Hunter's Academy (Veller) (50 page)

“
Terrabin as in Terrabin D’al?” She asked.

“I can see why Master Adams speaks highly of your intellect.” Oblum laughed as he got up from the chair. “Terrabin D’al had the idea that the Hunters, if organized correctly, could be a force to reckon with, an organized army for hire if you
will. A money making corporation to take over all your responsibilities, if you could afford them. Mind you, he never got farther than preaching his beliefs to the council, but that was all that was needed to plant the seeds that he would never see grow. Hunter’s took up his cause, and it was only a matter of time before they got into the council.”

“And what of the other side?” She asked. “What is it that they want?”

“Just the opposite really. They want to revert back to what the hunters were. A group of like minded individuals that saw a need and tried to fill it. Whether they were men or women, rich or poor it didn’t matter, it was never about the money or the fame, only a need to help the simple man.”

“So,
what’s going to happen now?” She asked. She didn’t want to work for a corporation that catered only the rich and powerful, she didn’t want to work for the Sons of Terrabin, that was not what she signed on for.

“I don’t think you have to worry about any great changes happening anytime soon.” Oblum said as if reading the concern on
her face. “Not as long as Guild Master Latherby controls the council. He’s a traditionalist as his predecessor was before him.”

“Could Eric have been working for the Son’s of
Terrabin?”

Oblum thought about it for a moment, it was obviously something that he hadn’t considered, but eventually he shook his head.

“What make you think that?” He asked.

“When I surprised him in the gallery, he seemed to be expecting somebody
else.”

“Did he mention who?”

“No, nothing like that… I might be wrong. It was just the way he acted.”

“I guess we’ll never know the answer to that, not yet anyway.”

“Why? What happen to Eric?”

“Of course you don’t know. He escaped.”

“Escaped? How?”

“We’re not exactly sure. We believe he managed to slip out when the fire brigade from the city came in. Hunters searched the city of
Azintar for three days, but couldn’t turn up anything. Of course, if what you’re saying is true, he probably had help.”

“So he’s… still out there.”

“I’m afraid so.” Oblum replied. “Another open script for the board, but there will be time for that later, for now you need your rest.”

“But there’s nothing wrong with me.”

“That is not for me to judge. The healers feel that you need an extended rest what with your recent, shall we say, encounters of late. If I was you, I would make the most of it.”

“But sir, my training, the evaluations
.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about those
cadet. You did defeat Master Boraro in a fight, even if it wasn’t sanctioned and there are still some lingering questions about what actually happened, but enough members of the council have agreed that it will count toward your combat evaluation, so you don’t have to go up against him again, they say they are not looking forward to bloodshed, but I think it's more likely they want to avoid a scandal.

“As for your horsemanship, several Hunters reported hearing Master Pike say that only a fool or a master horseman would
ever ride that … mountain pony, and since you were witnessed doing just that, they figured to count that as well.”

“Why sir? Why the sudden change of heart by the council?”

“It’s just as I said, the council made a mistake and they want to avoid any bad publicity. For starters they were watching the wrong cadet. Now, all you have to do is prove to the council that they were wrong about you from the start, that you are a hunter, and that means keeping your nose clean during your probationary year.” Oblum said as he reached for the door. He paused for a moment, looked out the window and sighed.

“One more thing, if you’re up to it?”

“What's that sir?” Kile asked.

What
was she supposed to be up to, she’s been lying in bed for the last five days.

“You have two visitors that, for some reason, really want to see you. I’ve been trying to keep them out, but they’ve been driving me crazy.”

“Um, I guess it’s alright.”

She had expected to see Daniel and Alex, or Carter and Daniel, or any combination of the two, what she hadn’t expected was two large black mastiffs charging through the door as Oblum opened it. Gorum was nice enough to stop at her
bedside, Hunar, on the other hand, leapt onto the bottom of the bed, almost bouncing Kile off.

“I’ve never seen them take to anyone before.” Oblum said with a smile as he walked out the door.

***~~~***

18

“So, how are we today?” Daniel asked as he set the tray of food down beside Kile’s bed.

“Miserable.” She replied.

She had been cooped up in the halls of healing for another five days even though she insisted that she was completely fine. Even Morgan came to her defense, telling the healer that the effects of overtaxing one's edge is a temporary condition, and that Kile should be well enough to leave, but Bealer wouldn’t hear it. He was in charge of the halls and he would decide when a patient was well enough to be discharged. It got into such a heated exchange between the two old men, each claiming to know more about the situation than the other that she ducked under her covers until it all blew over. Neither one conceding to the other’s opinion and Morgan left in a huff or actually it was more like a puff as he suddenly disappeared in a cloud of smoke. She was sure the smoke was left for Mr. Bealer’s benefit since she had seen Morgan enter and exit places before without leaving anything behind.

“Come on, you have to eat.” Daniel said as he set the tray up and slid it over her bed. She was sure he was enjoying this a little too much, as she looked down at the tray that held her evening supper. A serving of fried potatoes, steamed broccoli and a slice of the chiefs apple pie for dessert. At least there wasn’t any meat on the tray this time. The first night she was able to eat a decent meal, Mr. Bealer brought in a large
steak, insisting that the only way for her to regain her strength was to eat red meat. Needless to say she wouldn’t even touch the meal. That only resulted in Bealer’s concern about her loss of appetite and was probably responsible for her overly long stay in this most luxurious of resorts.

The
hall of healing was actually an appropriate name, if not very original. The room was considerably longer than it was wider and resembled a long hallway with a row of windows that overlooked the compound along one wall, and a row of beds for patients along the other. Kile was fortunate enough to get the one closes to the door, and on more than one occasion thought of making a run for it, if it wasn’t for the fact that Mr. Bealer had posted a guard.

“Do I have to feed you?” Daniel asked.

“You do and I’ll break your arm.” She replied as she continued to push the potatoes around the plate. “When can I get out of here?”

“Soon.” He said, but that was just an echo of Bealer and she had been hearing it for the last five days.

“When is soon?”

“Actually,
Master Bealer says you can leave anytime you want.”

She
dropped the fork on her plate and turned to stare at Daniel, at first she wasn’t sure that she had heard him right, and then she thought maybe he was joking.

“Seriously?”

“Well, his actual words were more in the line of, get her out of here, she is driving me crazy.”

“Get my boots, I am so gone.”
She shouted as she pushed the tray aside and nearly jumped out of bed. She quickly grabbed her clothes from the back of the chair and started to get dressed. She wanted to be out of this dreadfully boring place before anyone could change their minds.

“You are still supposed to take it easy,
Master Bealer’s orders. You don’t want to go rushing around and having a relapse.” Daniel informed her as he handed Kile her boots. She sat down on the bed and quickly pulled them on.

“Relapse, there isn’t going to be a relapse because I have no intention of ever trying that again.” She replied
.

A
fter she got one boot on, she stopped and looked at Daniel suspiciously. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner, instead of bringing me supper?” She asked.

“It
… never came up.” He replied, and she could tell he was keeping something from her. There was a mischievous smile waiting to break out.

“When was I released?” She asked.

“What difference does it make?” Daniel said as he took a step backwards, getting closer to the door. “You’ve been released.”

“When… did… he… release me?” She asked very deliberately.

“Oh, I don’t know exactly when, sometime… yesterday afternoon.”

She
said nothing as she pulled on her other boot. Stomped her foot to make sure it was on all the way and very slowly got to her feet. She turned to Daniel and smiled.

“You are so dead.” She told him through clenched teeth.

“Now Kile, just wait.” He laughed as he took a few more steps backwards.

“I could have been out of here yesterday?”

Daniel knew when to retreat and made a run for the door. She made a desperate lunge after him, and probably would have gotten him if she hadn’t been stopped.

“Cadet Veller.”

“Sir?” She said, turning around and coming to attention. Master Bealer was slowly navigating his way up the hall. She could have pretended she hadn’t heard him; she could have been out of the door by now. As long as he didn’t want her to stay longer, she would listen to what the old healer had to say.

“You must not over exert yourself. You are to take it easy for the next couple of days. You’ve had a nasty spell and we wouldn’t want any relapses.” He said.

Why was everyone talking about relapses?

“No sir, sorry sir.” She replied.

“I want to see you back here in two days for a full evaluation. We are still not completely sure what caused you to pass out like that.”

He might not be completely sure, but she was. She knew the
effects of her edge, especially the Maligar, and she knew the after effects of it as well. To suddenly snap back to her own reality after having her identity split between twenty six horses and one stubborn old cat was more than she could take, but Mr. Bealer wouldn’t understand, and she really didn’t feel like trying to explain it to him.

“Yes sir.”

“Okay then, get out of here, and tell Daniel he can take the rest of the afternoon off, I have to go into town as see if I can solve some supply issues.”

“Yes sir, thank you sir.” Kile replied as she reached for the door, she stopped and grabbed the slice of apple pie from her supper tray
before finally leaving the halls.

The sky was gray, the trees were bare and her last winter at the academy was quickly overtaking her. The supper shift was over, which meant most of the cadets would either be somewhere practicing what they had learned earlier that day or back in their cell to dread about what they would have to learn tomorrow. She saw Daniel talking with Carter and the two of them were laughing at something or someone. As she got closer Carter must have warned him because Daniel suddenly turned then ducked behind the larger cadet. Kile ignored him.

“Nice to see you finally up and about.” Carter said.

“Thanks, it would have been a day sooner if I had known.” She replied.

“Where are you off to now?”

“I thought I go take a look at the stables, see how much damage was done. Do you know where they’re holding our horses?”

“The staff have been forced to rent space in the city stables, as for the cadet’s horses, they have some out in the western paddock and  a few up on
the north wall until they can find a suitable place for them. I think Grim’s up there if you're looking for him.”

“Thanks.” She replied. “Oh, and if you see Daniel, tell him that
Master Bealer had to go into town and he needs him to work the night shift, something about having to clean out the bedpans, or something like that.”

“Are you kidding?” Daniel asked stepping out from behind Carter, all
pretense of mirth gone.

“Oh… there you are.”
She said.

“Very funny Ky.
Does he really want me to work tonight?”

“That’s what he told me. He had to go into town to work out a supply problem and he wants you to work the night shift.”

“Great.” Daniel said throwing up his arms with a heavy sigh. “I thought Jarred was supposed to work tonight. I better get started. I guess I’ll see you guys later.” He said with a noncommittal wave as he headed off back toward the hall.