Hero

CHAPTER 15: HUNTER III

Hunter knew that if he won the jousting tournament the king would look more fondly upon him. He had pondered on the thought of killing him in the tournament with a poison blade but decided there were two problems with that plan. Firstly he had no poison, and secondly if he were to stab the king, fleeing the city would be almost impossible once everyone realised Edward had just been murdered.

Hunter had been having a conversation with Marie Renway for the last hour about his apparent home town of Terifell. A town in fact that Hunter had nether visited or heard of.

'What are the orphanages like in Terifell?" Asked Marie, 'I bet they're ten times better then the shitty excuses we have for them here"

"Thought princesses weren't meant to say such profanities." Hunter said laughing.

"I'm not most princesses," replied Marie grinning at him, "so tell me, what are they like?"

Hunter froze for a moment whilst he thought about what he was going to say. "They're key to making Terifell the prosperous city it is. Who's to say just because you are born into a noble family, it makes you any better then any other poor soul who's parents decided they weren't good enough and leave them. Who's gonna teach them wrong from right? Who's gonna be there for them when they're alone and feel like everyone has wronged them in the big bad world and they need to take retribution for all the rest of them."

Tears began to slowly fall down Hunters face. Marie took his head in her hands staring into his eyes. "Us."

He looked back into her eyes and pulled her in closer towards him. He tucked her long brown hair behind her ears and smiled at her. "You really aren't like most princesses." Said Hunter leaning in and planting his lips onto hers. They're kiss latest for about five seconds before being interrupted by the door opening.

The Guard who had realised he had just walked in on something quickly apologised, "oh sorry my lord I didn't realise you had company."

"Not a problem my golden plated friend. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Asked Hunter to the rather awkward looking guard.

"The tournament is about to begin my lord, your presence has been requested in the armoury." Replied the guard.

"I don't need any armour, get me a lance and a horse and I'm ready to go." Sniggered Hunter reaching for the bottle on the table in front of him pouring out a glass of spirits and downing it.

"I do not think this is wise. You could get hurt!" Exclaimed Marie with a look of disproval that now covered her countenance.

Hunter, still with a smile on his face said nothing, instead slowly drinking out of the glass of spirits he had just poured out for himself. His true reasoning for not going to get fitted for armour was that he couldn't think of anything worse then conversing with any of the royal snobs apart from Marie who's company he enjoyed far more.

"I'll be fine. I've got this won." Said Hunter confidently. He turned to the guard, "that's your queue to leave."

* * *

A few hours had passed and Marie had gone to prepare her attire for the jousting tournament leaving Hunter alone in her quarters. They were much smaller them any of the other Renway children's. Hunter presumed because she was the last child and it was the only room left. The ceiling was embroidered with flower patterns with the painting being of light tones. Hunter lay on the bed but now with the spirits bottle in his hands instead of a glass. As he lay there he looked around the room. It had something innocent about it. Something that made him feel free and it felt right. But because it felt so right, to Hunter it felt so wrong.

There was a painting that lay on a cabinet next to her bed. Hunter picked it up at first thinking it was of Marie but slowly noticed some differences such as the woman in the image having dark green eyes and a different shade of brown hair.

"My mother." Said Marie appearing at the entrance of the room. She made here way over to the bed and sat next to Hunter. "Serena was her name. The most beautiful and kindest person in all of Fardawn. The world took her away from me when I was just an infant."

Marie began to start crying. Hunter instantly felt the natural reaction and took hold of her hands bringing her close to his chest. "I am truly sorry Marie. I truly am." Hunter was still unsure at that point what he was sorry for. He just knew that he didn't want her to be in pain.