His Ghostly Assassin

Chapter 2

Hiroki

I'm in trouble. I'm in so much trouble.

I was really in for it when, or if, I made it back home. I wasn't supposed to be here let alone out in the middle of the woods. And I definitely wasn't supposed to stumble on the Southern King's camp either, I royally messed up.

And now I had to hide deep in this forest. I didn't know if those soldiers were still chasing me, but all seemed quiet for now. My poor pony, Yuki, had done so well though. She was happily munching away on some green grass that I found for her.

This little meadow I found while fleeing was beautiful, it reminded me of some of the ones back home. Growing flowers and a small waterfall against a rock face, bubbling loudly as it hit the rocks beneath it. It was quiet here, almost as though there were no animals around.

I rubbed my head as I sat down on a fallen log near the water. I shouldn't have left home, or run away like I did. Father was always telling me that he was going to be taking me on more missions with him lately, but that has yet to happen. When this one came up, a visit to a lords land for a festival. I was excited and begged to come along.

Denied.

Again.

Sneaking away was always easy for me, getting Yuki out of the stables was tricky, but as soon as I was in the forest, I was gone. They were galloping fast, I don't know exactly why, but something was going on and I wasn't going to miss it this time.

That was until I lost sight of them and ended up running into some soldiers in dazzling white armor. The southern army. Literally the worst thing to run into without my father around. I was able to use some of my fire to distract them and get away, but they were hot on my trail until I stumbled across this place.

Branches cracked and creaked behind me, making me jump and looked around. Footsteps, and several at that were coming my way. They were close to Yuki too. I was too far away from Yuki to ride away, so hiding would have to do.

I  darted for the brush just as two men dressed in the bright armor broke through the trees.

One had a katana already drawn. "Where is that little brat at?"

The second spotted Yuki and walked over to her. "He's around here, his pony is tied up. He must have heard us and is hiding around here somewhere." He gestured to the trees near where I was hiding. "You check over there and I'll see if he's hiding near the falls."

I tensed as they separated, the one heading my way sliced a few branches and tall bushes out of his way. He was way too close, and I needed to find somewhere better to hide.

A gentle hand slowly pushed me back into a crouch. "Don't. Move." As I tensed, I could just barely hear the voice whisper to me. "Stay exactly where you are and stay very low, I'll take care of them."

More brush crashing near us, whoever was keeping me down, let out the most chilling growl I had ever heard. Low and scary enough that I was terrified. The swinging stopped.

"The fuck was that? Did you hear that?!" The soldier shouted out.

"It's probably a boar, they can growl pretty loud. Just back off and search somewhere else! It's going to be getting dark soon and I don't want to be out here!"