Hunters of Priya

Farron

Hello people! It's Friday, so as promised here's the next chapter. Note: Farron would be played by Matt Bomer. Matt's hot! ♥

~•▐ Farron of Don Corey ▌•~

The tavern was lively with music and drunkards as I waited for Leran to arrive. He’d ought to have news about a possible Hunter.

The people around me danced merrily on the hard stone floor, many missing articles of clothing. If there was one thing I will never understand, it’s drunks.

One of the barmaids tripped and fell onto my table while the men laughed at her. “Why ‘ello sweetie.” She slurred her words, leaning in. The ale on her breath was sickening. “What can I do you for?”

I smiled as politely as I could. “I’m just waiting for a friend of mine, thank you.” She was eyeing my flask and I brought it closer to my being.

The woman seemed slightly disappointed. “Well, if you need anything I’ll be ‘ere.” She  stumbled back out into the mass of idiots trying to dance. I scoffed at their poor attempts and took a swig of honey beer.

“Well, you’re still a loner as usual.” An old voice said. Leran sat down beside me and leaned back. For an old man, he wasn’t brittle.

“I thought you were in one of the other towns, scouting.”

“Ah, Sparro’s only half a league from here.” He groaned as he stretched out a bit. “And I found an apprentice for you.”

I sat up a bit. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, there’s a kid, called ‘Drew’ by friends. She’s got talent, Farron.”

I shook my head, not hearing the ‘she’ part. “Nah, no one in this generation is brave. They’re a year of Diplomats and Housewives.”

Leran shook his head with a smile on his face. “Not Drew. Fought a Hunted and survived.”

The bar went silent. The mention of those monsters stilled the hearts of the once-merry surrounding.

“How?”

“Not sure.”

“Then how...”

“I saw the body as I was pulling ‘er out. One of the lieutenants.” Leran closed his eyes, like he was about to fall asleep.

Out of one hundred targets, why had a lieutenant gone after an boy not yet sorted? “When you bringing him?”

Leran opened his eyes and just stared at the ceiling. “Maybe tomorrow...Drew’s not sure about being a Hunter.”

Knew it. “Probably wants to be a Dip-”

“She originally wanted to be a Guardian.” Leran said sharply.

I sat there trying to register what he had said. “‘She?’”

Leran blinked at me in surprise. “Didn’t I say?” He looked at the table and then got a lopsided grin. “Oh I didn’t...” He had that twinkle in his eye, saying he knew he hadn’t. “Drew is short for Andrea.”

I couldn’t get but growl a bit. “I’m not working with a woman.”

“Oh, I know.”

“Then why-”

“Because you need to learn.”

“Learn what?” I spat angrily.

Leran stood up and gave me a fatherly look. “Patience and understanding.” And with that he left, leaving me there.

I hissed quietly under my breath and got up. Fastening a grey worn travelling cloak, I walked out into the warm night.

Redio was known for it’s warm weather, but as I walked along the night seemed to grow colder and colder. What had Leran meant, I needed to learn understanding? Compared to some I am very understanding and sympathetic. Surely he was mistaken.

The beaten road was dimly lit by lanterns hanging from tree branches. The occasional horse trotted down the way and couples taking midnight strolls said their hellos. Drawing my flask once more I drank it contents, swishing the chilled sweet drink over my tongue.

Up ahead, I could see the silhouette of a small boy. As I got closer angry voices in the dark echoed from a nearby home. “Are you alright, child?” I knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

The boy sniffled and wiped his nose on his ratty shirt. “Momma and Papa are fighting again.”

From the light of the moon, I could see his bruised arms. “Did you parents do that to you?”

He shook his head. “The other boys did that. We played Hunters and they made me the Hunted.” He turned to face me and I could see his black-eye and swollen cheek.

I reached for my leather pouch and scrambled it’s contents. I pulled out another flask of honey beer. “Drink this.” He eyed the flask like it might hold poison. “It’s the drink Hunters have. It's very healthy for you.” That intrigued the boy and he quickly unfastened the top and drank it. As he finished, he licked his lips.

“Now, have these.” I handed him a handful of round grey berries. He stared at them like he originally did at the honey beer. “These are the berries from the Jujang bush.” His continued confused look made me chuckle. “Hunters use these to fight injuries.” Without a second thought, the little one shoved all the berries in his mouth and munched on them. He gave me a smile, and the juices dribbled down his chin.

He swallowed hard and licked the remaining juice off his lips. “I’m Leo, of Don Louis.”

I smiled at his formalness. Even the children knew who they followed. “I’m Farron, Hunter of Don Corey.”

I’d never seen larger eyes. He looked like he had dinner plates as eyes. “Really?” My nod made him so excited.

A woman’s voice called out from the house. “Leo, it’s bed time!”

Leo jumped up and ran into the house, all the way saying “I met a Hunter! I met a Hunter!” Once he was inside, I realized he’d taken my flask with him. Oh well.

I stood outside the house for a minute, reflecting on the past. This was what my wife and I wanted...a house...a family...but that would never be. A voice in my head told me to go visit her in Corier, but I answered it saying "I can never go back there." 

I continued down the street, heading for the tent pitched at the edge of the town. The small lean-to was shelter enough for me. The tanned wolfskin fended off the infrequent storms and animals. I slept on a raised mat so snakes and other earth-dwelling creatures wouldn’t attack in the night, and another wolfskin acted as my blanket.

I laid down on my bed and closed my eyes. The ruffling of the grass set me on edge, but I remained still. After a long time passed, I fell asleep.

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One of the other authors I've read does this little "interesting fact" thing, so I thought "I'll do that at the switch chapter." Which obviously is when it goes from Andrea --> Farron and vice versa.

So, my interesting fact: I've been to Montego Bay Jamaica, Cozumel  Mexico, and Stingray City in the Grand Cayman Island. It was on a cruise I took with my grandmother and cousin.