The Order of Jade

Chapter 21 - Tracking Down the Beasts

Valor was rushed to the city hospital, and treated by the doctors there with everything they had to try and make him feel better. His hands were in bandages and he was eating and drinking again. The men came to visit Valor while he was being treated.

"Well, there you are, thought you were dead, couldn't find you anywhere in the hospital." Curtis laughed as he walked into the room with the rest of the men following.

Valor looked up to them, his eyes half shut.

"Finally, where the hell were you?" Valor moaned keeping himself from falling asleep, holding himself still to block out the pain.

The men had brought him some food and his weapon that he left in his room. He didn't show it but the men knew that that weapon meant a lot to him, since he never gave up on it even when he left the kingdom. The long sword which he used in every battle he had ever fought in, dried blood sprinkled all over the floor whoever you picked it up like a red hailstorm. Showing anyone who lifted it that it was a deadly tool, that if not used properly, can cause harm.....or even death.

"I knew you would want this, so I brought it to you. The accommodation we were in was seized." Bjorik said as he placed Valors weapon by his bedside. Valor looked to him in appreciation, too exhausted to show more gratitude. The doctor then came in and spoke to the men, surprised that someone had turned up.

"Well, looks like you have company." The doctor laughed as he walked past the men to Valor.

"Well Valor, your hands are very crippled and damaged, but they will get back in working order soon, I've seen this before. As for your state after the kidnapping, your gonna have to stay in bed for a few more days, maybe even a week." The doctor told Valor, and you could see the disappointment in Valors face, knowing that he would miss more mission with the men.

The men looked to Valor and reassured him.

"Hey Valor don't worry, your not missing out on much, all we're doing for the next few days is hunting a few fiendish mutts." Curtis told him, humouring Valor. Valor questioned what the men were doing, confused as to why they were hunting.

"What are we, hide merchants? Why are you hunting (he yawns) beasts?" Valor asked the men nearly falling asleep. The men laughed and prepared to leave, their hunting party was ready to depart in about 15 minutes.

"Haha, a story for another day my friend." Bjorik laughed tapping Valor on the shoulder a few times before the men opened to door and started walking out.

"We'll be back soon Valor, don't worry." Kirin told him before smiling and walking out.

Valor then leaned back and looked to the ceiling, questioning the men's motive, why were they hunting he thought to himself?

The men met up with their hunting party, a group of experienced hunters who were willing to hunt down as many of those beasts as they could in order to help the kingdom retain its resources. The men assessed who was there, looking at all of them closely to try and identify any flaws. Bjorik then stepped forward and spoke to the large group of hunters. Eager to find out what they were capable of.

"Alright Ladies settle down." He yelled and the men payed attention to him, knowing about his reputation as a former Viking. "This hunt is crucial to the survival of the kingdom, if we do not succeed, the kingdom will have no livestock and no farmland to spare." Bjorik announced, the hunters doubling their attention towards him. Curtis then stood forward and spoke.

"Now listen, I know all of you are used to rabbits and squirrels and all that baby shit, but listen up! We need men, not panzys, people who know what they are doing. Because of you don't, the beasts will eat you and use whatever's left of the hair on your head as a napkin." Curtis told them men, using his usual dark humour jokes to further taunt the hunters, and to filter out the weak among them.

A few of them walked away, seeing this as a death trap. The majority of them stayed, willing to put their lives at risk, to the delight of the men. Bjorik turned to Kirin.

"Kirin when are we moving out?" Bjorik asked, eager to hunt those things. Kirin pulled out a note book that had a map drawn and coordinates written on it.

"Umm, I think we could leave right now, the map shows that the most sighting of the beast occurred around here." Kirin said pointing to a far away coordinate. "It might take some time to get there." He added. Bjorik nodded and rounded up the hunters.

"Alright, grab your things, we're leaving now!" Bjorik ordered and the hunters obeyed him.

When everyone was ready they made their move, carrying supplies and weapons both by hand and on their horses. After a few hours of walking they were exhausted and morally depleted. The hunters weren't used to high endurance and resilience like the order. Kirin suggested that they take a rest and keep moving the next day, Curtis agreed, so did Bjorik.

"Alright, you lazy turds, take a rest, we move again tomorrow!!" Curtis yelled, relieving the hunters, all of them almost instantly collapsing to the ground and falling asleep. Leaving the men on guard for the night.

"I swear to god, I never thought I would be leading a group of hunters out on a mission to kills beasts." Kirin said to the men, humouring them for once. They were sat down next to a tree where they started a fire.

"Yeah, this is the life. Endless battles, gratitude, fame, what else could you ask for?" Bjorik said, turning to his Viking roots.

That got Curtis thinking.

"Bjorik?" Curtis asked, grabbing the attention of Bjorik.

"Yes." He replied.

"You told us you killed your mother, what happens after that, why would the Viking army allow you to enlist if you had done something like that? Surely you must have received a punishment of some sort." Curtis asked him, free of any humour and jokes, purely curious, which was unlike Curtis.

Bjorik then sighed, remembering his past with the Vikings which was so many years ago. He sat there for a second thinking of what to say.

"Well, it goes a little bit like this........"