CHAPTER 30

Point to Michelle! Sorry about all the extra errors, everyone. I neglected to reread the chapter before I posted because I wanted to get it up before I left for Texas. My fault! Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I'll work on it for the second draft and will try to remember not to post until I have time to reread the chapter, however, if it does happen again, please be forgiving since I'm trying to be fast for you! LOL. Now, let's see... I didn't mention much about the camp because its not important to Aiden. He found out about Jaton and Sartan and that was all he carried about. Most of this conversation he phased out on anyway, since he was a little distracted at the moment. Was there something in particular you wanted him to find out?

Thanks for the notice, Libby. I'll make sure I check out the 'amusing' lines in the second draft! Keep watching, Aiden is going to be comparing himself a WHOLE lot more...

LOL, Katie! Me too!

Your welcome, Anonymous! =P

Thank you, Margret! That's very nice of you to say. I'm glad everyone is happy Travon made another appearance, he surprised me when he decided to become more involved in Aiden's story. But then, he surprises Aiden too! I'm glad you can relate to Aiden as well. You and i are both hoping he can find his way (I'm kinda asking him to do it before I finish this book!)

LOL. I'm glad you were finally able to read, Ashley! Sorry about the jumping, Aiden's thoughts go where they want, despite my orders. Hopefully, it still flowed well enough. Yes, I've missed Aiden's perspective on things. I'm much more comfortable in his mind than Kristalyn's strangely enough. As for Deus, I'm glad you noticed! Now, if I can jsut get Aiden to figure out that one!

What??? No comment from David? Sigh. Well, we shall just have to delay posting..... =)

Travon has returned and Aiden gets another message. It all pushes him to act, but in what way? Can he finally bring this all to an end? And what happens then? If he commits the final deed, will he be free or will the chains wrap around his heart even tighter?
Kristalyn's POV: He's haunted my dreams since that awful night and now Aiden is going to... but is it right? Deus, I'm so confused! I want this too, and yet... Help us! No! Wait! Aiden! Don't....

CHAPTER 30 ~ RAGE KILL

AIDEN

I watched the fire play across Kristalyn’s face as her eyes followed the boys’ youthful movements. The three youngest members of our team were doing their own dramatic retelling of how Travon had stolen Ricald’s prize horse earlier that night. Jerome and Warrick listened with appropriate attention, although I could feel Warrick’s untrusting gaze on me as much as the youths. If I did corrupt his ‘Lady’ Kristalyn his watching me wasn’t going to stop it.

A round of laughter made me look up to see that Geoffrey had somehow landed on top of Richard and neither looked capable of moving.

“Just like that, Geoffrey?” Kristalyn asked, as she caught her breath.

The boy blushed. “Um, yes?”

That only caused more laughter as Travon tried to help his friends up, but a new noise beyond the laughter caught my attention. I knew that noise. If I bothered to admit it, I sometimes found myself searching for it. Now, though I scanned the sky. The light from the fire failed to light the night sky, but it didn’t matter, when the bird swopped down to fly only inches from Travon’s head.

“Ack!” The youth screamed. “It’s back!”

I only hoped it was. I hated dealing with new falcons. The bird landed close to the fire, amid the stares of everyone around the fire.

“That is not a normal action for a bird of prey,” Jerome commented looking at the animal.

It wasn’t. But then, it was no ordinary bird. Attached to its leg was a letter from one of my siblings. I hadn’t heard from any in so long, it could only be a call of trouble, either that, or Wren finally checking in on me. Whatever the bird’s reason for coming I needed to find it out. A sharp howl from somewhere beyond us startled the falcon and he took off to the trees. I heaved in frustration. Now, I had to figure out how to get the pest back down.

Kristalyn turned to her friend, who had made come up beside her. “Kurio, what’s wrong?”

The large cat howled again.

“All right, we’re coming,” she responded. “Warrick, Jerome, you’d better come too.”

Jerome nodded and stood, but Warrick cast me a suspicious look like it was my fault something was happening. He glanced up at the bird again then turned and followed Kristalyn. While the boys were momentarily distracted, I nodded to Travon to get him to move too. He grinned at me and shoved both boys.

“Come on, let’s check it out,” he said as he pushed.

“But the falcon…”Geoffrey protested.

“Is a bird of prey. You wanta be close when he decides attacking is a good thing?” Travon asked.

“Kristalyn might need us,” Richard put in, though he cast another longing look at the bird himself.

Travon stopped dead. “Yeah! I can help the lady!” And took off running in her direction.

Geoffrey and Richard looked at each other, both followed, protesting loudly, “Me first!”

I shook my head at the lot of them, but focused back on the bird myself. “All right, whichever one you are, what’s happening with my sister? Or did you bring a note from someone else?”

I held out my hand to it, but he screeched and hopped back slightly on the branch. I growled frustrated. “Come on, Myrddin, or whoever, I don’t have rabbit right now. You missed dinner.”

The bird didn’t seem impressed with that particular thought. Suddenly, he opened his wings and took off into a higher tree.

“What was that for?” I called, upset that he was to far away to pounce on.

My answer came in the form of Magnar landing next to me. I glared at the griffin.

“You scared him! You get him down!” I said hotly.

Magnar cocked his head at me then glanced up into the tree. “Falcon,” he said needlessly.

“Yes, falcon. Get the falcon with the note down here.”

Magnar looked at me again and then moved in what had to be a griffin shrug, before calling out in his eagle’s screech to the bird. A few seconds and screeches later, the falcon perched happily on the griffin’s back. I shook my head, not sure if I should be disgusted or just relieved to get the letter. Quickly, I took it off the bird’s leg and unfolded it.

Dear Aiden,

How we change. I always thought that in the pressure of life I would find my true self. I now find I am wrong. It is in the quiet times. All those months on the road, hunting, seeking, tracking, and then capturing my prey, I though I had found my true self. I thought there was something noble and right about accomplishing each triumph. Each life I conquered and brought to justice seemed to reaffirm that I was the superior being. Now, I have discovered something different. In the quiet moments as we struggle with the very basics of survival against Deus’ creation, I have found a peace and honor that I never knew existed. There is value in bringing in a harvest and planting the next. I have found a sense of accomplishment as I watch the morning’s kill, the boar that will fill our stomachs for another few weeks, being dragged through the gates. By Deus’ grace, my arrow found the beast’s heart and we shall have warm bellies for a bit more. I know you probably don’t understand me. Somehow I am sure you are not living a peaceful life out there, but I will admonish you just the same. Seek the quiet honor of a day well spent and I think you will find what you are looking for. I think I have. Of course, I could be wrong. Either way, Deus keep you, Brother.

Wren

“We, Wren? Who did you meet?” I asked the question out loud. “And just what do you think you found that you are so unsure of, Sister?”

“Aiden!” Kristalyn’s voice called from the direction they had all disappeared too. “Aiden!”

“Yeah!” I called back. My sister’s letter would have to wait. I glanced at the falcon. If the bird wanted food, he’d have to wait too.

***

Both camps were a mess, as I looked down on them the following night. Fights had broken out all as men tried to locate the few weapons left, others found dead animals and were dragged away carcasses or cutting them away from whatever they had been pulling, and everyone in Ricald’s camp dogged the furniture being thrown violently out of his tent. He was rather upset, judging by the pile outside the main tent flap.

It had been six days since we had first started our attempts to slow down these men and it seemed they were on their last thin straw of patience. Egan had yet to report back, but the battle had to be almost over at this point, if it had not already finished. Judging by the furniture around Ricald’s tent and the loud curses and large fights, we only had to turn up the heat slightly to get the whole group to turn around. I clenched my fist as I recalled the decision I had come to the night before. It was time to end this.

I had to stop fooling around and pretending. There was only one way left open to me to prove that I was indeed ready to go back and face Duard. My sister had called for me to find a new peace. She was at least correct that I had yet to discover peace, let alone a quiet day. This was the only way it would happen. The only way it could. I had to deal with Ricald. There would be no more excuses. I would take out the Hunter’s Duard and then I would take out mine. I knew my sister and unless she had changed as much as I had, that hadn’t been her point, but it didn’t matter in the end. I had been searching for my purpose, my reason to be in this war and I knew now what it was. Perhaps I had always known it would come to this. I would not be Ricald’s pawn, but it was past time for him to become mine.

“Aiden?” Kristalyn approached my side. She cast me a wary glace, then looked down to the camp below. “You have that determined look. What’s happening?”

“I’m going to end it, Kristalyn, and I’m going to do it now,” I replied.

“What are you talking about?”

“This chase. It’s time for it to stop. Either we’ve been in time or not, but either way, we need to finish this.”

Kristalyn gave me a strange look. “Why so urgent?”

I didn’t reply, but looked back over the camp. It was urgent for more reasons than one, but I didn’t want to explain any of them to her.

Finally, she asked another question. “I’m assuming you have a plan for this sudden change of direction that is going to work?”

“Take off the head and the serpent dies, right?” I asked quoting an age old something I had heard Taerith use before, though I had no clue how I managed to remember it now.

Kristalyn froze, but I watched the emotions flit across her eyes. “You’re going after Ricald.”

I nodded.

She swallowed slowly. “Do you think that is wise? The Prince will just assume control of Ricald’s men and we’ve worked hard to pit the two camps against each other. This would undermine all of that.”

“Both camps are discouraged and downtrodden. Ricald’s men won’t stay under Jaquin. And killing a leader like Ricald will give us more power as spirits or some other nonsense in the Wild Men’s eyes. It might not have worked before, but we can pull it off now.”

“You’re just going to murder him?”

I cast her a look. “Did you have a different idea?”

How else did she think I was going to do it? I was a warrior, an assassin, I wasn’t well known for giving people chances, with the exception of her brother. It was time she remembered that. I was a cold blooded killer and caring about me wouldn’t change that. It was time I remembered that as well.

I watched the struggle play on her face. Her nobility was something to watch, but there was also the problem that despite what her god might say, Ricald had killed her father without mercy.

“I have unfinished business with him. You might even call this justice,” I attempted to help her make up her mind.

“I wish I believed that, Aiden. But we both know justice for my father won’t come from your hand.” She paused to look up into my face. “Revenge will.”

“Are you going to try and stop me?” I asked quietly.

“Do I need too?” Her tone matched my own.

“Only if you want too.”

Her green eyes took on a hard gem like quality. “Do not lay this decision at my feet, Aiden. I will not be responsible for your actions.”

I smiled cynically. “If you do nothing, you’re giving me your permission.”

“No, Aiden. I refuse to do that. I will give you my trust though.”

I stared at her, not understanding.

“I’ll trust you to do the right thing when the time comes.” She held my gaze for a moment longer and then turned and walked back to the camp.

Trust me to do the right thing? What kind of answer was that? Who did she think she was fooling? I couldn’t be trusted to do the right thing. I didn’t even know what that looked like anymore. I hadn’t for a long time.

So, where did that leave me?

I didn’t know.

***

Egan was back. He had reported that the battle looked to be finished for now, both sides were badly hurt and Aerilya was the worst of the two. We were only a day or perhaps a little more from the site. We couldn’t see them yet, but by tomorrow, we would be entirely too close. With the new information, it was decided that we would have to attack for real. We were drastically out numbered, but the goal wasn’t to win the battle, only to create massive confusion and take the final fight out of them. Unlike the Wild Men and Ricald’s camp, our men were all rested and ready to fight. We had lost no one and Magnar gave us a huge advantage. We would attack from the edges, picking off those in the back and moving forward, using the just coming to daylight to our advantage. The attack would be swift and we would have to get out fast, but hopefully it would be enough to turn them around for good.

The men were split into their teams and would be positioned around the back half of the camp, so that it was surrounded on three sides. Magnar would screech three times and the attack would begin. Nervous energy covered the men as they prepared for the battle to come. Geoffrey and Richard were taking cues from Travon. Though the two youngest members had both seen skirmishes, Kristalyn told me they had not been in a major battle. Travon, on the other hand, had seen a few to many. Still, the three moved about their preparations in a way that would make the Hunter proud.

Though no on slept the night before, the adrenaline had everyone on full alert. The sun had not yet cracked the clouds when Kristalyn and I stood before them to give final instructions.

“We have left them with very few weapons. They are hoping to get more once they join the main battle. We are going to insure that doesn’t happen. Archers will go first. Your first shot will be a surprise and will have the most effect, so aim well. Kill on your first shot. We’ve left enough of their weapons behind that we will need every shot to count. Only after the second volley does anybody move. Got that?” I waited for the confirming nods, especially form the younger ones. We would be keeping them close. Then I continued, “Strike hard and fast, do not stay to fight but keep moving through. We want to sweep across them and then be back to the trees.”

Kristalyn cut in, “Watch each others back and don’t leave anyone behind. You’re all good at what you do and I want to see you all back in this grove by the end of the morning. Now, go quickly and set up. Do not attack until you hear Magnar’s screech.”

The griffin at my side let out a practice one. Everyone turned their eyes to him, while he stretched his neck proudly. Egan, on Kristalyn’s shoulder, gave a little huff of indignation.

“For Aerilya, go with Deus.”

The men scattered and Geoffrey, Richard, and Travon looked up at us for instructions.

“Deus will not save them out there,” I muttered to her.

She turned her green eyes towards me. “Remember, faith, Aiden. Always faith.”

I grunted and looked at the three youths. “Follow me.”

The five of us, along with our three constant animal companions, followed in the direction of everyone else. Our position was in the exact center of the line and we reached it quickly. We would give the signal for the archers from here and then travel up the center and out the other side. Magnar would dive from above and focus on the Wild Men’s side of camp, while Kurioden was instructed to stay close to Geoffrey and Richard. Kristalyn and Travon had no specific purpose while in the battle except to stop anyone who got in their way, after they had made it through though, they would double back to insure everyone else was out as well. With so few of us, we couldn’t afford to lose any. My plan was much simpler. I was going after Ricald and I wasn’t leaving his tent until he was dead.

The stillness of the air hung damp and heavy around us and Richard shivered in it. Travon laid a hand on his shoulder and Geoffrey moved a little closer to him. The three would watch out for each other. I scanned the line and saw only little movements that told me the others were in place. Kristalyn, on the other side of the three youths, turned and nodded her head. Her side was ready as well. I looked down to Magnar, who waited behind us.

“Go. Then get the Wild Men. Watch out for any stray arrows.”

Magnar snorted as if that was obvious and took to flight. The griffin soared high and then with a might screech flew down towards the camps. He circled up, screeched a second time, then screeched a third as he attacked the Wild Men’s side before soaring away.

“Show off,” I muttered, knowing he had put the whole camp on alert now. Three smaller screeches would have been better, but I’d make him pay for it later.

The archers were already shooting their second volley. Many had shot the first after Magnar had pulled back up before his second screech. Dead bodies already littered the ground. The archers had found their marks. As the third volley was launched I let out a loud yell and broke from my position, Kristalyn at my side. Behind us and all around the others followed. Those not yet moving in the camp were now fully awake, as mad men from every direction swarmed down on them. Screams of rage were heard from the soldiers, who could now take their revenge on their unseen tormentors. The first clash of weapons rang across the small valley as Kurioden’s roar, Magnar’s screech, and a host of other noises consumed the once still air. Blood ran from everywhere as the Hunter’s warriors raced through the camp. Never slowing, they cut any soldier who dared challenged them and far too many dared.

I quickly lost site of Kristalyn, but I could hear Kurioden’s roar and knew she was still close by. I dodged a painful attempt at a swinging lunge and put the man out of his misery. I barley saw the next man I cut down my focus only on the tent rising up before me, Ricald’s tent. I was almost there and he would suffer greatly for what he had done.

I knew the face of the next person I killed. My sword cut under his armor without mercy, even as my mind recalled him offering me a drink of water long ago. I didn’t have time to focus on the thought as a scream of anguish reached me and I ducked to avoid a dagger thrown at my head. I rolled to the right and swung myself around and up just in time to avoid the death slash. I launched my own dagger and then pulled it from his blood drenched neck as I passed by. The two had been friends.

Denfrid. That had been the first guy’s name. He’d been an okay kid. Didn’t matter now, he was dead. Ricald had claimed another life. It was his fault so many were dying today. He had told them to fight. He had picked slaves from anywhere he felt like, he had ordered villages murdered, he had killed the Hunter, and created the new one, and he had placed me under his thumb. He would pay and now Ricald’s tent stood in front of me.

Quickly, I slashed through the back of it and entered his sleeping area. Toppling the wood structure he insisted his sleeping mats be placed on, I moved farther into the area. Ricald was nowhere to be seen, but I could hear his voice coming from behind the curtain that separated his sleeping chamber from the main part of the tent.

“Idiots! The lot of you! Don’t stand there! Find him and kill him!” Ricald’s furious voice shouted orders.

I heard metal clashing as men struggled to pass each other and leave the room first.

A slow grin crossed my face and I used the tip of my sword to draw back the curtain. Finally, retribution.

“Don’t go looking on my account, Ricald. I’m right here.”

Ricald swung around to me and fire streamed from his glare. “You!” He spat the word as a curse.

“You were expecting maybe the Hunter? I’m afraid I’ll have to do.”

A nasty sneer turned his face dark. “Oh, you’ll do.”

I waited as he pulled his sword from its sheaf at his waist. This would be a fair fight. It was the only way to prove that I was better than them all.

“I’ve been looking forward to this, Aiden,” Ricald muttered, even as he charged.

I didn’t feel the need to waste my breath as my own blade met his. The blades swept down each other, both raging for supremacy. The two swords broke apart and immediately clashed again, this time with my blade on top. Quickly, I stepped to the side allowing my blade to fall for a second and come up to attack again. Ricald wasted no movements, but met me with equal force. Again the blades crashed and broke apart. Each move met by another and then another. Our course took us around the entirety of the room, our feet doing just as much work as the deadly blades.

There was a large table occupying the back wall of the tent and slowly I was being pushed up against it. Once there, I would have no place to move. As I felt the table, I leaned back and bearing my weight on one shoulder gave a heard shove and leapt up on top of the sturdy table. Ricald laughed.

“Bold move, assassin, but you’ve only bought time.”

He made a low sweep across the top of the table and forced me to jump over his sword; quickly I did so then jumped again so that I landed on the other side of Ricald, before he could regain his balance from his attack. Now, we were in the opposite positions. He looked at me in surprise.

“Did you think it would be easy?” I mocked.

His grip tightened on his sword, turning his knuckles white.

“Come on, Ricald, you can’t be surprised. You didn’t really expect those bounty hunters to kill me or even catch me. And you don’t expect to kill me know. I’m the best you’ve ever seen.”

“Bah!” Ricald spat. “Those that say that all fall.”

I sneered. “Then I guess it’s your turn.”

I charged and swept my sword down hard, but he blocked it at the final second and countered. Once again, our blades entered their deadly dance. The blades clashed so quickly it became hard to follow individual moves, but I still stayed one step ahead. It was easy to see how Ricald had managed to obtain his reputation and almost a relief that it wasn’t based just on fear. This fight was for real and I was going to win it. Ricald was forceful, but he was older too and soon he would end up slowing down. All I had to do was wait and a little mocking never hurt either.

“You didn’t expect me to turn Jaton either. It must have galled you to find he’d taken off and Sartan with him.” I blocked a move and took a step back. “Did it sting?”

Ricald’s eyes glowed with rage and his breath became heaver. I noticed for the first time the noises from outside had lessened. I had to finish this.

“Loyalty is such a hard thing to find. Except for men like the Hunter of course,” I added as a pretended after thought.

“I gave you everything you needed, Aiden. I made you and this is how you repay me?” He shouted, his voice hard and angry, as he swept the sword low and then brought it up back up in a double strike.

I fended off both. “Made me? You did nothing for me, except use me. I owe you nothing!”

Driving forward, I forced him to defend himself in a smaller space. The swords clashed angrily before he pushed me back a step. Only then did I see that Kristalyn had entered the room and was watching us with wary eyes. Where were the others?

“You owe me everything! You ate my food, used my supplies! You killed my men and made deserters of others! You failed your mission!” Each sentence was forced by a strike with the sword.

I scoffed and blocked each move. “You had no reason to believe I failed my mission. Only that it had taken longer than I thought.”

Ricald stepped back slightly. “You killed the Hunter?”

I grinned slightly. “No. You did.”

Ricald lowered his sword slightly in shock. “What?”

I laughed as I attacked, mocking him with the truth. “That’s right. You killed him as a spy and by doing so you created the new Hunter. His son!”

As I spoke and Ricald gaped at what my words meant, I slashed high with my sword bringing it down on the inside of his sword arm, so that a large red cut spewed forth blood and rendered the arm useless. His sword dropped to the ground. Ricald quickly followed it, grasping his arm with a look of bewildered shock.

“How?” He finally uttered.

I turned and looked to Kristalyn, who took a step forward to face the man who had murdered her father.

“Nine years ago, you cut off my father’s head as a spy in the palace courtyard. Do you still not remember him?” Ricald made no move, but Kristalyn continued anyway. “When we heard the news, my family took up our father’s mission and my brother became the Hunter. Together with Deus’ help, we are the ones who have fought against your injustice and we are stopping you even now.”

“It’s not possible…” Ricald’s voice trailed off at he looked at the first Hunter’s daughter and the second Hunter’s sister. He gasped in pain and moved his arm closer to his body. “I won back then?”

“You arrogant, worthless snake. You lost that day. You created a legend in that Hunter and gave his son the ability to always appose you. You created the Hunter you now fight,” I spat out. Then leaned down slightly and grinned. “Oh, and Ricald, he and Aerilya just won.”

Ricald’s eyes gleamed with pain and hatred. Now, he knew the whole truth. He had helped to create the Hunter, he had turned me into his ally, and I had beaten him.

I backed up and raised my sword. “Say hello to the demons of Sheol.”

Kristalyn’s hand under my arm stopped me from striking. “What?”

“Why?” She asked instead. She let go of my arm and pointed at him. “He’s broken. Aerilya will win this war and he will have nothing to go home too. He will never fight again with his arm. The Hunter will forever remain free.” Ricald seemed to sink lower with each knife she drove home. “Look at him, Aiden. He is a pathetic man, broken and useless. Isn’t that punishment enough?

“For you maybe. But he wasted my life as well,” I argued, not ready to give up my total victory.

“Aiden, you know better than anyone, sometimes living can be worse than death,” her voice was quite, but held the steel of truth.

For the first time, I looked into her eyes. Her own words were paining her. She too wanted his death, but I saw strength there, a peace that I could not explain. Despite what she wanted, she was content to let him go. Was this what her god demanded of her? Would I honor her request yet again? She said she had trusted me to make the correct decision, her eyes said the same even now.

I lowered my sword. “He’s not worth it. Let the demons of Sheol keep him company here then.”

“Oh, they will, Aiden. He sold his soul to them long ago.” Kristalyn moved to the tent entrance with a regal grace of one who knew the battle was indeed hers and hers alone.

I kicked Ricald’s sword away from him and then turned and followed.

“Then I pray the demons aid me, Aiden!” Ricald’s voice came at me from behind, strong and sure. “I will summon all their power and send it on you! You and your family, anyone you care about. May Belial destroy you all and send you after them into the darkest pits of Sheol.”

I don’t remember moving. I don’t remember my sword in my hand, nor the action I took. I only remember standing over his dead body. The fury coursing through me as it moved my hand to protect the family I feared for. The certainty that if I did not kill this man he would not rest until he had killed Taerith, Daelia, Ilara, Wren, Aquila, Arnan, Sam, and my Firebrand, Zoe. It did not matter if he knew of them, nor whether he was capable of calling on the demons true strength as we had always wondered if Duard did, all that matter was the threat. It was against their lives and I took action.

His broken body, head someplace else, lay before me and I barely saw it. The fury, the fear, the all consuming fire, held me so tightly in its grip that it colored everything. I might have stood there forever, except that a cold hand touched my arm. I whirled, ready to protect my family yet again, but her eyes stopped me.

Green, wet, and full of both horror and sorrow, they stopped me cold. Kristalyn had seen it all.

“Aiden. Aiden, let’s go. Please, let’s go.”

Then without waiting for an answer, she let her hand travel down my arm and into my free hand. Gently she tugged and together we left the tent.

***

Kristalyn dropped my hand sometime before we entered our own camp. I kept following her anyway. I wasn’t sure what else to do. It was like I was moving in some odd sort of fog. I had never experiences this before, not after a kill at any rate. I couldn’t explain it and I didn’t like it, but then I didn’t like anything at the moment, including myself.

I had protected my family. Why couldn’t I be proud of that? Was it because Kristalyn had watched? What was wrong with me?

We entered camp and Travon was at my side quickly, though he said nothing. Warrick reported to Kristalyn that we had lost seven of our men. I watched as she bowed her head in silence, their deaths washing over her. I could feel nothing for her pain, my own consuming me. Pain consumed me?

Why?

“Who?” Kristalyn’s voice reached me.

“Lyca, Jehoi, Shimei, Ophir, Benaiah, Mesha, and Ziba.” Each name was said with sadness and loss.

I let the names wash over me. What were the names of the men I had killed today? I knew only two Denfrid and Ricald. But I had killed many more than that. Little Emma’s adoptive brother. I had killed him too. How was the young girl doing now?

“Where are the bodies?”

“Laid out by the back of the camp. Can we burn them?” Warrick asked.

Kristalyn shook her head. “Not today. We don’t want to risk anyone coming after us for retribution. Let’s wait to see what the Wild Men do and then we will give them their final rest.” Kristalyn paused to look over the rest of the group, all of whom had gathered around her. “You did well today, men. We lost good soldiers in service to Aerilya, with their sacrifice, we have helped to save our country.”

The men let out a solemn cheer.

“By tomorrow we will know if our efforts have turned them back, but I believe we will not be surprised. I have only one other piece of news.” She paused and looked at each of them. “Ricald is dead.”

The gasp went out from every mouth, before the questions came from all directions. Kristalyn held up a hand.

“It matters not how, only that the great enemy of the Hunter is now dead.”

“Aiden?” Travon asked quietly from beside me.

“I killed him.” I answered the boy, before turning and walking away.

Travon watched me go, but Magnar was not as content and I heard him a few steps behind me only a little bit later. I ignored the griffin and kept walking. My thoughts traveled far and no where at all. My mind would be a blank shadow, until a thought would cross it only to disappear again. Occasionally, anther would follow the first, but more often, the blankness would return. I have no idea how far I walked, only that I eventually stopped and reclaimed my wondering thoughts from the darkness.

He had cursed my family, cursed them as if they were dogs or wild pigs. He threatened them with demons and Belial himself. Could he have really done it? I had no way to know, Duard had proven most anything possible. He might have been able too. If Ricald lived, he would have stopped at nothing to get revenge. I could go back and defeat Duard only to have to live in fear of when Ricald would also come for my family. I had to protect them. My fist clenched. I didn’t have a choice.

“Choice there always is,” Magnar responded.

I glanced at the griffin, who sat calmly at my side.

“What?”

“Choice there always is,” he repeated.

I must have spoken out loud. “He cursed my family. I was going to let him live and he cursed them. I just reacted. And I severed his head from his body.”

Magnar blinked slowly. “Big reaction,” he said solemnly.

I nodded. “Yeah. Kristalyn watched.”

Magnar cocked his head to look at me. “Disturbed you this has, not the act.”

“I’m not sure.” And I wasn’t. I had never been disturbed by a kill before… that wasn’t true. Zoe had disturbed me about them a great many times. But, nothing like this, something here was different. Only, I could not explain what. Was Magnar right? Was it because Kristalyn had watched? But she had seen hundreds of kills in her lifetime. She had even seen me kill. So, what made this different?

“Rage,” Magnar responded again.

I really had to concentrate on whether I was speaking out loud or not.

“Control Aiden lost. Happen again Aiden wonders now,” Magnar continued.

Yes, would it? Would it with Duard?

“Fly.” Magnar spoke.

I looked at him confused. I hadn’t said anything that would warrant that response.

Magnar jerked his head to the sky. “Fly. Head it will clear.”

I nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”

I mounted his back and together we took off for the sky.

***

CHAPTER 29
But first a reply for the faithful...

LOL. You're welcome anonymous! I'm glad you, ahem, enjoyed!
It sounds like this chapter faired a little better than the last with all of you. I had to rewrite most of the last chapter and this one to pick up the pace more. I tried to focus the action on the Wild Men, but it just wasn't working. The second time through (have I mentioned I HATE rewrites?) I let Kristalyn and Aiden talk as they wanted too and it changed both chapters drastically. For the better, I do believe. We shall see what you all think after you have read this rather interesting chapter, of course, I think the next few chapters are rather interesting for various reasons. :shrug:
Anyway...
You are correct, Jo. She often asks abotu his family, because she feels like she never gets a fully truthful answer, and she's right! Aiden has constantly held things back from her. Yet she strives to pull out pieces of information out of him. Incidentally, he wonders about that in this chapter!
Thanks, Libby!!! Aiden constantly surprises me. I'm glad we get to see that through Kristalyn's eyes before seing it through Aiden's! Interactions between the two are my favorite thing to write!
LOL. Britt, I love your comment! LOL. I'm anxious to see how Deus gets through that thick noggin of his too! I hope Deus clues me in soon, like before I have to write it!!
Hi Elizabeth! Oh, good! I'm glad you like their interactions. I remember being slightly nervous about Aiden's changing. Still am really, so I'm glad you think it is realistic. You'll see even more in this chapter. Let me know what you think!
Ashley! It was fun, but very hard to write Kris' reunion. All of the Hunter's men are really Em's characters, so it's difficult to make sure I get them right. Thankfully, they did well. Last paragraph? AH!! LOL. Yeah, Aiden does that to me A LOT!
Michelle, you're welcome! I know the action has been lacking lately. Sorry about that. Unfortunately, it's the nature of this story. But, you can't have action all the time or I'd be exhausted as the characters! Actually, I thought the last chapter still lacked action. So, I'm glad you think it picked back up. Hopefully, the many things that happen now, will make it better!
On to the story!!!

The attacks have begun and they are making an impression, on more than just the enemy. He's been watching her, studying her. Aiden knows her heart, he's known it for a long time now and he knows it's going to get them both into trouble. He is trouble, he always will be, it will never change. But is he convincing her or himself? Too much is happening, to fast and he is very aware that soon, they will be split up. Can he keep all his precious secrets safe until then? She is learning more all the time, but does it even matter? Things are moving fast, perhaps too fast. Can Aiden keep up or will the unthinkable finally happen?

CHAPTER 29 ~ NEVER GOOD ENOUGH

AIDEN

It was with some amusement and annoyance that night that I found out Geoffrey and Richard would complete our team of four. The fact the two youngsters were on Kristalyn’s team didn’t surprise me, but I was getting tired of dealing with green warriors. They reminded me to much of the fact that I had no idea where Travon was and that disturbed me even more. They did follow instructions well though.

The Wild Men and Ricald had picked a wide space that had trees scattered everywhere as their camp for the night. The Wild Men had no respect for equipment, as it was laid out everywhere and they had only been stopped for a few hours. Men launched around in noisy packs, drinking and laughing. Horses were standing everywhere, most still with their tack on. Ricald’s men had their own spot picked out and set up much as I remembered it. Here, men worked on swords or shields, some carried food, and others led horses to water. The difference between the two lines was one you could visibly cross.

There were no guards for the Wild Men, but Ricald had guards set up within eye sight of each other around his perimeter. It was his standard procedure and most of the guards were alert, but not all. It didn’t take us too long to find the guard in our section that was almost out of it. In the dark, the guard on either side wouldn’t know he was missing.

It was far too easy for Richard and Geoffrey to get his attention with some rude noises and allow me to sneak up behind him. I didn’t mind killing him, but for tonight at least, that wasn’t our purpose. Kristalyn was convinced it would be better to let him live with the tale for a little at least. I disagreed, but it wasn’t worth arguing over. I didn’t need the kill, so either way it wouldn’t service me. After knocking him out and dragging him away, Richard took his place.

Working with Kristalyn, he and Geoffrey would have enough time to steal most of the weapons in the immediate area, while I snuck further into the camp. I wanted to get to Ricald and show him just what I thought of his assassins, but first I was going to enjoy torturing him.

Slipping past a rowdy group of drunk soldiers, I made my way to the cart that was loaded with food. Taking out my knife, I worked at the back wheel until it was almost sawed through. When the cart hit a hole, the wheel would break and cause a rather unpleasant delay. I smiled when I spotted the weapons cart a few feet away. Quickly, I made my way to it and worked two of those wheels as well. Looking inside, I saw a huge cache of swords, knifes, shields, axes, spears, and other weapons. I helped myself to a couple of daggers and a new sword, before sneaking back to where the others waited.

Kristalyn, Geoffrey, and Richard, who had abounded his role as guard, waited next to a pile of weapons of their own. It was a wonder they had taken so many. I shook my head. Soldiers were so careless. But it made them so much fun to mess with too.

“Find anything interesting?” I asked as I joined them.

Geoffrey and Richard shared a look before each holding up a new knife. Kristalyn shook her head, but didn’t comment.

“How did it go?” She asked me instead.

“Let’s hope it is this easy every night,” I replied.

She laughed softly as we headed back to our own camp. “If these guys fight like they camp, we could easily beat them.”

I nodded. “Yeah, except they don’t.”

***

The next morning Kristalyn and I crouched on top of a hill overlooking the camp. On Ricald’s side, things looked to be more normal, except that there were quite a few soldiers looking causally around as if they had forgotten something, but didn’t want to say. A few men were interrogating a stunned guard, who kept shaking his head and looking around confused. The Wild men were not so controlled in their tempers. Fights broke out among a few, who decided if they couldn’t find their stuff, they’d make do with someone else’s. The thought didn’t go over to well with their comrades.

It took them most of the morning to settle things out between them. The sun was high in the sky, when the Prince’s tent was finally taken down and the army moved out. Kristalyn and I watched as they moved underneath of us. I pointed out one of the carts and she nodded when she saw the wheel wobble dangerously. It wouldn’t be long before that wheel came off and there were others spread throughout the movement that were in just as bad of shape.

A loud crash and multiple yelled curses, told that one cart had just had enough. Kristalyn covered her mouth with her hand as she laughed softly. I looked up ahead to see five Wild Men surrounding a broken down cart, each hollering and pointing at the other, and no one doing a thing about the cart itself. Prince Jaquin raced up on top of his horse. The first five were ordered back and a new group came forward to fix the wheel. Meanwhile, the rest of the Wild Men and Ricald’s group moved forward.

I nodded to Kristalyn and the two of us moved quickly down the hill and back towards our own camp.

“What do you think?” Kristalyn asked when we were out of ear shot.

“No one is really spooked. They’ll be easy to slow down though. And that is only the first wheel to go today. They are in for a long day of travel.”

She nodded. “They lost about half the day already.”

“Works to our advantage,” I answered, thinking about the men left behind to fix the wheel.

“What is it?” Kristalyn looked up at me.

“I was just thinking it would spook them real good if we pick of those that are left behind to fix everything that breaks down,” I admitted.

She was silent for a minute and I wondered if she was consulting her god. Finally, she nodded. “I don’t like shooting the defenseless, even if it is war. Still, if we shot one warning shot, we could justify our tactics.”

I shook my head amused. “Justify? Who cares? You do what you have too to get the job done.”

“No,” Kristalyn said calmly. “If I murder them out of cold blood then I’m no better than they are.”

I walked on in silence. That was what I had done. How many had I murdered without giving them a chance? I had lost count after a while and it hadn’t mattered to me anyway, not until that little girl had changed into Zoe at any rate. Was I any better than the Wild Men, then? I glanced at Kristalyn, who walked calmly at my side. Did she see me that way?

I had almost killed her brother. I mocked her god every chance I got. I purposefully tried to get reactions out of her with my words. I had fought in a war without caring what side I was on. Murdering in cold blood was how I had made my living. And I had betrayed each of my siblings, breaking them apart and becoming someone they would despise. Who was I to walk at this woman’s side? I should be everything she hated too. Why did she insist that I fight by her side?

Did she not hate me in her heart too? I looked ay her again, studding her profile as we walked. Her dark blond hair had lighter highlights in it that I could see from the sun. Her bangs framed the front of her face on the side, while the rest hung down her back in a low, flay ponytailed tied at the nape of her neck. Her eyes were a sparkling green that shown even now with some inner thought that had her amused. They were set perfectly against her olive tan skin. When we had first entered Ruma together, the guard had looked at her as if he had never seen something so beautiful. I hadn’t noticed before, but I did now. She was very beautiful and in more ways than one. So, why did she put up with me? What secret did she know about me that I didn’t?

She turned and her green eyes caught mine. “What?”

“Nothing,” I answered.

She looked at me suspiciously, but didn’t press the subject. She was learning how to deal with me rather quickly. She still didn’t understand everything though, but I knew more than she wanted me too. I could read her. Despite a few days apart from her, I could still read her whenever I chose, even from far away. That was why I had left her alone. She had been so happy and content among her friends. It was something I hadn’t seen before, and watching her interact with them was amusing for me. I didn’t want to know why, it just was.

She had hinted that she thought things were changing between us. I could tell by the look in her eyes, she cared more for me than she wanted to admit, probably even to herself. But why care for me? That was what I couldn’t understand. She wasn’t a stupid girl, yet she fell for the worst guy possible. I should be her worse enemy. Why did she care?

It was a question I couldn’t answer and I hated unknowns. I wanted to know what made her think I was worthy of any attention. Why she cared, what she thought. Not just about me, but about everything. I had missed her while she had been catching up with her friends.

I almost groaned out loud. What was I thinking? I had warned her away from my heart, but did I need to warn myself? No. I didn’t care about her. Not about her, her brother, her stupid war. I couldn’t even care about my own siblings. My heart was as closed as ever and it would do us both good to remember that. I had sealed it away and I would never release it from its prison. Period.

“Aiden! Are you listening at all?” Her voice broke into my thoughts.

“Huh?” I looked at her confused.

“What were you thinking about? You haven’t heard a word I said.” She looked at me, her eyes dancing with amusement.

“Nothing. What did you want?” I decided to ignore it completely. I shouldn’t have wasted thoughts on the subject at all, whatever it had been.

“Okay. I was saying we should leave one or two teams back to pick up any stragglers and take them out. I think Gurmeet and Plathe could both manage it. What do you think?”

I nodded once. “Fine. You know your men well enough.”

She looked at me strangely for a second. “Right. I’m going to tell everyone to get ready to go and fill in Warrick.” She paused for a moment. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine,” I growled.

She held up her hands in an open handed okay gesture. “Sure. If you say so.” She headed towards a group of men, but turned around before she reached them. “If you need me to talk or whatever, you know where I am.”

Talk. Right.

***

I watched her constantly. I couldn’t seem to help it. She took natural leadership and her men followed her with a fierce loyalty. She had patience and a firm kindness with Geoffrey and Richard that made them try even harder to please her. In her men’s eyes, she could do no wrong. It was obvious and they protected her, even from me. Warrick, especially, seemed to feel that I was a bad influence on his ‘Lady Kristalyn.’ The problem was: he was right. I could see it in every move that I made. I had no right to be a part of this woman’s world. I didn’t fit and I wasn’t sure I wanted too. But then, I didn’t know what I did want anymore. She had changed so much, how was I suppose too… what was I suppose to do?

I had agreed to fight her war and I would complete that. But what happened then? Our contract would be over. She would go back to her Hunter and her friends, but what of me? Was I ready to take on Duard? Could I defeat him? I had failed so often, in so many ways. How could I be sure I was ready for that?

“Aiden? Are you okay?” Her voice came from behind me. Why did this girl have a knack for interrupting thoughts I shouldn’t be having?

“Fine. How are your friends?” I needed to separate myself from her. It would happen soon enough, I might as well distance myself now.

“Most are still sleeping. You do realize the sun is hardly out, right?” She asked looking at me with green eyes filled with concern.

I refused to allow that to affect me. What had she asked me? I couldn’t remember. “I was thinking of going to check on Ricald’s camp.” I was?

“Oh. That’s not a bad idea. It’s been a few days. They’ve been pretty easy to slow down. I wonder if it has been enough?”

“There’s no way to tell right now. You should send Egan to see how the battle is faring.”

“Good point. I didn’t want to send him earlier. I didn’t think there had been enough time. But he could probably get close enough to get a good idea. He doesn’t necessarily have to check in.”

I shook my head. “When we get them to stop or turn around we can tell your brother. Until then, we just need to get an idea of what we should plan next.”

“I guess its wishful thinking that we might be done sometime soon?” Kristalyn asked softly.

She would want to be done quickly to get back to the Hunter and her life as she knew it. I wondered briefly if she remembered it would be goodbye, but I pushed the thought away quickly. What did it matter? She didn’t mean anything to me, just one more person to leave behind.

“A week, maybe more. Once we get them to stop, we’ll need to make sure they turn around and don’t try anything else.”

Kristalyn’s face fell slightly, but she nodded firmly. “Yeah. The last thing we need is them attack an already tired army on the whim that they’ll be able to take out the survivors.”

I nodded. “Our job is to make sure they’re too tired and frustrated to even consider that.”

Kristalyn sighed. “Maybe we should go check our progress. I’ll go with you.”

“No, stay here. We don’t need the whole camp out looking for you.” I didn’t need her any closer to me than she already was.

She looked at me silently for a moment, before responding slowly, “I’m in charge of this mission and I’m going with you. Kurioden will let Warrick know when he rises.”

I hadn’t even noticed the silent cat sitting at her side. She patted him on his head.

“Got that, Kurio?”

The cat meowed his agreement and made his way over to where Warrick was still asleep. The cat couldn’t talk as Magnar could, yet that never seemed to both Kristalyn. The girl acted as if the cat understood every word, but then, so did the panther.

***

Together, we moved through the smaller groves and trees to where Ricald had picked his camping spot. The guard had been doubled since we had started our attack efforts, but so far it had little effect. We were careful to stay out of the viewing of the guards as we snuck closer, but it wasn’t hard. Most of the men, including the supposed guards, stood in groups whispering and pointing around vaguely, as if trying to distinguish someone else to blame for their current state. It became clear why when Ricald stormed through the middle of the camp, clearly on his way to the Wild Men’s side. Men were literally jumping out of his way. No one wanted to be the one who caught his wrath. Quickly, Kristalyn changed directions to follow and I moved along beside her.

“Jaquin!” Ricald yelled as he neared the main tent. “Jaquin!”

The Prince existed his tent, looking regally annoyed, even from a distance. I motioned to Kristalyn and we tucked ourselves behind a bunch of trees to listen in on what promised to be an interesting discussion.

“What is it now, Ricald?”

The dismissive tone made Ricald’s face turn a shade darker. It was most amusing to watch.

“Idiot! How many of your imbecile fighters are working with him?” Ricald demanded.

“Working with who?” He asked crossly.

“The Hunter! Who else!” Ricald spouted.

“I do not care about your Hunter!” Jaquin stated, raising his voice.

“You do! I know you are helping him cause our problems !” Ricald yelled.

“We had nothing to do with your problems! It’s your men who are attacking us!” Prince Jaquin yelled back, just as loudly.

“Bah! My men are soldiers! Yours are hardly even battle worthy!”

“Continue that thought, Ricald, and you will regret it.” Prince Jaquin voice held an unmistakable warning.

“Ricald hasn’t changed much, has he?” The voice came from behind Kristalyn and me.

I whipped around to stare in shock at the figure behind me.

“Travon!” I exclaimed.

Kristalyn looked at both of us startled, but my attention was on the youth standing in front of me. It was hard to believe he was not another apparition, like Zoe had been.

Travon grinned at me. “That was some long month,” he said as he held out his hand.

I gripped his forearm. “Yeah… It’s good to see you.”

He gave me a look that asked if that was really true, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he turned to focus back on the two men, who walked into Prince Jaquin’s tent, still arguing. “I’ve been following Ricald since I left camp. He really wants to get to the big battle and hates the Wild Men. Your attacks are messing him up.”

“We should go back to the camp, so we can catch up with each other,” Kristalyn’s voice came from my side. I had forgotten she was there in the shock of seeing Travon again.

He nodded and led the way back to our camp. He already knew the way, so how long had he been spying on us? How had I not noticed? And why say something now?

His speech had changed slightly again. He looked to be more grown up too. I spared him a look. He had broadened out, but was still lanky. He’d gotten taller too, a few inches shorter than myself. Ilara would still want to cut his jagged blond and brown hair by force. His eyes weren’t quite as muddy as they use to be, but he’d gotten darker too, which might have something to do with his brown eyes looking clearer. I made my observations while Kristalyn and Travon got to know each other. I could tell from the look on her face she liked the kid. For some reason, that pleased me. It would certainly make things easier.

Travon turned back to look at me. “How is Maglynar?”

“His name is Magnar now. He’ll be happy to see you. He’s missed having you around.”

Travon nodded. “I missed him too. It’s been a long time.”

“Sorry about that. Things worked out a lot differently than I expected.”

“Is that why trying to stop Ricald?”

“Partially.”

Travon looked at me for a long moment but said nothing. I could see the question in his eyes, but he would never ask it out loud. He had grown up in more ways than one.

“I didn’t kill the Hunter, Travon. He’s still alive and fighting. In fact,” I nodded towards Kristalyn, “she is his sister.”

He whipped his head around to stare at Kristalyn. She smiled.

“It’s true.”

“Wow. I think I missed a lot,” Travon said quietly.

I laughed then. “Don’t worry, kid. Magnar and I will catch you up. We want to hear your story too.”

“Yeah. It’s a deal.” He grinned at me.

We arrived back in camp and I frowned to see Magnar wasn’t there. Kristalyn’s panther was napping nearby, however, and we walked over to him. The spot was out of hearing of the others, but still in site range. The animals knew how to pick places for their privacy while still keeping taps on us. It had been an amusing habit to watch.

“So, where is he?” Travon asked looking around. “And who is this?”

“This is Kurioden. He’s my partner,” Kristalyn replied, reaching down to pat the panther’s head, who raised his head in acknowledgement.

“Nice to meet you, Kurioden. I’m Travon.” Travon held out his hand and the panther promptly licked it.

Kristalyn smiled. “That was fast. He usually doesn’t take to people so quickly.”

Travon grinned. “Animals like me.”

“It would seem so,” Kristalyn replied in an amused voice.

A piercing shriek filled that air. Those at the camp looked up, but most went right back to work when they saw the griffin land. Magnar folded his wings against his body and shrieked out again, pouncing up and down like an oversized rabbit.

“Magnar!” Travon cried out, in more of the voice I remembered. The boy raced to the griffin’s side.

“Travon!” Magnar screeched as clear as day.

I winched and looked at Kristalyn, who was staring at the pair. She whipped her head around to look at me.

“Did he… it sounded like he….” She tried again.

I didn’t respond, but watched the pair myself. It had always been a matter of time before Kristalyn found out Magnar could talk. If he had waited a few more weeks, she never would have found out at all. Still, trusting her with the information wasn’t that hard surprisingly. It was more natural and the thought should have disturbed me. She seemed to be learning quite a few of my secrets lately. Could I keep the last few, the biggest ones from her? Like my ultimate betrayal? Or the reason for my joining her war? Or would she discover them too, before I could make my escape from her life?

“I’ve missed you so much, Magnar. You took good care of Aiden. I’m glad. You got huge! Look at you! A mighty warrior now! Your name fits again.” Travon spoke quickly.

Magnar made a low half rumble in his chest, which was his laugh. “Big I’ve gotten. Changed Aiden has. Missed you we did.”

Travon released the griffin to take a step back. “Magnar, you can talk! It’s real clear!”

“Learned long ago. Secret Aiden wanted it. Left before tell you I could,” Magnar explained, in his unusual speech pattern.

Kristalyn stared at me. “You purposefully kept this from me.”

There was no question in her voice. I gazed at her steadily. She couldn’t possible be surprised.

“Would you have done anything different if Kurioden could talk?”

“That’s not the point!” She spouted.

I laughed. “Yes, it is.”

“When were you going to tell me?” She asked more calmly.

“When I could trust you,” I answered automatically.

“You still don’t trust me?” She questioned her voice far too soft this time.

That had come out wrong. I couldn’t take it back now though. “I left you find out, didn’t I?”

“Not by choice!”

I gazed at her steadily. “Magnar was bound to talk when he first saw Travon here. I figured you’d find out.”

That wasn’t exactly true. I hadn’t really thought about it. For some odd reason though, I didn’t want Kristalyn to know this.

She looked at me skeptically. “So, you trust me fully now?”

“Do you trust me fully?”

“That’s not an answer,” she said instead.

“Can you answer it?”

Before she could reply, Travon looked up from his catch up with Magnar and asked, “You tried to kill yourself?”

I glanced at Magnar, who looked steadily at the ground. He would be one unhappy griffin later. “It doesn’t matter, Travon.”

The boy stepped towards me. “It does so. Why would you do that?”

“It was the best course of action at the time.” For all I knew, it still was. I pushed the thought aside, as both Kristalyn and Magnar made loud noises of protest.

Travon laughed. “Guess your out numbered. So, what else did I miss?”

I shrugged. “It took a while to locate the Hunter. I attempted to kill him and ultimately decided to let him live. Ricald sent bounty hunters after me and I joined Aerilya’s side. The battle is being fought even now. We need to stop the Wild Men and Ricald from ever reaching it.”

Travon thought silently for a minute before asking the one question I knew he couldn’t continue to go without asking. “Why did you let him live?”

“That is between me and the Hunter,” I replied swiftly. “Travon, Jaton led the bounty hunters. Did he ever return?”

“Soft of. He snuck back into the camp real late one night. He found Sartan and after the two talked for a while, they both left and never came back. Ricald was real ticked when no one ever came back and then he found Sartan missing too. He’s more mad at you than ever now. You’re right under the Hunter.”

Under the Hunter. Was that where I belonged? Skill wise I was better, but in ever other aspect….

“What else have you noticed?” Kristalyn spoke, but my thoughts refused to be sidetracked.

It was an old argument at this point. The Hunter was my better in every way, except skill. He would not have allowed what I had to happen to my family, nor would he have become what I became. I glanced at Kristalyn, who still discussed the situation with Travon. What would Tancred do if he knew his sister had begun to care for me? She could hide it from everyone else, but I saw it in her eyes. I warned her away, but was it enough? When this was over, I had to leave fast.

“With supplies disappearing all the time, it’s been even easier for me to take what I need,” Travon’s voice finally broke into my thoughts.

“How have you been living since you left the camp?” I asked, coming back into the conversation.

Travon grinned. “You taught me, Aiden. It hasn’t been hard. I’ve hunted mostly and stolen from Ricald for the rest. Supplies came from him too. More than once, I’ve managed to clear out villages before he got there or at least warn them he was on the way.” Travon shrugged. “It hasn’t been much. But at least a few lives were saved.”

“I’d say it’s been quite a lot. You’ve done really well, Travon. The Hunter will be really pleased.” Kristalynh said in a proud voice, putting a hand on the boy’s shoulder.

He blushed and looked at me.

I nodded. “I’m proud of you, Travon. You’ve done very well.”

Travon grinned. Apparently, my approval still meant a lot to the boy.

“What are your plans now?” Kristalyn asked curiously.

Travon glanced at me and shrugged. “The same I guess. I’m not stopping till Ricald does and Aerilya isn’t in any more danger.”

“So, you’re joining us then?” I asked casually.

“Do you want me too?” He asked, in a ‘I don’t care if you do or don’t’ way.

“I’ve been waiting to get this griffin back to you for a while now. Stay and you can take care of him from now on,” I responded.

Magnar gave a screech of indignation and Travon laughed.

“Same as always. I’ll stay.”

“Good. I have some people I think you’d like to meet. And I’d love to hear more about your story,” Kristalyn said, taking the boy’s arm and leading him away.

He shot me a bewildered look, but followed the headstrong girl. Magnar screeched from beside me, happy to have Travon back. Kurioden looked at us both and put his head back down to go to sleep again. Magnar must have thought that was no good, because he began prodding the panther in a playful banter.

I shook my head at the two and watched Kristalyn introduce Geoffrey and Richard to Travon. It looked like our team now had its fifth member.

It was good to see Travon again and he looked like he had done well. He’d not only taken care of himself, but he’d done quite a lot to oppose Ricald on his own. I had left a boy behind me, but Travon was a man now. Had my own brothers grown up so much too? What of Sam? He was the youngest of us all. Had he learned lessons of survival? There was no way for me to know. I could only hope they were okay. There wasn’t anything I could do for any of them if they weren’t.

The thought struck me that Kristalyn would pray to her god to make sure they were fine. She would, but I wouldn’t be so foolish. Even if god did exist, he didn’t care about my family, no matter how he felt about Kristalyn’s.

Her laughter reached my ears and I watched as she gave Richard a side hug. She glanced up and motioned me over. Travon grinned at me. Was I ready to deal with all of them? Magnar suddenly pushed me from behind and I had to move fast to keep my balance. The animals screeched happily. Apparently, I didn’t have a choice.

***