Huntsman

Chapter 8

It was late in the afternoon, after nearly four months of training. While Abram was in the practice fields with a few dozen other Huntsman, a rider trotted through the field toward him. He slowed as he reached Abram, his leg swinging over the horse as he dismounted, the sound of his black armor gritting. The other men paid no mind to the arrival of the rider, for the experienced knew why he'd come.

"Huntsman!" he bellowed, and even without his name being used, Abram already knew he was addressing him and only him.

Sheathing his sword, Abram stood at attention. Inside, he cringed, for he had no respect for this man or any of the riders. They were cruel, rude, and heartless.

Not needing more than Abram's attention, the rider spoke on. "You're with me. We have an order from her majesty."

Abram had heard those words before. The same ones he was told when delivering messages or going to an execution. Frankly, he was rather bored of those things. Nevertheless, he couldn't just shrug them off. The queen must be obeyed.

After heading back to the stable for the steed he'd been assigned, Abram and the rider were galloping far from the castle and through the woods to the east, a direction he'd never been. Not sure where they were going, Abram kept track of every turn they made in case he needed to remember anything. It wasn't exactly something he'd been trained to do, but it was in his memory from when his father had taught him how to hunt. It's easy to get lost in the forest.

After four hours of riding, the sun now in its highest peek just before it would soon descend, a small village in the forest seemed to form through the cracks between the branches. There could not have been more than a hundred or so people living there, and every corner of it could be seen in one sweeping glance.

The two road into the center of the cluster of buildings and halted. The lead rider jumped off his horse and marched straight for a nearby house, yelling for Abram to follow. After hesitating a minute, Abram felt his heart begin to pound. This didn't seem like the rest of the assignments he'd been given over the months.

"Keep up, Huntsman!" the rider growled, though he didn't look back.

His stomach churning, Abram slid from his horse, his sheath catching on the saddle momentarily. After prying it loose, he swallowed. The rider kicked in the door to a small cottage, and from within could be heard a haggardly scream.

Abram hesitated. "What're we doing?"

"Move, Huntsman!" Abram marched inside the house, though a swift kick from the rider was what got him to step all the way through. Abram glanced about, his vision partially masked by his helmet. His heart felt as if it had plummeted into his stomach as he realized what was going on.

Inside, an elderly woman stood in a defensive crouch. She had recently been knitting, for an unfinished blanket lay fallen on the floor. Her dress was ragged and dirty, her pepper-colored hair knotted into dreads. She scowled at them, what teeth she had stained and rotting. What caught his attention the most, however, was her fiery eyes. They were youthful, blazing, defiant.

"By order of Her Majesty, you have been sentenced to execution by the hands of the Royal Huntsmen," the rider started. "Actions of rebellion against the royal house will not be tolerated."

"This woman is to die?" Abram asked. He was unable to look at her now.

"All who defy the queen are to be executed," the rider stated. As he pushed past Abram, he stormed over to the woman and gripped her hair. She protested, but his power forced her to her knees.

"I die without regret!" the woman croaked.

"What has she done?" Abram asked.

"She has defied the queen! Draw your sword, huntsman!" Though his helmet hid his expression, Matthias could tell there was a scowl on the rider's face.

Abram stiffened. "I must do it?"

"Her majesties orders, now move!"

"How pathetic you all are," the woman spat. "Wasting your time trying to kill us all off. There are too many... We will not be stopped."

"Draw your sword, Huntsman!" Abram's eyes darted from the woman to the rider, his heart racing.

"Kill me if you must. Tell yourself it is your duty, that should help you sleep again eventually, once you believe it." A panic washed over Abram. He'd been tricking himself into thinking he'd never have to do anything like this. He suddenly found himself wishing for the boring tasks of delivering messages and criminal executions.

"Draw your sword!" The rider's voice was like a shot in the chest, a hammer to his head.

"We can't be stopped! Not all of us!" Her screams were agonizing, taunting, and he knew he'd never escape the sound of her voice ringing in his mind.

"Move, Huntsman!"

Author's note: I missed a day of posting, but I found the time to do it today! I look forward to your comments and votes! Tell me what you think so far, and I hope you'll continue to follow Abram on his difficult journey...