Destined

7. The Hunt

We rode out of the palace up near the mountain line. We were looking for the elusive spotted stag that gave most of the lords a challenge. Annalise rode near me, but her hovering was unneeded. Many of the lords noticed I could manage to handle riding in a saddle without issue. I spotted something out of the corner of my eye and saw a different kind of beast which I unsaddled from Nordon to get a closer look at.

"Your Highness, you have a good eye." His Majesty saw the beast I managed to notice. "That is a rather dangerous quarry in these mountains. The snowcats are notorious in these parts, but it would not be wise to provoke it."

I made out its distinct white coat, but it nearly blended in with the snow. I spotted why it was here. There was someone down there and I readied my bow. Pulling it back, I focused on the snowcat and it slunk forward. My arrow flew in front of it, and it ran out of there fast.

"Your Highness, what are you doing?"

"Someone is down there." I walked down the slope and a person noticed me come down from where I shot. They were hurt, but the closer I got the more I realized it was a young boy. I walked over to him. He collapsed in the snow and was shivering. I lowered my hand. "Come on, you can join us. You sure have some luck kid; I almost did not see you."

The kid's teeth chattered, and I saw his hand was bandaged up but it was stained red. I bent down in front of him. His eyes were wide with fright.

"The snowcat ran off; it is going to be fine now."

"No, it is not, nothing is going to be fine." He looked at me and it sent me a shiver though I was not cold. "They are coming, so many of them too."

"Your Highness," Annalise found me, and then she noticed the kid.

I picked the kid up and he looked at me registering I meant no harm. "No matter what comes I can handle them, so relax. Let's see if we can get you taken care of before the wound gets infected and you freeze to death out here."

Annalise said nothing as I trudged back up to where the lords were. They all stared at me with Annalise in tow right behind us.

"I am surprised a child is out here. How in Terra did you notice him in the snow?" Lord Halden asked when I set the kid on my horse. I got a foothold in the stirrup and sat behind the kid.

"No matter the distance if I smell blood, I generally do not ignore it."

"Mister, can you really beat them all?" the kid asked me.

I smiled down at the kid. "You bet I will no matter what beasts they are. So was anyone else with you?"

The kid went quiet and nodded his head.

"I hate to ask this but could you guide me there."

"Your Highness, we are not out here for a rescue."

I scowled at the lords. "What kind of lords are you if you ignore the fact people need your help? The hunt is over, so accept that you need to take responsibility for those who live in your realm."

The boy stunned. "You're a prince?" he asked and then he looked at me with glittering eyes.

"Yes, but that is not important. The others that were with you show me the way."

The boy hesitated and then his wounded hand pointed to a higher slope which we would have crossed by. Nordon followed the lead I gave him as we went up the slopes quickly. Soon, we reached the site of a battle. I got off Nordon and saw the blood dying the snow a deep ruby color.