Hero

CHAPTER 19: HUNTER IV

Hunter walked away from the castle fields in anger. All he could hear were people chanting 'DAMIAN RENWAY'. Over and over again. It was becoming unbearable. Suddenly he felt a soft hand touch his. He turned around and standing in front of him was Marie. He pulled her towards him and kissed her.

"I'm sorry you didn't get through. It was unfair. It was just unfair. They simply have to do a rematch," said Marie in anger.

"They won't do it again. They're stubborn," growled Hunter.

"Who's stubborn?" Asked Marie confused by the statement.

"The royals. Avaricious, gluttonous, stubborn bastards," shouted Hunter, "I wish every single one of them nothing but pain."

Marie stared into his eyes. Hunter realised what he had just said and went to speak but before he could she ran off in the other direction sobbing.

"Fuck!" Roared Hunter kicking the dirt on the ground, "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck ,fuck, fuck!"

Suddenly someone grabbed him from behind pulling him down an alley way. Hunter shoved the man off of him and turned to face him. It was a tall man whose face was covered with a mask. He wore black garments carrying two daggers at his side and a sword in his hand.

"I am not happy James." Said the man pointing the sword at Hunters face.

"Who are you?" Asked Hunter.

"I am your employer James." Replied the man

"My name is Hunter." Shouted Hunter.

"Your name is whatever I want it to be," said the man repeatedly hitting Hunter on the back with his fist, "low life. maggot. widower. There is little I do not know about you James. You really are a disappointment to everyone.  First your whore mother who you let die. Then your own assassin brothers who you betrayed.  Not to forget your dead wife. Then me James. You disappointed me, and I don't take well to disappointment I'm afraid."

"I've done everything I can to get closer to the royal family. I might have lost the jousting tournament but I will be two seats away from him at the royal banquet tonight. I'll become closer with him. Please. I can do this." Moaned Hunter still in pain lying  on the floor.

"Good James. And if you fail me. If he's not dead by the end of the night. I'll kill her. I'll kill Marie, James. Make sure you don't disappoint me." Said the man knocking hunter out with the side of his sword.

* * *

Hunter woke up in Marie's chambers. She was sitting on the end of his bed looking at him. He sat up and looked back at her.

"Look Marie, about earlier, I'm sorry, I was just angry, I didn't mean what I said, any of it." Said Hunter reaching out to hold her hand.

"Yes you did," replied Marie, "and you're right about some of it. Some of us are greedy. Some of us are stubborn. Some of us narcissists. But they are my family. To want them pain is wrong."

"I know and I'm sorry. I truly am." Replied Hunter pulling her towards him and hugging her. Just feeling her close to him was all he needed to make him feel like everything was going to be okay.

"Now get changed Oreon. The banquet will begin shortly," smiled Marie, "and take a wash as well, you reek."

* * *

It was time for the banquet. It was his last chance to get the king alone and kill him. It was the only way he would be allowed to live. The only way Marie would be allowed to live. He sat in front of the mirror in Marie's chambers naked staring into his own eyes not moving. Hunter had never felt so scared in his entire life.

On his way over to the banquet hall his entire life flashed before his eyes. A cold shiver run down his spine. Memories of his lonesome childhood. How his father Rogan had killed his mother Orla in a drunken rage, how he felt abandoned every day of his life after that, how his friends were murdered because people thought they were better then them. He had always hated when people thought they were better then him. Finally he thought about his late wife Diana. How he felt it was his fault that she died. That he wasn't there to save her from the people who murdered her.

He wiped away the single tear that rolled down his left cheek and walked into the banquet hall. The ceiling was high covered in patterns similar to that of Marie's chambers but covered in gold paint. Many tables circled around a central table which had the least amount of seats then any of the others.

Sitting at the table were a collection of important people. Furthest left on the table was Edward who wore his usual blue and gold royal garments laughing cheerfully. Next to him was Richard who had one arm over his brother and another with a goblet filled with wine. To the right of Richard was Damian who was still wearing his armour from earlier with a medallion that read champion hanging from his neck which led Hunter to presume he had gone on to win the jousting tournament. Then sat Tog Riverwade and his father Bernard who had arrived in the last hour. Finally on the far right sat Marie with her younger teenage cousin Zachary. Hunter walked off and sat down in the only vacant seat, the seat next to Zachary who starred at him blankly.

"You alright kid?" Smiled Hunter confused as to why Zachary was looking at him oddly.

"Who are you?" Asked Zachary bluntly.

"Oh, why of course, I don't think we've met mate, " replied Hunter, "the names Lord Oreon, it's a pleasure to meet you. Any Renway is a friend of mine."

Zachary nodded and continued eating his food, before he could reply he was interrupted by a clanging of a silver fork on a goblet from the far left of the table. Edward was standing up.

"Today we are all gathered together. Renways, Riverwades, Artels, Oreons, common folk. All of us together to celebrate this years jousting tournament," boomed Edward with everyone cheering, "only one person could win however and my little brother Damian made it all the way to the top. So first toast to the prince. To Damian!"

Everyone cheered and Edward sat back down. Even Hunter cheered as loud as he can but very mockingly although hard to tell by most. Next the middle brother Richard stood up and gave a big smile to the crowd in front of him.

"What lovely words my brother. The king. Edward has stood out as a role model to me my entire life. After our father Jared passed away, he took leadership over Skylance Castle and is leading us to a brighter future. May his rule be prosperous over all of Istoren. So the second toast goes to my brother Edward. Long live the..."

All of a sudden Richard had stopped half way through his sentence. He began to start chocking. Edward quickly run from behind him and started trying to help him breath. Hunter looked in shock at the events that had just happened. Marie screamed. Damian ran over to Richard who was now collapsed on the floor.

"Brother! Richard!" Screamed Edward gripping onto his brother who was dribbling on the floor in front of them until suddenly he stopped moving.

Silence lay over the entire crowd. Richard was dead.