Enchantment of the Bow

Chapter Sixty

Author's Note

*Last we knew, Kaladin had just assassinated Danak's father, and Samson has run off to hunt down Sebastian. *

Sebastian's POV

The slightly distorted image of a white Vann-Hest ripples in the puddle that I lean over, causing me to sneer. Maybe I'll be able to take care of its rider if I wait for them to catch up to me. The angle shifts to allow me to glimps a better picture of the dark Prince who sits astride the beast, straining to keep a strong hand over the animal beneath him. It would be easy... he is far too distracted by the Vann Hest, who is always moving, dancing, looking for a chance to overtake his master. Containing so much power is much harder than the Princess of Nordic makes it appear to be. My face drops, however, when the picture changes to show four others that accompany the man, one of which is a familiar brute with a great, ginger colored beard. Claudius- I should have guessed that Aizen would send his best to join in the manhunt. If both Samson and Claudius are together, I stand no chance of fighting them on my own. Not without a good strategy. 

I let out a small sigh of relief as I scan the remaining companions in the group. There is only the Captain of the Prince's Guard, who dwarfs his mount, making it appear to be the pony of some child, and a smaller, less threatening looking boy beside him, who sits tall and elegantly in his saddle. All members of the party are armed and canter ceaselessly through the trails, on their way towards me, the fox of their hunt. They've brought a hound with them, which could stand to be troublesome for me. I observe the tall, grey dog that lopes just in front of Samson's white beast, so intently sniffing every scent that she can that she becomes oblivious to the predator who fights to take a bite of her. She raises her snout to the wind every few beats to stay on my trail, having long since caught my scent. The white hairs on her muzzle suggest that she is a seasoned tracker who will not be easy to shake. 

It doesn't look like that blue-eyed Guardsmen of the Princess is in their company, a good thing for me. He unsettled me from the very beginning, giving off such a dangerous, intense presence as he watched my every move. Luke, or so he called himself, was the reason that I was never able to get as close to the Princess as Aizen wanted me to. The tall, dark man always seemed to be just behind her like a shadow, daring me to try something. Even when he was off-duty he watched me, following to make sure that I stayed out of trouble and out of Lyra's personal affairs. He never once spoke or moved to hurt me, but he had no need to. If I tried anything with the Princess, he would slay me where I stood. He made certain that this fact was common knowledge with just the malicious glint in his eyes. I stood half a chance before he joined the Guard, especially since I worked so tirelessly to have her Captain and two other Guardsmen taken out of the equation. Certain men in certain cities will do anything for a sack containing a certain amount of gold coins, and kidnapping three grown men was no exception, even if those men belonged to the Crown.

Lucan knew about me somehow. He knew that my intentions went far beyond the job that King Aizen had paid me to do. He was aware, without a doubt, that I was only truly loyal to my first employer, The King of Whales. The benefits and privileges that he offered me were a much greater splendor than what the Princess' father did. Besides, whereas I did find some interest in spying on Lady Lyra to see why so many people wish her dead, I took a better liking to the job that The King of Whales had wanted me to do, which was far more exciting than shadowing a child. Finding out how big a threat she was and killing her if it was appropriate seemed like more fun to me. That drastic action would have been more than suitable, I witnessed within a few day of being in her company. I would have taken her life and been done with it if it wasn't for that silent guardian of hers. 

I could sense the knowledge that he had, not only about me, but about every person that was ever in the same room as Princess Lyra. He seemed to know something about everyone that no one else did. He knew who's intentions were bad towards her and who was dangerous to her welfare. He has to be an assassin with the skills that he possesses, though he apparently wasn't against Lyra's well-being, because she is still breathing air. Instead, he is protecting her. Though Danak was the exception to his tight rein- Luke expected the Princess to be able to defend herself against his assault, but she hadn't. I witnessed her capability in the training room early on, and that was only part of what made the dainty, yet amazingly strong, woman a threat to the King of Whales. If I had been able to assassinate her, I would have done two  greatly pleasing deeds for the King of Whales; I would have rid him of a pesky danger, as well as ruined the happiness of his son. I care nothing of those affairs, however, other than how much gold would be rewarded.