The Scent of the Monster _ Aita's Children

Chapter XVIII _ Whack-a-mole

Selene was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. The situation wasn't ideal, but at least now she knew what was going on. In hunter communities, spies weren't a very welcome breed. What they were subjecting Gaspare to was a rite that both he and Selene knew well: the betrayed was to punish the betrayer publicly.

The problem was that the verdict would judge not only Gaspare but also Selene. The alcove was testing the young huntress, assessing her mettle, her rigor, and thus the respect she would merit.

Since the girl didn't move, Nardo flashed a knife: "So, do we want to unwrap the gift?"

Gaspare let out another whimper behind the gag, terrified at the thought that the package to be opened could be his innards. In response, Selene kneed him in the ribs.

"Shut up, or the first thing I'll cut out is your tongue."

The move had the desired effect, Nardo retracted the blade with satisfaction, and some of the onlookers let a smile slip; Gaspare should be grateful to her. And in any case, Selene didn't feel too guilty about that knee, she was ready to give him more. A part of her wanted revenge for the torture inflicted by the Vassal.

Selene grabbed his hair, pulling his head up; Gaspare struggled to keep his eyes open, one swollen, the other covered in blood. They had really roughed him up.

"Sorry to ask, Nardo, but what's the point of me punishing him when you've already turned him into a meatball?"

The Master seemed genuinely embarrassed, searching for an excuse: "What can I say, Selene, we've been here waiting for you for over five hours... We had to kill time somehow."

A couple of hunters laughed, rubbing their knuckles spent on Gaspare's face. There was also a young woman among them, not much older than Selene. But Rita, who didn't seem capable of shedding her mask of disdain, rolled her eyes to the sky.

"So, how do we want to resolve this? I thought we came to hunt, not to torture rats."

The Master let out a whine, like a child interrupted during his favorite game.

"Alright, alright! ... It's up to you, Selene, you know that. Tell us: what will be dear Gus Gus's fate?"

Another witty way to call Gaspare a "rat." The huntress looked again at the poor wretch tied to the tree. She found it absurd that the life of a grown man was placed in her hands. Selene had hunted, fought, and even killed. But she had never played the part of the executioner. Maybe someone like Gaspare deserved it... But at sixteen, there are boundaries that shouldn't be crossed, no matter the context of events that led there.

"I say we let him go."

As expected, a thin chorus of disappointment rose, while Gaspare's eyes widened – as much as they could – filled with unexpected gratitude. Nardo called for silence with a hand. Then he turned to Selene:

"Are you sure, little girl? Do you think Gaspare deserves a second chance among the hunters?"

"Of course not – she promptly replied, glaring at the traitor – once a mole, always a mole. But he could be useful to us."

"How so? – the Master asked with genuine curiosity.

"He could start spying for us. It would be handy to have a hunter who pokes his nose into the Vassal's affairs."

The idea had come to her on the spot, but she liked it immediately. Maybe Gaspare would be the winning piece to turn the game around, the chance for her to keep a foot out of line with Amedeo and Tecla.

Nardo rubbed his blonde, unkempt beard. It didn't take a genius to see he was dissatisfied, nor did he do anything to hide it. Then he drew the knife again, marching decisively toward Gaspare. The traitor let out a cry of terror as the blade sliced through the air.

A clean cut.

And the ropes fell to the ground.

Gaspare almost struggled to stand, but Nardo helped him stay upright. Meanwhile, he gently removed the gag.

"You heard her, Gus? The girl took pity on you. You're free."

He offered a hand to shake, as a sign of peace. Gaspare was still dazed and uncertain; but the prospect of leaving there alive filled him with new energy. He accepted the handshake, and Nardo sealed it with his other hand and a broad smile. Then he gave him a pat on the back, inviting him to go.

"Great, now off you go. Go, go, go, go: get lost."

Selene didn't understand the meaning of that invitation, and from Gaspare's expression, she knew he was uncertain too. Was he sending him away on foot? In the middle of the woods? Was this the final step of his punishment?

Gaspare looked around, finding the stern eyes of everyone staring at him. He looked again at Selene; maybe he wanted to say "thank you" or "I'm sorry," but he didn't have the courage to add anything.

He took one step and then another, in the slow march of shame. Then he started running a bit faster. And it took him a while to notice it. After all, it was a very subtle sound, almost imperceptible to the human ear. A faint, high-pitched tinkling was agitating from his wrist, where Nardo, during the handshake, had secretly tied a bracelet of bells.

Gaspare's eyes widened in terror; he knew what it meant. And he looked at Nardo, who in response smiled and waved his fingers at him. He had turned him into a walking target; a dead man walking. Gaspare then really started to run for his life... but he didn't get far.

The stone golem leapt from the other side of the stream, crushing him to the ground and ending the jingling. Selene froze: Gaspare was now reduced to a mass of flesh and bones in the middle of the clearing, while above him stood a "golem," a creature made of rock and moss.

The Master let out a howl of joy: "Let the hunt begin!"

At that invitation, all the companions pounced on the monster and drew their weapons. Selene looked at Lucas, who, with his usual aplomb, began to swing his Danish axe and signaled her to join the fray.

"Damn it – Selene muttered, joining the hunt.

***

Hunters don't forgive, and apparently, Nardo even less. It seems Selene is surrounding herself with increasingly shady characters. If a group of people is as dangerous as its leader, then perhaps it's best to stay away from the Friulian alcove. But now there are more urgent matters, like the stone monster turning hunters into pulp. How will they get out of this? And what lies ahead for Selene with Nardo and Lucas?

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