Knights of the Nine - Beginning of the End

Chapter 5: Finch Hubblestin

Ciri sat next to Derek till he fell asleep. She sat there reading books for hours on. Not a peep of sound struck her ears, nothing. Jeff, on the other hand, was outside getting drunk like he was twenty and had nothing left to loose. But that was the right time for trouble to brew.

Monster Hunters of all shapes and sizes came in, disrupting the peace of simple drinking. Jeff dared to look back and saw five of them. He scoffed at the sight and chugged down the rest of his fourth mug. Jeff turned around to face the Monster Hunters.

"Why turn my arse around just to face You scum?" Jeff said looking all of them dead in the eye.

"We sense a strong present... a strange one." One Hunter said removing his hood to show off his cat eyes.

"A pussy like you should be, ugh, scared to search for it."

Jeff, now, stood up.

"Two strong and strange beings are here. Tell us, old man or we'll be forced to harm you." The cat eyed Hunter said taking a shot glass.

"He's asleep, other too." Jeff responded.

"Wake the poor fucks up then."

Jeff scoffed once more and spit on the boot of one. He knocked on the door. Ciri closed her book and opened the door to find Jeff.

"What? You drunk, Jeff?" Ciri said scanning the old man.

"Can it, Ciri. Monster Hunter's are here for you two."

"Well, Derek asleep and what would they want with me?"

"Probably the same as what the Wild Hunt wanted from you back in your other world." Jeff said looking passed Ciri to look at Derek.

Derek was awake, seeing a nice sight of Ciri's butt. He got up off the bed and knew he was still in his traveling gear. He placed his hand on Ciri's shoulder and kissed her.

"Not the time for love, Derek," Jeff said nodding. "Monster Hunters here for you two."

"Um, why us?" Derek asked looking passed Jeff.

"Why don't you come out and speak to us?" The voice boomed across the inn. "We shan't harm you."

"Don't listen to their cunny words, kid. You're a Knight of the Nine."

"Ah, so he is a Knight of the - fucking - Nine, eh?"

The door flung open. The Hunters flooding around Derek and Ciri, attaching cuffs around their hands. Jeff reached for his blade and wielded it.

"Uncuff them, or you'll be sorry." He said as he pointed the point of his sword at the cat eyes Hunter.

Ciri was pushed to Jeff and seconds later so was Derek. The Hunter's scoffed back at Jeff and walked out of the inn. Leaving behind a blank piece of paper, only twas not blank. It had two words on it. A name.

'Finch Hubblestin' read the words. Derek picked the paper up and placed it on the table where his friends sat. He took a seat beside them and gave the paper to Jeff.

"Know who this 'Finch Hubblestin' character is?" Derek asked as he took a bite of an apple.

"Perhaps a Hunter like them." Ciri said before Jeff could answer.

"No, no, no young Ciri. Finch is a code name for a girl. A Versa."

"A Versa? In Wintergale? Thought they hated the cold, must be wrong." Derek said as he took another bite.

"Live and learn as they say."

"What the hell is a Versa?" Ciri asked.

"A being that can change their appearance and character whenever they choose. But in order to change, they must have seen or know the person or creature to change." Jeff said.