Hunter's War (Legend of the Wild Hunter Book 4) (3 page)

Reaching one of the hitching posts, she stopped and dismounted. Vesper climbed down from the pony’s head and onto Kile’s shoulder. Normally, she wouldn’t think of leaving Grim this close to other horses, but there really wasn’t any place to put him where he couldn’t find trouble.

“You’d better be good, until I return,” she told him.

- Like there’s any fun to be had around here.-

He grumbled and pushed his way past the horses to reach the watering trough.

She was going to comment on his attitude, but thought better of it as she was still being watched by a few of the soldiers. These men could be in Perha Squad, and it wouldn’t do for her to make a bad first impression. They already thought Hunters were a strange lot and most of the military didn’t trust them. She removed Vesper from her shoulder, ignoring his protests, and placed him in the courier bag.

From the hitching post she headed west, climbing a small hill which opened onto a clearing. It was inhabited by the same canvas tents which populated the rest of the camp, although now, they varied in size. She sniffed for the scent of the young soldier and tracked it to one of the tents.

The only thing which set this one apart from the others, were the three banners hanging from a pole which was leaning slightly to the left. She recognized two of the banners. One bore the King’s colors. The other was for the province of Fennel. The remaining banner, she could only guess at. It was probably either the squad’s personal banner, or the Commander’s, but since there was no breeze, it was difficult to see the crest. Two armed guards stood on either side of the tent and watched her as she approached.

“So, you found the place.”

Turning, Kile saw the young soldier who accompanied Folkstaff with her orders, the young librarian who smelled of parchment, vanilla, and just a hint of steel.

“Corporal… Tullner wasn’t it?” she asked.

“Corporal Robert Tullner, although most people just call me Tully,” he replied with a grin. “We were afraid you had gotten lost.”

“I’m not that lucky, although it would help to have a few signposts up.”

“Actually, you kind of get used to the place, I mean, you did find us.”

“I suppose,” she replied. She wasn’t going to tell him the only reason she found her way was because she tracked him by his smell. That probably wouldn’t go over too well, especially judging by the way the two guards were watching her.

“I was going to come out and retrieve you myself,” Tullner said when he got closer. “But Sarge said, any Hunter, who couldn’t find their way, wasn’t a very good Hunter.”

“Sarge?”

“Sergeant Rodney Wargner, he’s in charge of Perha Squad and your commanding officer, at least for the time being.”

“What’s he like?” she asked.

“Like any other sergeant, I guess, but you’ll soon find out.” Tullner said with a gesture toward the Commander’s tent.

“Wish me luck,” Kile said. She pulled the flap of the tent aside, and entered.

It was dark. A single candle, sitting on a makeshift table, was the only source of light. She didn’t dare take another step into the tent for fear of tripping over something, and waited until her eyes adjusted to the general gloom.

“So… you’re the Hunter they sent me.”

It was a deep, gravelly voice, coming from the darkness. Only when the man looked up from his maps could she see his face in the candlelight.

“Certified Level Five… I mean Level Three Hunter, Kile Veller, sir.”

“Didn’t they teach you how to salute?” the man asked.

“Oh… sorry, sir,” she replied, giving him a salute, or at least she hoped it was a salute. She didn’t have much practice.

Pulling himself up out of his chair, he walked around the table. She would have described him as a large, square man. He had squared shoulders with a square chin and a square nose, even his hair was flat topped. He clasped his hand behind his back and slowly walked around her.

“So, I ask for help, and this is what they send me… a little girl.”

“Sir, I…”

“I don’t remember giving you permission to speak,” he said in his soft gravelly voice. He came around to stand in front of her.

“Let’s get one thing straight,” he started. “I didn’t ask for you, I don’t want you. As far as I’m concerned, the Hunters are nothing but a bunch of worthless, layabouts playing at war, and you… look at yourself. You’re not a soldier. You’re not even a man. Have you ever seen combat… missy?”

“I can hold my own, sir,” she replied.

“We’ll see about that,” he said with a very uncomfortable smile. “The problem, as I see it, is that I’m stuck with you. Colonel Barshed says I’m supposed to have a scout… and here you are. This has to be some kind of sick joke,” he said, returning to his seat. “Don’t expect any special treatment, because you won’t get any. You’ll have to keep up with the rest of my men. You’ll eat when we eat, you’ll sleep when we sleep. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Kile replied.

For some reason, she was taking an instant dislike for this man.

“Then get the hell out of my sight.”

She assumed that was his way of telling her she was dismissed, and quickly exited the tent. The sun felt surprisingly warm; or maybe it was because she was no longer under the chilling glare of her new commanding officer. That guy could give Master Boraro a run for his money, she thought.

She spotted Tullner speaking with two other men. When he saw her, he excused himself. “It would appear you survived,” he said with a grin.

“Barely,” she replied.

“He’s really not that bad of a commander. He can be a bit… hard-nosed at times,” he explained, leading her toward the men he was just speaking with.

“So, he’s always like that?”

“Well, no, not really,” Tullner replied. “He’s been a bit out of sorts lately. Ever since he met with that man the other day. I think it had something to do with the mission into Denal.”

“Man, what man?”

“I don’t know who he was. I’ve never seen him around here before. I’d remember, because he had white hair, which I thought was rather odd.”

White hair, the only person Kile knew with white hair was Marcus Taylor, but why would he be visiting Sargent Wargner, especially since he managed to get out of the assignment. She supposed, it was possible, he was just giving the Sergeant some last minute information on the region, but why would that upset Wargner?

“I think this mission into the Denal province has him a bit on edge, it has all of us on edge,” Tullner added.

“Why’s that?”

“There’s been no word from Denal since it fell; nobody knows what to expect.”

“Why Denal… why now?” she asked.

Tullner stopped walking and quickly glanced around. When he was sure nobody was within listening distance, he leaned toward her. “Well, scuttlebutt has it, that command is looking to break through the valrik lines, so it’s targeting its weakest points.” He explained. “Since most of the battles have occurred along the Fennel and Blackmore fronts, they’re hoping the northern section, in Denal, and the southern section along the cost of Sofland may prove vulnerable. We’re being sent into the Denal province to gather information, and get an idea of the Uhyre forces there. I am assuming the same thing is occurring down in the southern province of Sofland. Once the information is gathered and analyzed by the higher ups, then a coordinated attack can be implemented. If our forces can circle around the valrik, we can end the war before spring. Of course, this is all speculation, we are on a need-to-know basis and it would appear we just don’t need to know.”

“It sounds easy when you put it like that,” Kile replied, unfortunately, she saw the valrik forces and their war camps. Even if the King’s army could break through the northern and southern sections at the same time, they would still be hard-pressed to carry the battle to the valrik. It would mean fighting in the wastelands. She didn’t think these soldiers were capable of winning in such a hostile terrain.

“Well, it’s all speculation,” Tullner replied with a shrug. “Just rumors really. They don’t let us know anything until it’s all over.”

It was probably safer that way, Kile thought, because if the soldiers really knew what they were in for, she wondered if they would still be willing to go.

“I suppose I should introduce you to the rest of Perha Squad, since you’ll be working with us,” Tullner added, and he continued across the compound toward a group of men sitting outside one of the tents. Before he could even say a word to them, a soldier came sprinting across the yard toward them. He was young and athletically built with short black hair and a dark complexion.

“Get your gear ready,” he shouted.

“What is it, Duffy?” Tullner asked.

“New orders just came in. We’re moving out this afternoon.”

“Already? I was just about to introduce…”

“No time for that Corporal,” came the all too familiar gravelly voice behind them.

The men suddenly fell into formation as Sergeant Wargner came striding across the compound, already decked out in his riding gear. Kile felt out of place, not knowing where to stand, or even if she should fall in with the rest of them. She decided to stay out of it and stood off to one side to watch.

She thought he was intense in the darkness of his tent, but in the light of the sun, he was an imposing figure. This was no young soldier preparing for his first battle, this was a tried and true warrior of countless conflicts, and he held himself as such. He came to a stop before Tullner and his eyes briefly glanced over to where Kile was standing. She could tell he was not happy seeing her there.

“If you’re so keen with the new recruit, Corporal,” he said, turning his eyes back to Tullner, “then she’s your responsibility.”

“Sir?”

“Just keep her out of my way and make sure she doesn’t get herself killed, I really don’t want another Guild on my back.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Okay men,” the Sergeant barked. “Get your gear and be in the square in two. We may not be coming back here for a while, so pack accordingly.”

The men scattered in all directions, grabbing equipment where they could. Some were collecting weapons from the stockpile, others were tearing down tents, and still others were stocking up on supplies, leaving Kile to stand alone with the Sergeant. He glared at her.

“Was I not clear enough for you?” he asked.

“Sir?”

“Get your gear, missy, we are leaving in two.”

Kile looked down at the courier’s bag which hung at her side.

“I’ve got everything I need,” she replied.

A good weapon, a good horse, a good heart and a good head on your shoulders is all a Hunter really needs.

Sergeant Wargner headed back to his tent.

This was going to be a very long assignment, she thought.

It took longer than the two hours, Sergeant Wargner allowed for, but the squad eventually got themselves together and into the square. Kile watched it from the sidelines with nervous amusement. It was amusing because these soldiers didn’t look as if they knew what they were doing. They seemed so out of place in their armor and their gear, awkwardly holding their weapons, almost like a group of children playing at war. She was nervous because these same soldiers were the ones she was going into the Denal province with.

The squad consisted of twenty three men in all. Sergeant Wargner, of course, was the squad’s commanding officer, and he had two corporals under him, Corporal Robert Tullner and Corporal Max Duffy. Duffy was definitely a career soldier, especially when compared to Tullner. The two were as different and night and day. The rest of the squad was a hodgepodge of faces. Some, she was surprised to see, weren’t that young and looked as if they may have seen a battle or two, but for the most part, none of them inspired much confidence.

-So, how many do you think are actually going to make it back alive?-

Grim asked, coming up behind her.

“That’s cold, even for you,” she replied, although the same thought did cross her mind.

-Please, I’d be surprised if half these vir make it through the night.-

“They may surprise you.”

-I’d be surprised if they don’t end up stabbing one another in battle.-

Wargner walked up and down the ranks of men, making comments to each one of them as he passed. It reminded Kile of her first days back at the Academy, when Sir Oblum gave his orientation speech. The only difference was, they weren’t going off to battle. Why was it so important for their uniforms to be straight, or their helmets to be polished? It wasn’t going to make them better soldiers.

The Sergeant turned away from his squad, and it didn’t look as if he had much confidence in them either. Reluctantly, he gave the order to mount up. They shuffled along the ground to where their horses were tied, each carrying on their backs a pack which looked twice their size. Kile had seen storage rooms with less stuff in them than what these men were carrying, and that was nothing compared to what they already had on their mounts. Shaking her head, she looked at Grim, her own small pack strapped to his harness.

“You ready for this?” She asked, pulling herself up on his back.

-Please, I’m looking forward to this. Personally, I think the fat nervous vir with the red hair will be the first to go.-

“What, you have a pool going with the other horses?” she asked.

It wasn’t too difficult to see which one Grim had his eye on. He was a short round man with hair sticking out from under his helmet. He was having a bit of trouble mounting his horse. It took him three tries before he could arrange his girth into the saddle.

“What is that?”

Kile turned to see Sergeant Wargner ride up on his chestnut mare, he was staring at Grim.

“Sir?” she asked.

“Are you seriously planning on riding… that… into battle?”

Battle? What battle? They were on a recon mission, or didn’t he know that.

“It’s a mountain pony, sir. We are heading into the mountains after all,” she replied.

“That is not a proper mount for a soldier to be riding. Had I known this ahead of time I would have demanded you find another horse,” he said.

How many horses did he know who could take down a Minotaur?