Hunter's War (Legend of the Wild Hunter Book 4) (43 page)

“To speak with Coronel Barshed, he should know if anyone should.”

“You think you can just walk in and start up a conversation with the man?”

“Why not?”

“Besides, what are you going to tell him? We’re not even supposed to have this information.”

“Oh, come on, Danny, we’re Hunters. Information gathering is what we do,” she replied, as she stomped on her boot. Vesper nimbly jumped from Alex’s shoulder onto hers, when she headed for the door.

“Kile, do you really think it’s wise. I mean, with you being…”

“Crazy,” she finished for him.

“I was going to follow the King’s lead and say, not in your right mind, but crazy works.”

“Danny, if it really is Carter out there we can’t just abandon him. Something must have happened.”

“But we don’t even know if it is our Carter. And besides, don’t you think the Guild already has a plan to find him. They’re not just going to leave one of their own behind.” Daniel replied.

“That’s why we’re going to the Colonel first.”

“But Ki…”

“Danny, I’m just going to go talk to him; see what he knows.”

“Fine. But you’re not going alone,” Daniel said, following her out into the hall.

“I can handle this,” she told him.

“No, you said it yourself, If it is Carter, we can’t abandon him.”

“Then I’m going too.” Alex chimed in.

“Out of the question,” Daniel replied.

“Why, Carter’s my friend too, even if he is always picking on me.”

“Alex, you’ve only got one eye.”

“So, I can still see.”

“Look, we might be arguing over nothing. We don’t even know if the information is accurate. We’ll go talk to Barshed, see what he has to say, and then we’ll figure out what to do next.”

Kile was halfway down the hallway when Daniel grabbed her arm.

“What now?” she asked, turning around.

“Um, we may have a slight problem,” he told her.

“What problem, what are you talking about?”

“I think he means the guard who is posted at the end of the hallway,” Alex replied.

“Guard, what guard?”

“Lord Bollen thought it would be best to have a guard posted, but he didn’t want to upset you, so he keeps a soldier at the end of the hallway,” Daniel explained.

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“We were told not to.”

“By who?”

Daniel hesitated until Kile gave him the look which threatened bodily harm if he didn’t speak up. “Master Folkstaff,” he replied meekly.

“Wonderful,” she shouted as continued down the hall.

“Wait, Ki, what about the guard?” Daniel asked.

“What about him. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Well, actually, you did try to assassinate an ambassador,” Alex replied.

Kile glared at him.

“You’re right, none of my business,” he said, stepping back.

“Ki,” Daniel called after her.

“Danny, I have been a prisoner once. I will not be a prisoner again,” she said.

“Actually, it was twice.” Alex chimed in.

“What’s twice?”

“You were a prisoner twice, don’t you remember?” he said, holding up two fingers. “You were detained back at the Academy for shooting Master West with a crossbow, and then you were taking prisoner by Ravenshadow.” He thought about it for a moment, then held up another finger. “Oh, wait, you were also arrested for those crimes against the Guild, so, actually, you’ve been a prisoner three times.”

“Thanks, Alex, you’re not helping.”

“Four times, if you count the siege.”

“Thank you, Alex,” she shouted as she continued down the hall.

Turning the corner, she ran into the guard who was posted there. He was a tall, dark man with curly black hair and a thin mustache. He held up his hand to stop her.

“Whoa there and where do you think you’re going?” he asked.

“If you must know, I’m on my way to speak with Colonel Barshed,” she informed him.

“I don’t think so. My orders are to keep you safe.”

“Keep me safe, or keep people safe from me?”

“Kile, he didn’t mean…” Daniel stopped when Kile shot him a look.

The guard laughed. “Look missy…”

“What did you just call me?” she asked, looking around. “Do you see a little girl here? For your information, I happen to be a Certified Level Three Hunter and the commander of Perha Squad, so, if I was you, I would just step aside right now and let me pass.”

“I can’t do that missy… I mean, ma’am, my orders were to…”

“Keep me safe, yes, you already said that. But were you ordered to keep me locked in my room?”

“Well… no, not exactly,” he stammered.

“Fine, then you can keep me safe by taking me to Colonel Barshed,” she told him.

“I don’t think I’m supposed to…”

“Look, I’m going with or without you, so take your pick.”

The guard appeared to cower under her glare.

“What seems to be the problem here?” a second soldier asked as he approached from behind.

“Sir, this… she… this… Hunter, wishes to speak with the Colonel.”

The new man regarded Kile with a suspicious look. He was tall and lean with a fair complexion and long blonde hair, which hung down past his shoulders. He was rocking on the balls of his feet with his hands clasped behind his back.

“Is this true?” he asked her.

Kile studied him for a moment before answering. “It is.” she replied.

“I’ll take it from here, private,” he told the guard, who seemed visibly relieved to be free of the responsibility. “Follow me, if you wish to see the Colonel.”

The soldier led them down four flights of stairs, until they reached the ground floor where they exited into the courtyard. It was getting dark, and there was a cool, damp breeze in the air. Kile was starting to feel more like herself, now she was out of the room and doing something, other than sitting around waiting.

They never approached the gatehouse. Instead, the man led them toward the cloisters, which ran along the far side of the bailey.

“Sir, isn’t the Colonel in the city?” Daniel asked.

“He probably should be,” the guard replied.

“Then shouldn’t we…?”

“Don’t bother, Danny.” Kile said as she kept pace with the young soldier. “We’re not going to see the Colonel, are we?”

“Not quite,” the guard replied.

He led them through the archway, under the covered walk, which ran alongside the gardens. Even this late in the season, the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers. The guard stopped beside one of the pillars, which was almost completely covered in ivy. He leaned against the half wall and grinned.

“What’s going on here?” Daniel asked. “Look, we need to see the Colonel. It is urgent…” he tried to explain.

Kile held her hand up to silence him. “Is it Carter?” she asked the young soldier.

The guard checked around a few times before he would answer. He scratched his chin and then slowly nodded. “I’m afraid it is,” He replied. “Hunter Hansen went in about six months ago. He was regularly giving us inside information until last week. We haven’t heard from him since. His last report said he was onto something big, but he didn’t know what it was. We think he might have gotten in over his head.”

“So, what is the Guild doing about it?” she asked.

“At the moment, I’m afraid nothing. Nothing can be done. What with the troubles down along the southern coast and the beginnings of a large scale operation to clear out Denal, we’re stretched a little thin. Officially, no operation into the wastelands has been scheduled. We don’t have anyone we can send at this moment.”

“Then I’ll go.” Kile replied.

“Yeah, I was kind of afraid you’d say that.” The guard laughed. “But are you really up to it?”

“Of course I am.”

“Seriously? You were the one who said you were losing your mind.”

“Not while I’m out there.”

“It really doesn’t matter. An operation, like this, can’t be done on a whim. It has to be sanctioned, by the Guild and by command. They’ll never let someone like you go out there alone, it’s too dangerous.”

Daniel grabbed Alex by the arm and pulled him forward. “Then we’ll go with her.” He said.

“We will?” Alex asked. He seemed a bit confused by his volunteering.

“You said you wanted to.”

“That was before, when I didn’t think you were going to take me seriously.”

“It’s still not enough.” The guard replied. “A third, and two fifth level Hunters won’t be enough to convince Command. If you’re really set on this, you’re going to have to get a Certified Level One Hunter to lead the operation, and, you’ll need some military support.”

“So, we find ourselves a Level One.” Kile replied.

“I’m afraid it’s not that easy.” The guard said. “There aren’t too many qualified to lead a mission like this. Master Folkstaff is busy with recon efforts in Denal and Lady Silvia already set off to the southern coast. I’m afraid the only other qualified Hunter, still in Forthbar, is Master Boraro.”

“You can’t be serious? You know what he tried to do to me.”

“I know, but he’s your only option. You bring me a qualified team, and I’ll take it to command, otherwise, my hands are tied.”

Biting her bottom lip, she turned and looked west. She knew Master Boraro would never agree to help her, and if he did, the price would be too high. Her only other option would be to go it alone. Getting into the wastelands wouldn’t be a problem, but finding Carter might. She wouldn’t be able to rely on certain aspect of her Edge, not that close to the enemy. If she lost her grip on reality, who would be there to pull her back in? Grim, of course, would go with her, but would even he be enough?

“Thank you, Sir,”

“I’m sorry, Kile, I wish I could be more help.” The guard replied. He made another quick scan of the cloisters before following the walk back to the baily.

“Who was that?” Daniel asked.

“It doesn’t’ matter, but he’s right. Without a proper team, we’ll never get into the wastelands, let alone find Carter.”

“So, we’re sunk before we started, unless, we go to Master Boraro.”

“Where can we find him?” she asked reluctantly. Her last encounter with her old weapons master was not a very fond one, in fact, he tried to kill her.

“He hangs out at the Skinny Rat from time to time.” Alex replied. “I’ve done a few shows there, not too many, the patrons are lousy tippers. He’s usually there, hitting on the waitresses.”

They arrived at the stables where Kile found Grim in the farthest, darkest corner, alone. He must have chosen the stall himself, because she couldn’t see any stable hand willing to tangle with a mountain pony. The ponies had bad reputations among the Callor population, who were all too familiar with their less than pleasant nature.

“Are you ready?” She asked when she approached.

-Are we finally leaving this dump?-

“Well, not exactly, not yet anyway. We’re going into the Forthbar to find Master Boraro.”

-And why on earth would you want to find that vir?-

Grim asked, as he followed Kile out into the yard.

“Unfortunately, we need him to lead a mission into the wastelands,” she explained.

Grim snorted.

-Your funeral.-

When they got outside, Alex was sitting upon Illusion, waiting to go. Daniel was leading Miliea out into the yard from the opposite side of the stables. Kile approached Illusion, stroking the horse’s nose.

“He has been treating you alright?” she asked the horse.

-It’s been entertaining.-

He replied.

Illusion was rare among horses, in that he no longer wanted to use his real name and instead accepted his vir name, the one Alex gave him. He was also something of a practical joker, if that could be said of a horse. There were times he would just go his own way or act out for no reason what so ever. Alex was still a little unsure around horses, but the two seemed to have bonded rather well.

“What did he tell you?” Alex demanded when Kile stepped back.

“You’re alright,” she assured him. “He says you’ve been treating him well.”

“He’d better, most of my pay goes to keeping him fed. He eats better than I do,” the small Hunter grumbled.

-It is good to see you again, Kile.-

Miliea said in her soft voice when she rode up.

Kile stroked the dapple gray’s nose. She had a certain fondness for Daniel’s horse, probably because it could have been hers. When Grim refused to be ridden, Daniel offered Miliea to her. All she had to do was say yes, but she was too stubborn at the time. Her relationship with Grim might have started off on a bad note, but she couldn’t imagine these past years without him by her side. He was more than just her mount, in spite of his ornery attitude, and sadistic, mean streak, he was her best friend, besides Vesper.

She climbed onto his back and the yarrow took his place between the pony’s ears.

“So, where exactly is this… what was it… the Skinny Lizard?”

“The Skinny Rat,” Alex said, turning Illusion toward the gatehouse. “It’s just north of the plaza district. There are a few bars located there. The locals call it, pub row.”

“How many pubs are there?” she asked.

“In the entire city, there are about two dozen, not counting the ones in the industrial section. I don’t go there. The crowds get a little too rowdy and my stories aren’t the stories they want to hear, if you know what I mean. The Hunters, and most of the soldiers, stay in pub row, moving from one bar to the next, so that’s where I go. At least they appreciate a good story. There are five bars along the stretch. There’s the Skinny Rat and the Flatten Sparrow as well the Wet Frog, the Bloody Sheep, and the Cog’s Head.”

“And you go to all of these?” Kile asked.

“No, not all of them, not all the time,” he replied. “The Skinny Rat is kind of a dive, nobody there wants to hear a storyteller, and the Cog’s Head is a little too refined, or at least that’s what they want you to think. There’s a lot that goes on behind those doors that I don’t want any part of. The Bloody Sheep is all right, but it can get wild sometimes, and there’s quite a bit of gambling going on, so nobody there wants to hear stories either. The Wet Frog is pretty good, but I’m usually at the Flatten Sparrow.”