, can’t he do something to stop this?”

“I’m afraid the Guild Master has lost influence within the council.”

“What do you mean? He’s still the Guild Master… isn’t he?”

“Oh yes, he’s still the Guild Master, but at the moment Master Andrew Drain pulls
all the strings.”

“How is that possible?”

“I hate to say it Kile, but one reason is… you.”

“Me?”

“Maybe not intentionally, but your presence in the Guild as well as the events that have transpired the last few weeks have all led up to the shift in power. Because Guild Master Lathery supported you through the Academy, members of the council feel he is to blame for your, shall we say, misdeeds.”

“But I haven’t done anything.”

“According to the council, you’re wanted for the murders of David Draw, Brain Tally, and Arthur Linny as well as the abduction of Emara Lon, not to mention your possible involvement in the disappearance and death of over twenty eight Hunters.”

“But I haven’t done any of that… I don’t even know who those people are
… and… and as for Emara, she’s fine. I parted ways with her… two days ago. She should be back at the Tower by now. She should be able to clear all this up.”

“I hope
you're right.” Steele replied. “But for now, you should probably keep a low profile.”

“She’ll stay here.”

Kile had forgotten that Alisa was still there, standing off to one side, watching the events unfold and listening to the long list of charges that had been placed upon her head.

“I can’t.”
She told her. “Don’t you see? They already know I was here, they’ll keep coming back. As long as I’m here you’re in danger, and I won’t put anyone else in danger.”

-Then we’re leaving?-

Grim asked, as he stepped up behind her.

“Yes, I’m afraid so.”

-It’s about time.-

She
ignored his remark. She knew he was as reluctant to leave the Apple Blossom livery as she was. The fact that he came back here when she was captured was proof of that. She grabbed hold of his mane and pulled herself up onto his back.

“You’re going to need this.” Steele said as he handed Kile back her Lann. “It was found at one of the… sites.”

“You better give Kevin back his sword when he wakes up.” Kile replied as she handed the Hunter’s blade to Steele. “And tell him I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

“I’ll tell him, but he won’t believe me.” Steele said with a hint of
a smile.

“Wait right here.” Alisa told her and she quickly ran back into the house leaving Kile alone with Steele.

“She’ll be alright, won’t she?” She asked as she watched the farmhouse door close. The last thing she wanted was to bring this onto Alisa.

“I’ll keep an eye on her.” Steele said with that familiar grin, the same grin he tried to use to pick her up at the Guild house. “I think
you're right, once you’re gone, the Hunters will have no reason to make trouble for her.”

“I hope so. She’s kind of the only friend I have in this town.”

“Hey, what about me?” Steele said, tapping his chest.

“Please, I know you too well.”

“So, where will you go?”

“The less you
know the better.” She replied. She had often wondered if there were any Hunters with the edge to read minds.

Alisa came charging out of the door with a large sack that looked as if it had been her table cloth. “Wait.” She called out as she came down the steps.

“What’s that?”

“Just a few things you might need for the road. Some food, a change of clothing,
just a few odds and ends I pulled together.” Alisa said as she handed the sack to Steele who proceeded to tie it on Grim’s back.

There was a worried look on Alisa’s face, and Kile really couldn’t blame her. She was now being tracked by Hunters, and her chance of clearing this mess up just got a whole lot worse.

“Don’t worry.” She told her. “I’ll be okay. I have Vesper to watch over me.”

Vesper added his squeak of assurance as he took his place between Grim’s ears.

“You better come back. You still owe me two months of back pay on your stable fees.” Alisa added.

Whenever
it came to business or money, Kile was never sure if Alisa was joking.

“Just promise me one thing. If anyone comes looking for me…”

“I won’t tell them anything.”

“No, I want you to tell them. Tell them everything you know. Don’t lie to them, not for me. I don’t want you dragged into this any further th
an you already have been. There’s really nothing you could tell them that would help them anyway.”

-I don’t think I can take any more of these sappy goodbyes-

Grim added as he headed toward the road.

She
let the Mountain pony go where he wanted. It wasn’t as if she knew where to go at the moment. As they hit the road Kile looked back to see Alisa still standing in the yard watching her. Steele was walking over to the bowman who, only now, was getting to his feet, clutching his hand. She had a feeling she wasn’t going to see Coopervill again, at least not for a very long time.

***~~~***

9

“Coopervill.” Folkstaff called out as he passed the sign that was leaning slightly to one side “Ever been here?”

“Can’t say that I have.”
Erin replied. “We should probably visit the Guild House first.”

“Go through the proper channels you mean.”

“Something like that. They may even be able to give us some more information on Kile’s…”

“Psyche?”

“Whereabouts.”

“If they knew, I would assume they would have already checked them out.”

“Not necessarily.” Erin replied. “Where were you first assigned when you left the Academy?”

Folkstaff laughed. “It was a small town on the edge of nowhere; I believe it was called
Petemore. I don’t even think it exist anymore.”

“And how many Hunters were assigned to the Guild House there?”

“Including me? Two.”

“Exactly. Most of these places don’t have more
than two or three Hunters total, and those Hunters would be preoccupied with other activities. They may not have had time to search the surrounding areas.”

“But I’m sure the number of investigators the Council has sent out would have.” Folkstaff remarked. “It would appear that Master Drain has been very thorough in that area.”

“A little too thorough if you ask me.”

They reached the raised stone dais in the center of town, just outside the Bird and Bay Inn. The sight of two more Hunters didn’t appear to raise any curiosity as the people went about their business.

Erin fell into her edge as she scanned the horizon. It didn’t take her long to find the green banner that hung outside the Guild House, even it if was still half a mile away. She steered her horse toward the bridge and the river road while Folkstaff fell in behind her.