Songs of fire and light

Chapter 9: the hunt

A horrid cry traveled the castle halls, led back to the throne room. Evander stood in a panic, panting, he tried and catch his breath. Perhaps his final told by the pace of the beast deep within its chest. Heart pounding, afraid, a gear too high for such an ancient man. 

Sergius watched the scene from his advisor chair beside the throne. Large Black stolen walls, with windows from top to bottom. Two large thrones made from white pine. Beside each, a smaller one. One for the advisor, the other for the heir. The bastard child the prince fostered with his deceased concubine. 

Reiner and Yaghen surrounded the fallen princeling. Licht sat on the floor, overcome by despair. “Why?!” He screamed. 

Yaghen crouched down, his calloused hand rubbed the boy’s head. “Oh, come on, little man. It is not that bad.” The prince red locks stood up, left and right. Reiner closed his ears and awaited the storm. Sergius simply walked out and left them to their prince mercy. 

The cries seized, Licht lifted his head. A deadly glare found Yaghen. Dread filled the air. “You messed up my hair, you dumb mutt! Go find a bone to chew on and leave me alone!” 

“I thought the problem was you were alone?” Yaghen asked serious stunned. Matters of high intelligence, never were for him. He’s a loyal dog that obeys his master’s command. Straight and simple. 

Poor Licht blinked his eyes. Surprised by the lunacy one of his father’s vessels can posses. Taken in high regard amongst their troops. The deep sets sigh ever escaped his lips, his body fell aside in shock.

Another roll of the eye from all but one. Yaghen leaned over the youthful limp body, worry on his mind. “M-My lord?” He stuttered, fearful for his masters wrath. “A-are you…” His words interrupted by a loud scream. 

“You idiots!” Licht rolled over the floor, banging his limbs against the floor. 

Evander tried to understand the scene, yet found himself stuck. “What is going on here? Where is his lordship?” He asked in a hoarse voice, parched from the excessive exercise. “And why is his son rolling over the floor as a newborn wailing for the breast?”

Reiner answered his quest. “His lordship took lady Nenya and her shadow for a hunting competition. Between him and lord Ryujin.” His gaze found the pitiful prince. “Our young lord instruction are to remain home and devote himself to his studies.”

“Why does he never takes his royal duties serious, yet find himself adapt to force them on his son?” Evander muttered. 

With all said and done, only one question remained, asked by the less smart one of the bunch. Yaghen searched.  “Where did lord Licht go?”

~

Somehow Nenya found herself and her shadow on horseback in the forest. Nenya trotted on a steady past behind both royal pains. Both riding a dark bay, another animal near. Her shadow, as his name, rode his near black stallion close. 

Earlier that day, Licht spoke of showing the foregrounds surrounding the castle. Where the men indulge themselves in the pleasures of the hunt. Leon overheard his son. Planted himself amidst before the arrival of Ryujin ended in a competition. Leon with his trusted wolf, Helios against Ryujin and his red-tailed hawk, Daichi. Barred from her escape the spirit and her shadow, we’re appointed jury. 

The immortals rode rear and avoided the squabbling princes. Shed preferred to stay in the castle and have another chat with Nami. A female whose company she found enjoyable. Something that never came about prior. Since when do men hunt with women? These men are not Elven. For men, this one was a poor excuse for men to get away from women. 

The princes we’re so busy arguing that even should a deer or any other unfortunate creature found itself right beside them. It could pass by unnoticed with all the time of the world. 

Out on an open grass field, they waited. 

And waited. Only to wait some more. 

“Is this how mortals hunt? Such a bore.” Akashi murmured for his mistress ears. After a swift side-glance he knew she found the same conclusion. While some of their Elven kin are profound vegetarians, most do, enjoy a nice slap of meat. With their agility and stillness it’s a game of finesse to find their prey and aim. 

Alas, hunting animals was neither immortal’s boon. Akashi being a fevered hunter of a different a distinct type of beast. The worst of them all walk on two legs and on none so rare occasions walk amongst them. 

“May I asked, for whom the men are hunting. I doubt the castle kitchen has use for whatever any might catch.”  Kenya asked, given them an innocent smile. 

“What’s the problem, my lovely sprite? Do you find your magic lagging, unfit from reading my mind?” Her smile does not falter at Leon’s remark. He fired back at her.

“Alas, i rather spare myself the horrors of your feeble perverted mind.” She replies innocently, aware she’s pushing his lordships buttons. “I thought perhaps the kind lords would gift their catch with the wild robbers you seem fond of.”

“That’s a marvelous idea, my lady.” Ryujin piped up. Daichi flapped his wings. His orange wings that shaded a dark brown opened wide and proud. The poor creature wished for a well-deserved flight. Stretch his wings high above the ground and feel the wind tickle his bright and dark shaded wings. 

“Fine, if that’s your wish.” Leon dismissive the discussion with a twist of the wrist. 

A smugness flatters Akashi’s face. “In that case why not allow myself and her ladyship join your childishness if for good cause?” 

The arrogant fool scoffed at that. “A woman join the hunt. Never has one joined.”

Ryujin glanced over his shoulder, a ghost of a smile played on his lips. The sight of the prince of fools being airborne again was a pleasant sight. Arrogance set aside, his untoward behavior put in its rightful place. Away.

The fallen prince dropped on his feet behind his horse and groaned, “that blasted sprite.” When will she seize her resistance? 

‘Never.’ Her voice boomed within his mind. Eyes met, filled with rage and defying. “Now, we separate and meet back at three hours hence. We shall call the one who bares the largest prey the victor. Agreed?” She and her shadow can hunt and claim a prey not even needed half the time. She found herself considerate towards their human counterparts. And permitted herself a few hours unrestricted from either lord’s endless search for attention. 

A single nod shared and before the three riders dashed off. 

~

Quiver filled with light arrows, tips coated with night tears extract. A plant seen by men as a useless weed, not even good for the pigs. Only Elven know with the roots crushed, a liquid emerges that grants a painless rest.  

One of the treasures her chest held. Now dressed in her hunters’ gear. A black coat dwindled from her in the breeze. It ended by her knees, its oversized sleeves slid back from her gloved hands. Left unnoticed by the chirping birds that live in this forest. 

Her Elven carved longbow in hand. Edged with delicate carvings. Her fingers caressed the delicate touch. Even as she made her way through the forest. High above the forest floor, she moved unseen. Unheard, her feet barely touched the branches she climbed. Their Elven scent help blend with the forest air. Blinding them from any keen sense of smell. 

She smiled. Below, a large blackness past, behind his master rode his horse. Helios sniffed the ground and air, in search for a much-desired prey. Nenya could not help herself. Her fingers ached mischief as she knocked her arrow against the bowstring. Both arms still hung down her shoulders, she held on and gave her plan a second thought. Her ears small delicate ears, that still ended in a subtle point picked up a sound, in the northeast. The flapping wings of a large bird. The wickedness that roamed her heart urged her on. Without pause, she raised her now and released her arrow northeast. 

The arrow flew with grace past greeneries of the winter vast trees, without the touch of a single leaf. Touching nothing beyond its mark. Which it found at great ease. A broad broken branch held by a single string of vine. Cut through the branch fell with all its baggage on the ground followed by a loud outcry. Helios leaped, at the sound. Dashing off with his master towards his fellow competitor a few miles away. 

She chuckled at her own mischief. The fool earns some anguish. Her ears picked up the bustling voices of the two men’s bickering. Vilified another from fraud to revolt. 

With elegance beyond any mortal ways, she leaped, traded one branch for another. Making her way from tree to tree. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the perfect target. A stag. There it stood talks and wide, majestic as one could be. 

Her gloved fingers found the fletchings of an arrow and pulled two night tears laced out between her fingers. She loaded her bow. Slow quelled breaths made her bowstring vibrate as it clung to her skin. 

Her lips painted a sorrowful smile. “Forgive me, for those children are no better than skin and bones. They need the nourishment you can provide them.” A prayer so soft, left unheard. 

Without reply, she strung the arrows, and within seconds the once gracious stag fell on the ground. Sorrow taints her heart at the sight of its fall. Hunting never felt right to her. She left it done by others, those able to stomach the pain it caused. That’s why when hunting, she ensured, her target would be male and matured or spared otherwise. 

A small blade she kept hidden in her boot she pierced the animal’s heart. Ending it near painless demise.  The blade of Elven make, light as a feather, returned in place. Void from any red liquid. It’s white handle and silver decorations stood out against the blackness of her. 

~

The sun dropped low, near gone. In the clearing, Ryujin waited for his rivals, patiently. Curious what the two immortals caught. He knew of the impeccable skills their kin held. The first back was Leon. A small boar on his back. He slumped forward by its massive weight. 

“I win!” He claimed confidant. The radiant smile he held back his claim. A mocking glance at his rival’s price. A few rabbits, a hare, and a chicken. One most likable escaped from his pen at the farm a few yards away. 

“Our other opponents have not returned.” Ryujin retorted, taken comfort in his own words. No sooner has his words faded into the evening sky than Nenya walked into the clearing. Still dressed in her hunter’s clothing. The Black hood from her coat pulled up, hid her face. Behind her, in the air, flew the earthly remains of a stag. 

Both men gaped in awe. Doubtful of their own eyes. Once near, the wind they neglected faded, and the stag eased gentle on the grass. 

Ryujin tilted his head, confused. “I guess neither of us wins.” Giving a wink at the prince of fools. 

“At least I am not last, like a certain other in our union.” He retorted nostrils flaring as he eases his rage.

“The game has not ended, Akashi has not yet returned.” She stated. 

Leon’s hands flexed at his sides. Over my dead body i’ll lose to one more.

As on cue, Akashi emerged from the shadows of the forest, a giant ball of fur pulled behind. “What the hell is that thing?” Ryujin squinted his eyes, uncertain by what he witnessed. 

“A bear.” Nenya stated. 

“A bear?!” Both men shouted. Their eyes near popped from their sockets when they fell close enough to tell for themselves. Akashi pulled the bear by one of its massive paws. It’s brown fur, sticky with blood and mud. A few sticks and leaves sticking out. 

“That’s Grimlock, a bear that plagued these woods for as many ages as myself.” Leon realized in disbelieve. Since young he tried and failed killing the massive beast. As did many others. The hinder it caused earned him a reward for his kill. Nonetheless, somewhat substantial. And this done by a strange elf who calls himself the shadow of a troublesome sprite. The thought made Leon’s blood boil, his fists ache for battle. 

Damn these blasted elves. 

“I give you the victor!” Akashi announced proud of himself. A sneer at the losing men that cast glances with a stare that could kill. If only that be true. 

“Shall we deliver our prey to these wild robbers? Or do the men desire a few moments for their petty sulking?”  Nenya teased. 

The easterling bowed before her. “As you wish, my lady. Me and my men shall deliver our offering, seeing I Am the huge dupe.” Nenya could only smile. Her lips were coy, lifting in the corners of her bland grin against her stiff and cheeks. A clap of his hand had Hiroshi and others of his company appear. 

“No, we’re all going.” Was all Leon said before stomping off. Leaving the heavy lifting to Ryujin’s men. 

The children smiled and laughed with glee as they stuffed their small mouths with too enormous chunks of meat. “Now, now, children do not act improper before our ruler and his allies.” Jane mouthed of the juveniles. 

Leon and his allies had joined the festivities. Leon, first troubled over any usefulness a bear held. Found themsleves silenced by the loud-mouthed female they call Jane. The pelts could earn a hefty price or keep them warm during a harsh winter. Even for the meat did she know enough receives to sum. 

Kenya and her shadow found themselves beside Minnie and Monty. Grateful for the delightful meal, they open up about the poor state of Leones and Zion in general. 

Few years ago Theodric died of sudden illness, leaning his eldest in charge. Andronico. Theodric, the second oldest, had his own lands, in the east. And they married Lira off at a young age of fifteen to a neighboring country. 

As Theodric’s deemed a devout man. one could describe Andronic as the opposite. He and his wife Galina only care for themselves. As Leon is against slavery, they find his brothers divided. 

Their difference caused so much issue that Zion deemed a broken country. Devided into three uneven shares . Ruled each by one brother.