Chapter Ten

  In Awe of the Sun Blood

  Cailean arrived at the base of the Severed mountains, three young upstarts in tow as he dismounted his horse. Gerbil, sensing the presence of warriors, came from the cave to greet them.

  “I take it you’ve brought us a new order,” he said, pacing with his leaf-tipped walking stick up to the three boys. The boys stood there and tried not to look too nervous as the wise old druid gave each of them a once-over. “You, you’re a warrior, I can tell,” he said, tapping his cane to Hurlorn’s chest. Then he turned to Dewman, “You got the eyes of a smart man, good, good, a Winter Hunter must be of just as fit mind as he has a body,” he poked his nose in the air, “That bag, did you go and gather some potents for me?” he asked.

  “Yes sir, master Druid, I gathered some supplies before we left home, I thought you could teach me how to make some vigors, tonics, medicines. If whatever I have can be of use I would love to learn how,” he said.

  “Good, good, we’ll get to work with a mortar when you have some free time,” he clicked his staff to the ground and walked up to Luris, “Little shorter than a hunter usually is,” he looked the boy over, “Tell me, are you done growing yet? How old are you?” he asked as if he knew Luris was the youngest of the three new hunters.

  “I don’t, sir, but I guess we’ll find out,” he said, swallowing a lump of nerve and trying to puff his chest out with a deep breath.

  Gerbil laughed, “That will have to be good enough for now,” he smiled, then tapped his cane on Luris’s hip, “Can’t quite figure you out, you remind me of another young Hunter I’ve met,” he said, turning to Cailean as he gave the Druid a nod, telling him that this boy had the Hunt Master’s approval to begin the training.

  “Very well, you must be tired from a long journey, we’ve some beds for you to rest in. Not the most comfortable but a rise over the grounds of the woods, they’re dry at least, and we’ve fire inside, you boys must be cold,” he waived his cane, “Come, come now,” he said as Gwen came out of the mountains.

  “Cailean,” she ran into her Hunter’s arms and he took her in a great hug, he abated the urge to give her a kiss after their days apart from each other and turned her to the boys, “So what do you think?” he asked.

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  “So, these boys are to be Winter Hunters?” she said walking up to them, and much like Gerbil, gave them all a once over herself.

  “Hello ma’am,” Hurlorn said, giving her a nod.

  “Is this, her?” Dewmen asked.

  “This is her,” Cailean said.

  “You mean she’s really the?”

  “The last drop of sun blood,” Cailean wrapped his arm around Gwen, “Guard her well, every hope we have rests on her,” he said as Gwen blushed and leaned against Cailean, holding on to him for safety.

  “If you follow your training, you’ll have your best chance to live. But know that as Hunters the Red Lady has her eyes on all of us, some more than others, if you’re to die, make sure it's for something,” Cailean said, “I am not asking you to throw yourselves into senseless danger for a glorious death, there is no death more glorious than what a life in the spring can give you,” he took a deep breath, “If you’re willing to die, be willing to die for only three reasons. One is the innocent. If you must die to save the life of someone with nothing, someone with even less, you’re allowed to die. Two, your brothers, if you have to die for your brother, you’re allowed to die. Lastly,” Cailean took his arm off Gwen’s side, “The Sun Blood,” he said, remembering how he was willing to die for her. “She is the greatest and last hope for the spring, she can see to the turning, to the end of this horrible season,” he looked to Gwen, as she bit her lip and tried to look strong, “Without her, this very well could be a winter without end,” Cailean was not thinking of his love for Gwen when he told these boys to be ready to take a sword, claw, or fang into their chest to save her, he was thinking of the threat that winter posed all people. He thought of how he was ready to die, ready to do his duty as a hunter to defend her, the precious sun blood.

  Hurlorn stepped forward, and got on one knee, lowering his head, “Oh maiden of the sun, bringer of warmth, the spring comes when man can earn the suns warmth,”

  Gwen raised her eyebrow, “That’s from a poem, isn’t it?” she asked.

  Hurlorn looked up and smiled, “Need to know something to impress the girls,” he said.

  Dewman also took a knee, followed by Luris, “You are Sunblood, of the royal family Giran, the kings and queens of the day, aren’t you?” he asked.

  Gwen felt a bit embarrassed, “Yes, I am Sun blood, but I’m not royal,” she shook her head, “You don’t really need to bow to me, I’m illegitimate, not really a princess if that’s what your thinking, hope my dress didn’t mislead you,” She joked, she was still in her plain traveling clothes and wolfskin jacket, hardly the wear any princess would have.

  “We’re orphans, we’re all illegitimate,” Luris said, “Wow, I got something in common with Sun Blood,” he laughed, then quickly corrected himself, remembering that the man he would call master had just all but told me that he would need to be willing to die for this woman.

  “No, it’s funny,” Gwen said, then turned to Cailean, “So, this is the Winter Hunter order?” she asked.

  “I think they can impress,” Cailean said, “You heard the master druid, get a good night's sleep, we’ve some grain for a decent breakfast tomorrow, and after that, we begin your training.”