Huntsman

Chapter 5

It was a week after Abram's summoning. The young man sat anxiously at the supper table inside his cottage, his mother cleaning up the dishes from their evening meal. It was time for them to return to retrieve him, yet the time seemed to be slowly trickling away.

"Perhaps they have forgotten," he mumbled. He highly doubted that was so, but it was all there was to be said at that point. His mother gave a short hum as her reply; she was't convinced.

As if on cue, the sound of trotting could be heard from outside. Abram stood by the window and peered out to see a half dozen black horses galloping up the road toward their dwelling. It was like watching the scene of his father leaving all over again, only this time it was he who must go. The sorrow of it sank in deeper and cut into his heart.

"They're here," he said, though his mother already knew, for she stood right beside him at the window.

The cottage became laden with silent sorrow, neither of the two family members speaking. Before they had a chance to prepare themselves, the lead rider was knocking on the door, his fist pounding heavily against it to the point Abram thought it would collapse.

He glanced at his mother, then thrust his arms around her. "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered back. "No matter what, I always will." She let him go, not hiding her sobbing this time. Through her tears, however, she smiled one last radiant grin. "Don't worry about me, alright? The boy I hired to help is a good lad, and I'll spend much of my time in town with Glenda and her family."

Abram nodded to her. "I'll come back to you."

Her smile, though she fought to maintain it, flipped into a quivering frown. "Do what is right, no matter the cost."

The rider pounded again, this time shouting for them to open up. Abram nodded again, and opened the door. He slung a satchel over his shoulder that contained the few things he figured he should bring with him, and glanced back at his mother once more.

"Let's go," the rider demanded with a harsh jerk of his head. Abram must have taken too long for him, for he grabbed him by the collar and dragged him from his house.

After stumbling a few steps, Abram scowled and pulled away from him. He mounted one of the horses behind a rider, and soon they were galloping away. Turning to look back, he was able to see his mother still standing at the cottage.

Under his breath, he spoke out his last vow to her, knowing it was a seal he was placing on his heart. "I will return... I promise."

The journey to the castle took a couple of days. The riders galloped through most of the night, following the dirt road that wound throughout the famished peasant land. Upon the eve of the second day, they reached the gateway into the castle, the leader shouting out an order for it to be lifted for entry.

Abram tilted his head back, straining his neck to see the top of the castle. The dark towers stood taller than any tree he'd seen. It climbed high into the sky, the top disappearing into the dark. Abram was jerked from his marveling as the sound of metal grinding against itself filled the air and the gate lifted. The horses were led inside, Abram silent as his eyes settled on his surroundings.

Beyond the gate was the courtyard, and along the courtyard was a large wrap-around stable with more horses inside the stalls. Straight ahead was a towering door, etched with carved patterns and trimmed with shimmering brass studs. Stairwells led to an upper balcony, and the cobblestone beneath them was clean and patterned intricately so that the view of it from atop the balcony must be breathtaking.

"Dismount!" The lead rider ordered in a husky shout. He slid off his horse, the rest doing the same and Abram following, though it took some force from another rider.

From the shadows, a young, lanky boy came running, his feet shuffling and his cloth shoes scuffing the cobblestone loudly to slow himself down as he approached. He bowed his head in a quick bob, then took the reins as he was handed them. As Abram followed the riders, he looked into the eyes of the stable boy, seeing only fear and sorrow in his dirt-covered expression.

"Move!" One of the riders grunted, shoving his elbow into Abram's back.

"Hey!" Abram exclaimed. He glared at the rider, but the man only laughed. Anger swelled inside him and made him want to punch the man, but he deemed it unwise.

The group stood before the door across the courtyard and without a word having to be spoken, a loud creak moaned through the open area. A crack formed down the center of the door, and the two sides slowly swung inward away from them.

The riders and Abram walked through to the other side, their feet landing on marble floors. Abram's eyes went wide, his head turning all around and observing the magnificence.

The floors were made entirely of black marble, the walls of grey stone bricks. Many doors were along the walls, though it was unclear where they led. The ceiling was miles away, large candle chandeliers dangling from above. Potted plants lined the walls and vines climbed from the windows above. A large stairwell wound upwards, and long banisters lined the walls to mark each floor.

"Let's go, the queen is waiting upstairs," the lead rider said. The others stayed behind as he led Abram to the foot of the stairs.

Abram looked up, following the steps as far as his eyes could see. He had always imagined this moment would be a glorious one, but instead he felt fear and anger. He had never before seen the queen, yet he had vehement hatred for her. His life's dream had been shattered, his family torn apart, his father forced to perform the queen's evil biddings. There was no room for forgiveness in Abram's heart, only a strong desire to exact revenge.