The Twisted Links

Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

Roger and Cotton's Home...

Some of the younger Hunters decided to stay at the pack house while Roger invited Phil and Tanya to stay with him. They enjoyed reminiscing about old times. The men had met when they were first brought to the Cradle of Life, the training grounds for Born Hunters. It was a sacred place where according to legend, the Creator first formed man and breathed within him the breath of life. The connection to the Creator was felt by every human that entered.

The place was kept by holy men who devoted their lives to the Creator. Their wives were the "mothers" of these young men who were brought there. The Mwalimu [Instructors / Teacher] would be called according to what they taught. Mwalimu Upanga taught taught swords, Mwalimu Lugha taught languages, and so on. Once the general instructions were complete then they would be taught by the Mtaalamu [Expert] in their fields. As a Sprite Hunter, Roger was taught by Tanya's father. Though good friends, Roger and Phil had a slight rivalry because they were both interested in the pretty young Tanya. After training was over, Tanya made a clear choice and she and Phil were married a year later. There were no hard feelings and they all remained friends.

"Why don't you retire from the field and become a Mtaalamu? You have the experience for it." Roger asked Phil.

"Ha! Experience, yes. Patience, no." Phil said, taking a bite of the delicious pistachio sugar cookies that Cotton had just made. "I'm pretty sure I'd throw someone off a cliff if I did. Damn these are good."

Reaching over to grab another cookie, he said, "You have to tell your wife to give me the recipe cause these just melt in your mouth."

Roger chuckled. "Cotton is an excellent cook and baker."

Phil went quiet. "It's rather strange that a Hunter would be paired with a vampire."

Something in his friend's voice caught his attention. Roger was glad that Cotton and Tanya had left to go to the grocery store because he was curious. "What is the opinion concerning me?"

Phil sighed, "I'm not going to lie to spare your feelings. We've been friends for far too long for that."

Absently picking up another cookie, Phil sighed again, "Our Council is not happy. Many believe that you are going against the Creator by joining the Outcasts. Some even suggested for you and your Eternal One to be eliminated. Though none would dare touch you given that your seed has produced the first Protector in centuries. There is, however, a ban in place should you ever try to return to the Cradle of Life. Also, if you apply to become an instructor, it will be immediately rejected. Hunters are asked to 'limit' contact with you even though as a hunter, you still are invited to the meetings. Just don't be surprised if your invitation gets 'lost' in the mail."

Roger nodded. He knew there were several gatherings that he usually received notices for but either they were late or he just didn't get the letter. There had been a huge risk in being turned and having a relationship with a vampire. It was as he suspected, he was being shunned. Then he worried for his friends. "Won't you get in trouble for staying with us then?"

"We're not sleeping in the same bed so I am 'limiting' contact." Phil smirked.

Roger chuckled. "I doubt they would have accepted your application either. You bend the rules too much."

The men laughed before settling into a comfortable silence. A lot of worries were weighing on Phil's shoulder. He had been noticing subtle changes that bothered him. Tanya's nephew's son had just finished his training as a Were Hunter. Talking with the young man, he discovered that they were being instructed to react with more violence than diplomacy and that rogues were to be eliminated on sight. Executing rogues and fighting with Supernaturals went directly against the ancient code.