HEAR YE, HEAR YE [Assorted Medieval Fantasy Stories]

[01] Yona and Her Quiver

The reserved Bartholomeu lingers in the stone keep of Harlia where he meets a spirited elven merchant named Yona. As they discover they were both heading for the same location, they decide to travel together. Little did they know what would await them once they arrived in the dark woods of Al' duwende

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Prologue: A Monster Hunter Comes

The errant winds blew back the mane of Bartholomeu's trusted steed. Well, to say that Pebbles was Bartholomeu's steed was like to say man owned the earth; true in some regards, if certain facts were to be dismissed. Nevertheless, Bartholomeu cherished his beloved Pebbles, who had seen him through many hardships and long roads. The speckled coat upon the steed was littered with scars and scabs, but the damn cretin of an equine beast could still march on just as fast.

Just as the sun rose from the far-away horizon, Bartholomeu and Pebbles neared the high Peak of Harlia, whereupon rested a grand stone-walled castle atop the naturally-formed King's Arch high in the air. It baffled Bartholomeu how such a grand, sky-scraping archway of stone was God's creation, but perhaps God was bored at the time. The cliffs of the King's Arch were scarred with walkways and pulley systems. A primary elevator stood just in front of Castle Harlia's main entrance in the stone wall, leading from the village at the foot of the King's Arch and up to the gates of the primary keep.

Bartholomeu headed for the King's Arch, counting the teeth on his necklace as he rocked in Pebbles' saddle. Surely, they would recognize the three-cornered leather cap, the brown-as-mud jacket and cloak, and the wolf insignia of a monster hunter resting upon his breast. Then and only then would the week's meal arrive to him just as soon.