Chronicles Of the Ren-Ky Warriors (Book 1)

Chapter 11

“Hunter, I see Mourn Fortress just ahead.” Kyle pointed to the steel walls of Mourn Fortress.

Hunter looked up to see the large stone and metal fortress tower over the barren wasteland. Hunter shuddered as he remembers the commander in charge of the base. Hunter shook it off as the gates opened as they drew closer. Hunter revved the engine picked up speed as drove closer to the gates.

“I sent word ahead, so General Erin Lionclaw,” Kyle added as he entered.

Hunter spun the tail of the bike around to as stop. While a beautiful Dracoman woman—with copper hair and amber skin— approached them. She smiling sinisterly while showing off her massive bust proudly.

 “Welcome, oh, mighty Hunter.” She bent over Hunter as to entice him to her womanly wilds.

Hunter turned away for her as Kyle turned red, letting his glasses fall down. Hunter

 “Hello, General Erin, umm… could you pull away. you are showing off  a little too much.” Kyle couched as he tried to be rude.

Kyle fixed his glasses before looking at Hunter, who was uninterested in Erin’s hello.

 “How rude,  that was not even a good insult from you, Kyle. It’s been ages since I last saw those—” Erin pouted as she stood up, turning her body playfully to get a riot form, Kyle.

 “I came for info, not for a sappy reunion, Erin!” Hunter barked as he sharply turned his head up to her, glaring.

Erin stooped, playing as she could see it was very urgent from Hunter’s reaction. She crossed her arms in disappointment. Kyle sighed in relief as he got off the bike.

“Very well, meet me in my office later. I have other things to take care of first.” Erin waved her hand at Hunter as she toddles off.

Hunter growled as she walked out of view. Hunter dismounted, as one of Erin’s men, stepped up and escorted them to the guest chambers. Hunter turned to Kyle as he nodded. Allowing the soldier to show them the way. The mixture of metal and stone brick made it seem like a horror house over a fortress. They reached an iron and wood door; the soldier opened it, showing it was the guest room. Hunter walked in with Kyle shortly after.

Kyle sat at the edge of the bed, turned his gaze to Hunter, still irritated because he was in the same places as Erin. Kyle watched as Hunter started to pace between the two beds.

 “So, umm, you two knew each other?” Kyle’s voice cracked as he asked the elephant in the room.

Hunter sighed as he stopped pacing and walked over to the window. As Hunter stared out the window as he nodded. Watching Erin’s men whip the prisoners to death out of pleasure. The screams of agony echoed through the courtyard.

 “Well, that explains a bit.” Kyle lifted his arms.

Hunter closed his eyes and turned to Kyle, seeing that he was not impressed by this revelation. Hunter could not help but see Kyle's red expression towards Erin and her womanly wilds.

“She used to be tamer than she is now in her appearance until she met one of the other Council members.” Hunter’s started to explain, “Azoth and I once had a mission where she was involved. He told me about her before joining the upper ranks. She was a mess of a woman. She apparently had wild and unruly hair and masculine clothing and armour. She then, one day, Lily told her to get changed into something more decent and act more woman-like. After that, she found she could subdue men with her looks, over, acting like one.”

Hunter stiffened in rage as the words poured out for his distaste of Erin. Hunter turned, looking out the window once more to see more torture methods being used on a different set of prisoners.

Kyle scratches his cheek while he looked at his lap. “Well, I was going to ask how you were not affected by Erin’s charms and how you to meet, but your explanation works all the same.” Kyle flopped onto his back and stared at the ceiling. “So, how long till she will be done, you think, knowing you? You want the info as fast as possible, right?”

Kyle turned his head towards Hunter. While Hunter took a deep breath and sighed. He knew she would be late as the sun was setting. Hunter closed his eyes and turned to Kyle.

“She should be done by dark. Erin always did like the idea to be fashionably late to anything, and I mean anything.”

Hunter walked over to the other bed and sat down, resting his hands under his chin in thought. Kyle sat up and watched as Hunter started to think.

“If she has his location, then we leave tomorrow.” Hunter implied.

 “And if she doesn’t?” Kyle raised his brow at the thought.

Hunter shifted his weight when a knock from the door caught their attention. Kyle got up and opened the door to see a messenger standing outside. They told Hunter and Kyle that Erin was waiting for them and that he would be escorting them to her office. Hunter looked out the window, the sun still in view as Kyle turned to Hunter. Hunter found it suspicious that she had finished early. Kyle watched as Hunter stood up and walked over. Then the two followed the messenger to Erin’s office.

 As they enter, the messenger closed the door behind them. Hunter watched the messenger before looking around the room. Erin had many whips and torture tools hanging from her room. Before looking in Erin's direction.  Erin made a groaning noise as she lifted herself off her desk.

Finding a spring in her step, Erin leaned over her desk. Hunter glared at her. Erin was unfazed by Hunter's demeanour as she laced her hands.

“So, what is it that I could help you with? Surely you do not need me to come with you on you little exertion?” Erin’s sadistic grin sent shivers up Kyle.

Hunter stood up and slammed his knife into her desk. Erin leaped back in her seat as Hunter nearly stuck her. Erin looked up to see he was not in the mood for games. Erin changed her tone as Hunter stood staring at her.

 “Now let’s not kill ourselves, Hunter. Though I am curious why you would come looking for any form of help?” Hunter’s face stiffened as Erin raised her brow at him. “I get the message; it’s serious if you ask for any help.”

Hunter lifted his knife from Erin’s desk and put it away, seeing that she was n the same page. Hunter sat down as Kyle stared at Hunter.

 “I’m after someone who looks a lot like me, but his name is Lovell. The last info I got is that he was in Grand Dale. After that, nothing. Know anything about where he might be or where he might head off too?”

Erin leaned back in her seat as a playful expression dragged across her face.

“Now, there is a question I do have answers to. From what Hans men have spread around, a young man—fitting your description—with two others, was last seen heading into the Evermore kingdom. I also found out that he was spotted around Marewood, a day or two’s ride from here. Head there. You should catch him somewhere close if he doesn’t meet up with her.”

Hunter raised his brow at Erin. “What do you mean by her?”

Erin leaned forward once more, “I mean Lunatica. She was spotted heading to Marewood for the festival. If I am correct, they might meet there. If so, Fang will be the least. The festival ends in two days, so you might reach the later end of finding this Lovell of yours.”

Hunter stood up and thanked Erin as she playfully waved at the two as they left. Kyle walked behind Hunter as he stopped short and glanced back at Kyle.

“We leave tomorrow morning, I presume?” Kyle asked.

Hunter turned entirely around and shook his head at Kyle.

“No, this time, we leave tonight. If we want to catch Lovell,”  Hunter answered.

Hunter turned back around as Kyle nodded at him. Kyle rushed off the gather the supplies as Hunter walked towards the entrance of the fortress.

“Just wait, I will find you, Lovell, and kill you, well, if you not his grandson, that is.” Hunter grinned in anticipation of finding him.

Kyle met with Hunter as they talked. Hunter told him that he would be fast if he went alone. Kyle groaned, knowing that he would be left with Erin. Hunter hoped on the bike, ready for the journey as Erin walked up beside him. Hunter turned to look at Erin as she crossed her arm.

“What will you do if you find him, Hunter?” Erin asked.

 “If there’s no struggle, I’ll bring him here. Kyle will be staying behind until I return.”

Erin leaned in closer as to tease Hunter, “And if he gets away? Will you return still for your mechanic?”

Hunter put his goggles over his eyes before turning Erin and glaring at her. Erin stepped back, seeing the anger building with unwarranted actions.

“Yes, and not because he’s my mechanic,” Hunter answered, growling at Erin.

Hunter revved the engine waiting for the gate to open before taking off. Erin stood back as he watched him ride off. Kyle watched as he turned to walk to the guest room.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Hunter. We cannot mess this up.” Hoping his words somehow reached Hunter.

Hunter reached Marewood to see that the festival was still going. With the people smiling and enjoying themselves. Hunter walked around as the people talked about a family suddenly looking for two individuals. Hunter listened in to hear the Families name was Humbly. Hunter felt he had nothing to lose to find the family and see if they might know of something.

“So, where does the Humbly family live, Lovell?” Hunter asked himself.

Hunter could hear several voices talking as he walked down the side streets. Turning to see where the voices were coming from, Hunter moved in closer to listen in.

 “To be frankly honest, I don’t know. I was six the last time I was here before being taken by the Goanna Mercenaries.” The first voice called out.

“So, then, let’s ask around!” The second voice called out childishly.

Hunter peered around the corner, trying to see who was talking. He noticed two young men talking to a third but could not see them as they blocked his view.

“We all go off and ask everyone where they live and then meet… meet up at…” the second one spoke as they looked around.

Hunter watched as the second one moved out of the way. Hunter’s eyes widened to see that the third one was Lovell.  Hunter glanced at the third one and noticed the insignia on his side was that of the Grand Dale royal family. Hunter’s heart sank, knowing if any of the three saw him, he would be dead.

“There at the fountain?” The second one pointed, as the other two nodded in agreement. “So, see you in two hours?”

“Make it five.” The Grand Dale Royal added. “that way, we can cover more people before we find something to eat at six.”

Hunter watched as he got ready to follow Lovell. Then the sound of ringing from Hunters’ pocket enraged him as he answered.

“What, Kyle?!” He gritted through his teeth as he answered the phone.

“I’m guessing you found him?” Kyle answered. “And you got there faster than anticipated?”

Hunter rolled his eyes as he answered Kyle, “Yes, but his company involves the Grand Dale Royal family. Any suggestion on how to not let him find out?”

“Okay, give me a moment here,” Kyle paused as the sound of papers rustled on the other end.

Hunter went looked back to where he saw Lovell and his companions, to see he lost him thanks to Kyles call. Hunter wanted to rip Kyle apart for distracting him

“Sorry, I just did some fortune reading, to when you should nab him, and it seems he has some real anger issues just—”

Hunter gripped the phone, “So, I should wait until he stomps off. Then capture him?!”

“Oh, that is an easy part. From what I can tell, you just have to wait until Lovell cracks. His mental state is fragile when it comes to some things—not sure what, though. But the cards do say that he’ll leave willingly overnight, either tonight or tomorrow night. So, find where he is staying and then follow him. You will see the right opportunity.” Kyles’ voice irritated over the phone.

“Thanks, Kyle. See you in three to four days.” Hunter grinned as he waited for their return so he could follow them. “Well, I do have time to kill until they return.”

Hunter began to ponder on what he was going to do for the next five hours. Then it hit Hunter. Hunter smiled as he checked around before casting as disguise spell over his body. Hunter looked over his body to see he now looked like an elderly man. Hunter laughed softly as he walked out into the open.

Hunter walked around for a while. Trying to find clues to where Lovell was and where he was going to stay. As Hunter walked around, a man walked over, seeing him searching around.

 “You lost, sir?” The man kindly asks.

Hunter froze as he turned around to see the man standing behind him. The man's faces filled with concern, but Hunter smiled at him as gingerly as he could muster.

“Well, I was looking for a family, and the only thing I have is the last name to go by.” Hunter calmly answered as he wanted to vomit.

The man gently grabbed Hunter’s shoulder, unaware that he was not what he appeared and smiled, “What’s their last name, good sir? I might be able to help?”

Hunter Put on an act as he spoke. “I…I think…I think it was Humble or Humbly; my memory isn’t as good as it used to be. I-I am sorry, young man.”

The man leaned back, “Well, there is no Humble family, but I’m Mr. Humbly,” Hunter felt overjoyed that he found them before they did. “Why are you looking for me, good sir?”

Hunter seeing his suspicions rising. “I’m looking for my granddaughter, you see, and a friend said that a family with your last name had adopted a little girl. I was hoping that she was here for me to raise her amongst family?” Hunter is nervous at the fact he said that.

‘I hope he buys it, or else I’m in trouble.’ He thought to himself. Sweat ran down Hunters back, waiting for the man’s response. He could hear his heart in his throat, throbbing away.

“Well, we did, but she left about two years ago. Do you know what she looks like?” Hunter shook his head at him. “What about her name?”

Hunter pondered on a name, acting like an old man that had a hard time remembering. “I think her name was Maria. She would have been six when her mother passed.” Hunter looked up at the man while his heart still racing.

“Sorry, we didn’t raise her, but hopefully, you find her. She’s lucky to have a grandfather like you.” The man smiled as he walked by Hunter, “Well, I’m off, and good luck in your search, sir.”

Hunter nodded as he walked the other direction. Hunter turned down a side street and undid the spell.

“That was too close,” grabbing his chest. “Why was I so nervous?” Looking at his hands, his phone went off, scaring him. Hunter answered. “Y-yes?”

“Hello, sweet fire, it's Erin here.” Hunter pulled his phone away to end the call. “Hold your horses there, Hunter. I have some info for you.”

Hunter put the phone back to his ear, “What is it, Erin? You caught me at a bad time.” Hunters face red in embarrassment.

“Well, I found out that Marewood is part of a dispute with the Faremin forces and the Gold Heart Empire for this village, and if I were your prey, I would do everything in my power to stop the Faremin Kingdom from getting my childhood home. So, look up the barracks of our forces and wait there.” Hunter was surprised by what she dug up. Looking around, he did see that something was going on.

“So, is this festival part of it?”

“Bingo, sweet fire, and here is the kicker they will decide at the end.” She playfully answered. “So, go blend in and wait. Check by the place they are staying in the morning, okay.”

Hunter pulled the phone away, “Got to go, sorry, Erin.”

Erin is trying to ask what was going on before Hunter hung up. Hunter noticed one of Lovell’s companions heading down the street. Hunter transformed and walked towards Lovell’s friend, lowering his head as to make a scene.