Chapter Seven

  The Dark Stalker

  News doesn’t travel quickly in these lands.

  The humble citizens of Brauberg had no clue that Mythis was besieged by demons of winter. They had no idea that the Sun King, and his daughters as well, lay dead at the hands of shadowy creatures of the cold. Most of the town was resting from the festivities of the turning celebrations that every town had taken part in on that so holy day. They were taking the last bit of respite knowing that now winter was here and there would be a third of a year of hard work they spent the entire spring preparing for. Belts would be tightened and grain would be inventoried, saved, and dolled out for only the most desperate of needs. The farmers knew that for the coming months, their fields would grow silent, and no grain would come from the ground as the darkness of winter cast its shadow over the land.

  Cailean led Gwen into the town. “We’ll find a room, we need rest. There aren’t many travelers once the winter starts, there’s sure to be a vacancy,” he said as they made their way through the roads where just a night ago people were celebrating and enjoying what was left of the good bread of spring and drank the best mead that the breweries could produce before barely became a rare commodity. It was somewhat ironic, every brewer from here to the far end of the land agreed that the best mead came from that last harvest of grain, that the best crops were those they gathered just before the winter came to freeze and spoil the soil.

  “Need a room, I’ve gold to pay,” Cailean reached into his pocket and pulled out two coins to pay for the room, “What’s left to eat?” he asked, as his eyes continued to trace around the room in a paranoid search for any danger that could befall the last drop of Sun Blood standing beside him.

  “We’ve got a one bedroom for you,” the innkeeper looked down, “I fancy that bronze sword, it’s winter now, and you’re a Winter Hunter, I got the last bit of stew left, offered to you on the house, noble Winter Hunter,” he said, smiling.

  “I appreciate the hospitality,” Cailean said, sighing at this fool who thought he was talking to a brave warrior of old as opposed to some cowardly first season who hadn’t the guts to face a monster head-on, much less kill one himself.

  “Goddesses be with you, Winter Hunter,” he said, nodding towards who he thought would be his protector when the night was darkest.

  “And with you,” Cailean looked to Gwen, “Let’s take that corner table,” he said, leading her to a small booth by the hearth of the inn. They took their seats and waited for the barmaid to bring them two bowls of fine stew.

  “So the Druids, they’ll know what to do, what I have to do? How long will it take to get to them?”

  “The Winter won't make the trip easy, trudging through snow, I’d suggest horses but feeding and caring for them when supplies are already going to be low and in demand, it’s almost not worth it. We would have to feed them before we feed ourselves, and prices for goods are about to rise. We would need what gold I have to spend on horses to ensure that we can have our own food and sustenance on the way, so it looks like we’re walking. I’ll try to find us a safe path, we go from here to Altenbern, north of there we can get to Tycolm and meet up with the other Hunters. Once we get to the Severed mountains the Druids should have enough grain and meat to keep us fed till the spring comes, we just have to make it to spring, then you’ll be safe,” Cailean said.

  “You want me to trek miles across the land in a skirt and dress shoes, we at least need to get some better clothing if we’re actually going to do this,” Gwen said.

  The barmaid came to their table and presented the last two bowls of stew that this inn would probably be able to offer now that Winter was here. A courtesy to the brave Winter Hunter that was defending them.

  “I understand you’re a bit under-dressed, we’ll see a trader tomorrow and get you proper winter wear. We should be able to afford it,” Cailean said, “I told you I would protect you, and that is my intent,” Cailean kept looking around the bar, those hands were standing on the back of his neck again.

  “Cailean, what are you looking for,” Gwen said as the barmaid brought their stew.

  “I don’t know,” he said.

  “Winter Hunters can sense danger, at least it’s said they can. So what is it? A monster, some vial creature, why not just draw your sword,” she said as she took her wooden spoon and began to drink her stew.

  “I always sense danger,” Cailean said under his breath.

  “What was that?” Gwen asked.

  “Nothing,” he shook his head, “Nothing,” he said again, trying to reassure himself as much as Gwendolyn.

  Just then a chill went through the bar, and the door of the establishment was forced open. The door whipped back and forth as the patrons could see the snow beginning to fall as it should now that winter proper had started.

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  “Winter’s here all right, Mary bar the door, it’s getting cold in here, can’t lose the fire,” the Innkeeper said as the Barmaid went to seal the door. As she pushed it closed, she was pushed back by another forced opening. Only this time it wasn’t the wind, but a man’s hand pushing it open. He wore all black leather banded armor, with a hood concealing his face. Three daggers were on his belt, two of steel and one of bronze in the middle. He entered the inn, saying nothing, and taking a seat at the bar.

  Cailean looked at the figure in black and felt his neck hairs ripple.

  “Cailean,” Gwen reached out to grab his wrist and his attention.

  “I’m sorry,” he shook his head, “All my training, I sense danger everywhere,” he looked again to the man in black, watched him order a tall mug of mead, and watched him down it all in one gulp.

  “You should sense danger everywhere, it’s winter, I never knew of this danger, every winter I and my sisters would be sheltered away in the capital tower after the ceremony, three months of learning and study, three months under constant guard, I need you if I’m going to survive this, Cailean, Winter Hunter,” she said.

  Cailean tried to relax, had things not been as they were, this wouldn’t be the worst situation he could find himself in. A warm inn, good stew on the house, and a beautiful lass with him. Had he not been a Winter Hunter and had this not been Winter, this would be a damn near pleasant predicament, “Sorry, yes, we’ll survive. Once we reach the Winter Hunter guildhall, I’m sure we can get others to join us, a platoon could keep you safe until we get to the mountains, and once you’re with the Druids we can work on bringing back the spring,” he said. He tried to focus on Gwen, but he found his eyes kept darting back to the figure in black. He looked back to Gwen, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the black-clad man rise from his chair. On reflex, Cailean reached to rest his hand on his Bronze Blade. He saw the figure in black resting a hand on one of their Steel daggers.

  Steel was useless against monsters but can dent bronze and push it back in any fair fight. Cailean adjusted his position to be ready to draw his blade. The man in black approached the two.

  “Can I help you,” Gwen said, backing away in her booth as the figure looked at her. He reached up and pulled off his hood. It was not a monster under this cloak, but an attractive young man, hair jet black and just a bit of stubble across his face, he appeared to be no older than Cailean.

  Cailean gave the man interrupting their dinner a once over. On the chest of his leather banded armor was the symbol of house Gailech. A crescent moon surrounded by a ring of morning glory flowers.

  “My apologies, I do not mean to disturb you,” he turned to Cailean, “Hail, Winter Hunter,” he smiled, resting his hand on one of his steel daggers just as Cailean rested his on his bronze sword.

  Cailean knew that symbol, the weight it carried, they were all supposed to be gone. This man was part of a forgotten order, an order wiped out in the Steel Winter so many generations ago, “You’re a Dark Stalker, aren’t you?” Cailean asked.

  “Dark Stalker, I’ve heard that name bandied about in legend, what is a Dark Stalker?” Gwen turned to the man, “What are you?” she asked, backing away further, her back against the wall.

  Cailean moved forward, getting out of his seat and standing, almost face to face with the man in black, “Dark Stalker, the cousins of the Winter Hunters, at least they used to be, it was said your kind all died in the steel winter,” Cailean said.

  “Please, my compatriot,” the man in black smiled, “We both have our jobs to do,” he slowly pulled a steel dagger from his belt, Cailean met this act with the drawing of his own blade.

  “Winter Hunter, do not be threatened,” The Dark Stalker played with the blade in his hand, gave it some fancy twists and dervish spins, “Unlike your ilk, a Dark Stalker does not fear the winter, we live in the winter, our kind thrives in the winter,” the Dark Stalker turned to Gwendolyn, “Such a beautiful creature, you’ve no place in the cold,”

  It happened in an instant, the Dark Stalker lunged, and with just as much speed, Cailean swung his blade up to catch the Dark Stalker’s arm as it tried to stab at Gwendolyn. With his other hand, Cailean brought the edge of his shield to his jaw and knocked him on his back. The Dark Stalker, with expert technique, kicked his legs up and righted himself as his other hand reached for the other steel dagger on his belt.

  Cailean raised his shield and took a defensive position as the inn’s patrons backed away and gave them room. As they circled each other.

  “This is the last season, Winter Hunter, the Sun King is dead, no spring will come again,” he said.

  Cailean did not reply, instead, focused on his training and lunged at this man, this monster, just as he was taught to. The Dark Stalker brought both his daggers up in a cross to intercept Cailean’s lunge, taking control of his opponent's blade and sliding it to the left as he pirouetted to the right, slashing his daggers at Cailean’s torso, slicing at his gut and leaving a wound on Cailean’s side.

  Cailean did his best to discard the sensation of pain and turned, leading with his shield to block a killing stab from his opponent, then arced his elbow up to catch the Dark Stalker just under the chin with his shield. As the Dark Stalker stumbled. Cailean made another lunge with his blade to catch him on his side and ram his bronze swords between the folds of his armor and into his abdomen.

  “You can’t stop the winter, not this one,” The Dark Stalker said as he started to cough blood out of his mouth.

  Cailean twisted the blade in the man’s stomach, “I will see the spring is found,” he shoved the Dark Stalker off his blade with his foot and kicked him to the ground.

  Against the wall, huddled in her seat, Gwendolyn’s breath was fast and rough, “What in the Goddesses just happened,” she said, wringing her hand through her auburn hair.

  “This just became leagues and leagues more complex,” Cailean said, his voice low as it slowly dawned on him that his first kill as a Winter Hunter was not a monster, not a beast, but a fellow man.

  “You called him, what, a Dark Stalker, what’s a Dark Stalker,” she said, demanding an answer.

  “Warriors of Winter, those that forsake the Winter Hunter Oath, those who lost the faith in the Goddesses and believe that when Winter Comes it will be everlasting, those that believe the spring will never come” Cailean approached his fallen foe and kicked him over and on his back, he turned to the Innkeeper, “Apologies for the mess, Winter Hunter business,” Cailean reached for his cloak and cleaned the blood from his blade before sliding it back into his sheath.

  The patrons all kept staring at him, “It’s winter,” Cailean said with a newfound command in his voice, “It’s winter,” he said again, his voice lower as he looked down back at the fallen Dark Stalker.