Arcanum

Chapter 15: Lucas

I stood in front of the king, keeping my hands behind my back as I felt self concious about the right hand man staring at me.
The king sat on his throne, his foot tappig quickly, and every tap sounded like a thunder booming in my ears, with the tense pressure in the room so thick, you could slice it with a knife.
I didn't dare to breath any heavier than shallow breaths as the king glared at me.
He expected me to protect the princess. And what happened? She was found unconscious in the garden, alone.
Somebody was after her, and I'd bet my life it was the catori princess.
My mind felt clouded of what happened. Maybe I had too many drinks, and dreamed up a bent fantasy.
Or possibly.. It really happened?
I pushed the thought away when the large doors behind me opened.
The princess walked in, looking tired and nothing like her bombshell self.
"How Re you feeling, m'dear?" The king asked as he stood and stared at the princess.
She shrugged, and sat down on her own smaller throne beside the king.
"Well now that you're here. We may begin addressing what happened last night." I shuddered when the king said that, and stared at me.
"So I sent you to guard the princess. Correct?" The king demanded.
I shakily nodded, and felt pressure fall on my arms like heavy weights.
"How come you weren't then?" The king asked, his voice growing more and more scary.
"I.." I took a moment to swallow, in case my throat might dry itself.
"I was treating the guests. Some were asking questions, and I guess I forgot about my task at hand." I spoke out, straightening myself again when I felt myself begin to sag.
"I am terribly sorry for leaving the princess unattended. I will take any punishment you think up." I bravely said, and the king narrowed his eyes.
"You will go on a hunting squad for three days in the wilderness. You will hunt renegades. They're stealing our food again on the far east, so I want you to hunt down any you can." The king explained, and I nodded.
"Who will be accompanying me?" I questioned, and the king thought for a moment.
"He will decide." He nodded towards his right hand man, and he instantly stepped forward.
"I will pick out some powerful knights, and you will leave at sunrise tomorrow." He explained, and opened the book he usually held.
He ran through some names, and after he said the fifth, he closed the book with a sharp snap.
I nodded, and turned away.
"Please come back with a head." The king added, and I nodded.
I rushed out, and smirked inwardly. Finally, a break.
I went to my room, and grabbed my bow and arrow. I checked the bow string, and grabbed my quiver. I laid it on a small table for me to grab in the morning, before I laid down and closed my eyes to sleep.
* * *
I was up, and stretching, seeing the sun just barely glowing over the mountain. I grabbed my bow, and put my quiver over my shoulder and the bow beside it, before I equipped my sword to my belt this time.
I put my kunai's into my sleeve's, and double checked my things before I walked out.
It was quiet in the early morning. Usually, I'd go and do my own training right now before I'd start and train the knights.
"Ah General. You're coming on the hunting trip this time?" A austrailian voice spoke from behind, and I turned to see Scott, a tall, blonde haired man.
He was mostly known for his hunting, but he has joined in fights against the catori a time or two.
I nodded, and he grinned and slapped me lightly on the shoulder.
"Glad to hear it. Rebecca and Sam already are waiting." He told me, and led me to the front gates. Sure enough, a brown haired woman, and a dirty blonde man stood there. Each equipped with their own weapons.
"Ah general. Plesent seeing you at the break of dawn." Rebecca greeted, and Sam nodded in agreement.
I waved slightly, and noticed our horses.
"Are we going horseback?" I questioned, and Scott laughed heartily.
"Of course mate! It'd take us bloody ages getting to the outskirts otherwise!" He exclaimed, and led us to the horses.
I climbed on mine, but then remembered food.
I opened my mouth, but Scott was a step ahead. He tossed me a bag full of food.
"That should last us a day but we'll be hunting. I'm sure we'll find a deer or two out there." He explained.
"Hopefully those catori will lay off for a day. But I'm sure the kingdom could survive a day without us." Sam said cheekily, and I felt more reluctant to leave.
"Lighten up general, nothing wil, happen." Rebecca reassured me, and then she rode off.
Scott sighed dreamily after the brunette, and raced after her.
I followed Sam, but took a moment to look back at the kingdom, and rushed away towards the sun.
A couple hours of riding later, we reached the outskirts, and all we could hear is the gentle breeze and the birds chirping.
"We could rest if ya like." Scott called, and I shrugged.
They all looked at each other, before we decided to take a break.
I opened my bag to find a bottle of water, an apple, and piece of bread.
I took the apple, and chewed into it.
"So what's goin' on with ya and the princess?" Scott asked, and I thought he was talking about Aiyana for a moment, but I relaxed when he of course meant the human princess.
"Nothing." I gruted over my apple, and Sam rolled his eyes, and took a swig from his water.
"Gimme!" I heard a shout, before another hand closed around my apple.
Instinct kicked in, and my kunai flew into the human in front of me.
The body fell to the ground, and I was relieved to find that I didn't just kill any of my group. Instead, a renegade just went for my apple. Looks like they were starving too.
"Wow, didn't hear the buggah coming." Scott exclaimed, and he pulled out his bow and began to patrol the area.
I sighed, and finished up my apple and tossed the core. I noticed Rebecca dealing with the corpse's head, and I turned away when the iron smell of blood filled the air.
"There we go." She announced, putting the head in her bag, and nodded at Scott, who came up empty on heads.
"Let's continue then." I ordered, and climbed onto my horse.
We drew further into the forest, but was soon tackled by an huge cat.
I didn't take the moment to look at what exactly was attacking me, before I rammed my sword through the animal, and watched it drop.
It was a cougar, which was slowly transforming back into it's original form.
I sneered, and took it's head.
"This is gonna be a good hunt if thing's fling 'em selves at us like this!" Scott cheered, and I nodded.
This was also going to be a long day, and a not so relaxing trip if I'm attacked every five minutes.