FOREDOOMED

Chapter 4 THE HUNTA

In the vast courtyard enclosed with towering walls made of bricks, Adira stood on the sickly yellowish lawn while holding a bow and aiming at the center of the target, that was 30 yards away from her. When she released the arrow, it went narrowly to the edge of the target, far from the bull's eye. As a groan slipped through her mouth, a loud clap reverberated around the quiet lawn that had been despoiled of any greenery shrubs or vibrant flowers.

Adira looked back at her only audience and trainer as well, the pale young lad Ruven who was seated in a vintage metal chair. She remembered him as the man who boldly sneaked inside her room when she woke up and flirted with her. The king's reason for personally picking the young man to teach her archery was a mystery to her. She had known the king for being overly possessive, and his letting a man get close to her now confounded her. Truly, he had mastered the art of unpredictability.

"You're improving, Your Highness," Ruven complimented her. "Still, you lose. And I apologize if you cannot behold these beautiful eyes and be bewitched by them," he added with a smirk.

They had a bet, that if Adira could hit the bull's eye, then Ruven would take off his dark sunglasses. Indeed, she had lost but somehow won. After a thorough observation within five days of training with him, Adira had deduced to what kind of Dominus he belonged. Still a bit uncertain, she decided to have that bet with him, and she noticed how he had stilled and became speechless for a moment before he laughed and accepted her challenge. And now, on the sixth day of their training, she had finally come to a definite conclusion: Ruven was a vampire.

Based on Ruven's unusual paleness, Adira reckoned he was a vampire, but since they were training all day and outdoors, she became unsure. Every vampire's lethal weakness was the sunlight that could burn them into ashes in an instant. Adira was puzzled as to how Ruven could survive the sun's burning light if he was truly a vampire. Then, she observed he had not taken off his sunglasses even once, so she thought it might have a powerful spell that could make him tolerate the sunlight, and based on the circumstance, it sure did.

Adira sat down on an upholstered red chair with gold trimmings and looked up. Just as every day, the sky was overcast with dull, grey clouds likened to the thickest black cloak that even the brightest sun could not penetrate. Even entirely hidden and concealed, the sun was right up there, and still dangerously deadly for any vampire.

"Why are you the one training me and not my fiancee? And why had he not visited me for almost a week now?" Adira intentionally sounded whiny. She had not seen the king since their meeting with the High Council, and she honestly preferred not seeing him at all. But she was curious as to what kept him occupied. She did believe in the Inferus proverb, 'Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer'.

Until now, Ruven was having a hard time understanding how an Inferus could be the mate of the most ruthless King of Werewolves, who utterly despised her race. If only she knew, she would never ask about the king's whereabouts. "Your fiancee is a king and expectedly burdened with duties and responsibilities that he must fulfill," Ruven said using that formal tone whenever Adira opened a topic about the king.

Adira doubted it was not loyalty that kept him seemingly defending the king to her. Vampire and werewolf won't co-exist, as a matter of fact speaking. Put them together in a room, a bloodbath would soon take place in a matter of seconds. Except in the presence of the High Council, of course.

Adira did ask Ruven how he was acquainted with the king, and his answer was the same as he introduced himself to him in her bedroom. He was the king's apprentice. He was here to learn how to become a ruler since he himself would become a king someday, in a different country, he explained. So, Adira conjectured he was indeed a Dominus royalty, the Crown Prince of Vampires. Again, she was beyond perplexed as to how and why a vampire, not just any vampire, but a vampire heir be under the custody of the king of werewolves. Anyhow, it was not her business. She must not allow herself to get stray away from her plan.

"And he could not even spare a few minutes of talking with me and asking how was I doing," she continued to whine, setting aside the bow on the oak table in front of them.

Now, her whining sounded irritable to Ruven's ears, but he kept his friendly demeanor. "I daily reported to him your training. And he is pleased that you quickly learn archery and continue to improve," Ruven simply said, crossing his legs.

Of course, she expected that. Though, she doubted if the king was truly pleased, for she could not even hit any part of the target, except on some rare occasions, just like a while ago. What's worst, she could only hit the farthest corner of the target. That was her best improvement compared to the first couple of days that she could either not send any arrow flying or shot the arrow erratically. For her, it was indeed a miracle that she had learned how to use the bow for almost a week. Though she owed it to Ruven for patiently training her from early morning to late night. They were even having their meals in the orchard just to save time from going to the dining room and back to what had become her training ground.

A court lady had come and brought their refreshments, and Ruven thanked her with a dashing smile, causing the poor young lady to blush profusely before leaving. Adira grabbed the sandwich and ignored Ruven's antics of flirting with the court lady, as she had grown accustomed to his inert flirting with any woman, that included her.

Ruven took the glass of scarlet juice and sipped it. As much as he abhorred animal blood, he had to consume it, or else he'd die of starvation. Any vampire was allowed to consume Inferus' blood as long as it came from blood banks. But since King Henric had taken him in, he was deprived of an Inferus blood, by the king's order.

Just at first glance, Adira knew that was not any ordinary juice, but the blood of an animal or Inferus, she could not tell. Though, she was confident the young lad would not dare take an Inferus life and risk the throne of being the King of Vampires. The High Council would not spare him nor show mercy for killing an Inferus.

"Since my fiancee is too busy, why not you tell me more about this Wuna," Adira said while munching the sandwich. It was the beta that informed her she had to learn archery for the Wuna, a tradition that the king and she must perform before the wedding.

Ruven leaned on the metal chair and lightly shook the glass in his hand. "There are three stages of the Wuna: the Hunta, Gehola, and Gefera. In each stage of Wuna, the High Council's presence is required," he explained. Before Adira could ask why, he already gave her the answer. "That was the law forged both by the High Council and the ancient royalty werewo... I mean, the forefathers of King Henric."

That was new knowledge to her. "So I need to learn how to use bow and arrow because I and the king will perform archery in front of the High Council, is that it?"

Ruven laughed, he couldn't help himself. "No, It's called Hunta because you and the king will be hunting."

If she were not an Inferus, but a werewolf, then she needed not to learn archery or any weapon at all. Hunting was second nature to werewolves, and so as to vampires.

Adira froze, then set down the sandwich on the plate. "Hunting? Are you serious?" the quiver in her voice betrayed the panic that had settled inside her.

"Yes, My Lady," he said.

"But why?" She hastily stood up with her voice raising, disturbing the quietness of the surrounding.

Ruven looked up at him while grinning, his dimples showing, as he found her anxiety amusing. From the first day he met her in that bedroom until he had trained her, not once had he seen her lose her composed demeanor. Well, there were instances she would groan out of frustration, and that was just it.

Upon staring at him grinning with his teeth on display, that was as sparkling as his emerald velvet long sleeves with ruffles, Adifra felt embarrassed with her outburst. She sat down while reprimanding herself not to get too comfortable with the young vampire. "I mean, that seems too low and barbaric for royalty to do. Is there any king or queen nowadays that would hunt for a tradition?" she said, tapping away some invisible specks of dust on her white flowy dress that reached down her ankle.

Any Inferus royalty would not dare so, but for any Dominus king and queen, much more a werewolf, hunting would be a customary part of tradition. "Based on what has been told to me, Hunta signifies that the king and queen can provide food for the people. It means that you and King Henric can provide for the needs of your subjects."

"By hunting?" she asked in incredulity. "There must be 'other way' to show that we are capable of giving the people's needs. Besides, the king has been doing that, for like, a couple of years, so I don't think there is any doubt of the king's capability," she said, satisfied with her arguments.

Ruven could not deny that this little Inferus woman did have some wits, he thought she did not possess. "Indeed, but the Wuna was not to test the king's ability. His royalty blood was enough to prove his worth to the throne. The Wuna is about how the two of you could work together to achieve a goal. It's also to prove to your people that you could rule together with harmony." he said before drinking all the b****y refreshment.

"But, maybe there is still another way," she said, her voice faltering.

"Well, My Lady, that is a tradition that not even the king or his queen-to-be could not refuse to perform. Unless, of course. you decide to call off the wedding and maybe run away with me. That would be the greatest scandal royalty, don't you think?" He then set the empty glass on the table; he was already reinvigorated.

Adira refused to roll her eyes. Clearly, the young vampire had no decency as he would flirt at any possible opportunity. Even at this moment when she was obviously stricken with panic. But what did she expect from this vampire who was under the control of the king of werewolves? Then, she was left but one choice, she would discuss this with the king.

"Don't worry. King Henric will be there with you and--"

"There? Where exactly are we hunting?" she asked, apprehensively waiting for his answer.

"Just outside the castle, the Mercia Woodland," he answered.

Adira gasped, fully knowing about that woodland. She had heard the news about Mercia Woodland as one of the wildest places that were inhabited by the most ferocious and deadliest animals. She could not survive with a mere bow and arrow that she had learned to use for almost a week, nor was she borne and possessed with brawny strength. She would die even for a couple of minutes of staying there.

Before she could stand up and look for the king to express her grievances, Ruven held her wrist firmly.

"You'll be with King Henric. Please, believe me, no harm will ever come to you as long as you're with the king," he said truthfully. If only she knew that Mericia Woodland was a playground to the king when he was only a kid, Ruven doubted if she would be as anxious as she was now.

Even without seeing the sincerity in his eyes as it was shielded with sunglasses, Adira could feel his genuine earnestness, that somehow calmed her down. A low growl, audible enough to hear in the quietness, had Ruven let Adira's hands free while both simultaneously drew back when they realized they were unintentionally close.