The Huntsmen (2 page)

"He's a smart one, ain't he," she cackled, wiggling a crooked finger at him. "Fine, the terms are as follows, Huntsmen," her voice lost its tremble and she straightened more than her appearance would lend credence to. "Within the next year I will ask a favor of you three, one part to come from each of you and you’ll have in turn one year to complete your portion of the favor. It will not directly cause death to any you know or care for. It will not directly be of a personal nature to any of you. It will not directly have any adverse effects on what comes of your finding the girl in white. Do these terms suit you?" she asked, pointing a hard look to them each.

"They suit as long as you swear it will never cause any issue to those we know," the first huntsman said softly. Getting her nod, he looked to the others before he gave a firm nod in turn, "We agree to the terms of the request for favor in exchange for the information we need. Now our terms for the information," he told her and smiled coldly when she appeared stunned. "What, did you think we would not have terms of our own, crone?"

"Speak them," she hissed out softly.

"We need to know the truth of the Queen’s claims for one. Is the girl a liar and a thief? Next, we will need a manner in which to find her, she apparently has the help of the woodsland children who know the many glens and places to hide. Lastly, we needs know if we are wise in accepting the bounty for the girl’s head by the Queen or if it’s wiser to take the side of the girl and protect her from what comes."

Nodding slowly, the crone smacked her hand to the table, "Done, return in two hours and I will have what you have requested, but know if you fail to return promptly in two hours your chance for the information will be gone for all time."

"Just be here, crone, we'll be back," the third huntsman said before they all turned and left the small shack she called home.

*****

"Baldric," he called out to his friend from where he crouched on the hill.

"Dierk, Niklaus has found something," Baldric signaled the third of their party over and jogged to Niklaus. "What is it?" he asked crouching down.

"As the crone said, she and the children came this way not two days ago," Niklaus said, looking up as Dierk came up to them. "But we have another problem," he waved them to follow and took them down the hill and to a path stopping to point to the soft dirt.

"Bloody hells spawn," Baldric crouched down moving a leaf gently. "Royal horses," he cursed even more darkly under his breath before standing. "They’re on her trail and no more than a day behind her."

"Unfortunately we're still hours behind them," Niklaus said, looking to the east where the trail led. "We need a way to gain on them fast."

"We know these woods better than the Royal Guard and they’ll be limited to where they can ride," Dierk pointed out. "We take the hardest and fastest path and get between them and the girl in white."

They were all in agreement as they raced through the woods.

Minutes, hours, who knew how long it had been, Dierk held up a hand and they all came to an instant stop. Gathering around him, they looked where he pointed to the south, Royal Guardsmen. Not more than fifty yards away, most with their backs to their direction.

"Slowly, move with the shadows," Baldric murmured quietly. Each man faded back slightly and eased their way around where the guard might see them. Each path was chosen with care and an understanding of the woods surrounding them. The only reason they made it without being spotted.

Once in the clear, they found the trail one more time and, after a whispered conversation, set off for the girl once again. They were swiftly running out of time and if the crone's words were to be believed, if the guard got their hands on her, she was in for a much rougher time.

Chapter Two

She twisted and turned on the small pallet of bedding she had below her body. It was far softer than she had become accustomed to, but then again, everything the Woodland Children, the Lost Ones, had shown her so far had been far softer than she was used to. She heard her stepmother's voice again calling her as if through space and time.

Skin as pale as snow, hair as dark as night, lips as red as blood, where are you my dear, dear Snow White?

Jerking up with a sob torn from her lips and blade in hand, she looked about the small domed enclosure and found no one, nothing but the low burning fire. Placing a hand upon her chest, she forced herself to breathe. “She’s not here,” she whispered to herself. “When you face her next it will be the end of her miserable existence,” she promised. One of the vows she gave with each day she drew breath. The first was to free her people, and the second went hand-in-hand with the first, and that was to end the witch's life. She was a true witch, dark and evil magic, blood magic poured through that miserable woman.

Cocking her head to the side, she listened to the Lost Ones as they ghosted from one plane to the next and sighed, “Safe.” For the moment, but she felt it before long. “No longer,” she finished softly as she realized her brief reprieve had come to an end and it was time to move once more.

Her goal was simple. She had to reach her uncle’s kingdom. He would raise arms for her once he knew that she was well and truly alive. He’d rally the forces of his knights and those of her other uncle to the south of the kingdom. Together they’d defeat the monstrous bitch that stole her father's life and rule from him. Even if it were the last thing she did, Snow would ensure that woman would never again move to another land to take hold of it. The witch made a fatal and tactical error taking her father's kingdom. The Queen had kept Snow alive when she didn’t know the truth of the Magic of the Three Kingdoms. It was her downfall and in the end, Snow would either defeat her or all three kingdoms would fall.

"Got her," Dierk said softly when he caught the others attention.

"And the Royal Guard does too," Baldric muttered as he came galloping over a hill nearly losing his footing but a quick twist kept him upright. "They’re picking up their pace."

"Damn," Niklaus said looking around. "We need to slow them down and get the girl. Dierk, get the girl and take her to the cabin west of here, you know the one. Baldric, lets ensure the guards have something else to do for a time, shall we."

"Right, the girl and get her to the cabin," Dierk said with a small salute. Taking off after her, he left his friends to deal with the guards. Racing full out for where he'd spotted the girl, he cursed when she changed direction. "Why do they always have to do this the hard way?" he asked no one in particular given there wasn't another soul around.

With her dagger in hand she whipped around to face the large man before her and heard the children's voices, “Not a threat, helping, trust.” With a frown she looked at him, “Who are you and why are you hunting me?”

Skidding to a halt, he held his hands up and shot a look back over his shoulder before facing her. "My name is Dierk and I'm here to help you, Princess," he said, not moving. "My friends and I were hired by the Queen to find you but we didn't like the way she lied. We knew you'd need protection seeing as the Royal Guard has been hot on your trail for the last ten miles. She's rather determined to have you back one way or the other and frankly, she prefers dead. We have somewhere we can hide you while we get the guard off your trail, but you need to put the blade down and come with me," he turned his head sharply and listened to a howl, "now."

She hesitated and looked at him. “Snow,” she whispered. “It’s too dangerous to call me by that title here.” She didn’t want anyone hurt because of her. “How do I know you aren’t going to take me to her?” She wasn’t ready to face the Queen yet. She had to get stronger, needed to learn to use the blade given to her by the Spirit of the Forests before she faced the Queen.

"If we were going to deliver you to the Queen I wouldn't have told you all that I had.” His eyes still searched through the trees and then cursed as another howl came floating on the air. "They’re having trouble containing the guard, Lady Snow.” Looking at her, he dropped his hands, "Either you believe me and come now or they’ll be on us and frankly I don’t have any desire to have my head on a pike for the Queen's pleasure."

Snow nodded and moved to him, slipping her hand into his as she did. Her eyes widened as she felt a spark from their palms meeting, but she didn’t dwell on it. “Take us from here, Master Huntsman,” she whispered. “Since the Lost Ones are no longer talking to me I’m going to trust you,” she whispered.

Lacing their fingers, he let out a low mournful howl before tilting his head. "This way," he told her. Heading due north, he moved quickly judging her fitness as they moved. Finding the hardened path he wanted, he got them down onto it and began to jog. "We can only stay on this for a short time and when we leave the path we need to take care not to disturb anything. We need any advantage we can gain before the guards find the path we have chosen."

Nodding, she moved along with him. “I will move where you do,” she assured him. “Being with the Lost Ones, I have learned there are certain ways you can step,” she whispered softly. “Go, Master Huntsman, I am your shadow.”

Squeezing her hand, he tugged her further along, his eyes searching until he found where he wanted. "Put your hand on my back for balance and stay one step behind me," he said, letting go. Getting a nod, he tipped his head for a moment and listened, just the sound of the breeze rustling the leaves could be heard. Frowning, he cursed softly before he began to move forward. Placing his feet with care, he braced his hands on the trees around them, "Small steps and walk heel to toe so we don't leave tracks."

Snow nodded and moved along with him, she did as he had instructed and ensured that she only stepped where he stepped, moved where he moved. No words escaped her lips, even as she wanted to ask a million questions. She needed to know about him but she knew she couldn’t ask, not while they were fighting for their lives.

Holding up a hand to her, Dierk looked around a moment before jumping down. Turning, he held up his hands and waved her close, his hands moving to her waist, he lifted her down. Winking, he smiled and took her hand in his to lead her through a path of wet leaves at a slow pace. Stopping only once, he looked behind them at a faint eerie sound. Lifting his chin, he let out a sound to match before he changed direction.

She could hear the Lost Ones leading them through the swamps and hopefully leading the Queen's men away from them. When they paused again she whispered, “They don’t know who I am.” She hated that she couldn’t reveal herself, but it wasn’t time. “My father’s men, they think I died many moons past. I just hope they don’t take it too hard when they learn the truth.”

"They’ll just be grateful you are well and safe, Princess," he murmured, guiding her to a stream. Listening for a time, he nodded, "We can rest here for a moment and then we’ll continue on.” Moving to a boulder, he pulled the pack off his back and dug out the skin of water, "It's a little warm but it’s better than leaving tracks too close to the stream.” Digging around, he pulled out a pouch, "Dried fruits and some dried meat if you want something to at least fill the void until we can get a proper meal."

She accepted a drink from him and nodded. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I hope you’re right,” she told him gently. “I truly hope they’re able to forgive themselves when it all comes out.” She took another drink from the water skin he gave her. “How were you able to see through her ruse?” she asked quietly, eyeing him suspiciously.

Snorting at that, Dierk pulled out a strip of meat and nibbled on the corner, "Not that hard really," he told her softly, "especially when the mask slips if you don't bow and scrape just the way she likes. She's not very good at keeping it in place at all times. Plus there were three of us there. Baldric and Niklaus, you'll meet them later, Baldric kept the Queen’s attention firmly on him while Nik and I made side comments to irritate and annoy. The fact we left with all our parts attached is actually the truly astonishing part of this tale. We'd been drinking earlier and really, we’re not all that smart in our choices of words when we don't drink let alone when we've imbibed a bit."

She snorted and shook her head. “Sometimes only those that are highly inebriated can see through her. I know my father didn’t see through her until she was stabbing him with the intent to kill. I pray she failed but since I’ve never seen him since or heard word of him around the palace, she may not have.” She whispered, “And I was stupid enough that I didn’t see through her either. Not until she had me tossed into the dungeons.”

Reaching out, he lightly touched her bent knee, "I’m sorry for the loss of your father. He was a good and kind, but firm king. He has been greatly missed since his passing. We will help you in any way we can, Princess. We’ll ensure the Queen is deposed and you’re rightfully put on the throne as you should be."

She nodded and sighed. “Thank you,” she told him softly. “Dierk, I appreciate that a great deal,” she murmured, “I want that woman dead. I truly want her to face punishment for all that she’s done. She deserves to be judged by not only myself, but the people as well. She’s taken so very much from them and has to pay.”

Nodding, he held out the satchel of snacks to her. "It's not very tasty but it is filling," he said with a shrug. "Though the dried berries are rather tasty," he added with a smile as he continued to nibble on a chunk of meat. "We'll take another few minutes and then we should get moving. At some point we need to cross this creek bed but I’m hoping there's a spot ahead with a downed tree or something that will provide us a path that won't reveal where we've gone."

“Just don’t take shortcuts because of me. I can travel where you lead. I’ve spent my life preparing for this.” She looked down at the wedding dress and snorted. Lifting it, she shook her head. “The bitch was going to marry me to someone that could be my grandfather, but that wasn’t good enough. She planned to kill me before I made it to his home so she could have a reason to invade. It’d be the only way she could get my father’s men to invade another land,” she murmured softly. “So don’t take shortcuts because of me. I am not a pampered princess. I’m a woman on a path to avenge her father's death.”