Story the Sixth

  The Hunted's Renown

  Chapter 1

  The hoofbeats drew closer. Hunter clutched his leg, hoping to stem the tide of blood that flowed forth. If I don't get help soon, then I'll bleed to death. Not the most peaceful way to go out. Maddox and his lackeys had left not long ago, right after Hunter had beat Maddox in a duel, offered mercy to his opponent, and got stabbed in the leg for his trouble. Now, horsemen were quickly approaching, and Hunter figured they were King Hugh's men, here to apprehend the bounty hunters who had attempted to apprehend the King's son and use him for their own ends. Thanks to Hunter, those bounty hunters had failed in their task, even though he had been one of them at the time. But that was days ago. His circumstances had changed drastically since then. He knew that his only hope was for the King's men to have mercy on him, a wanted criminal, and get him some medical help before his injury proved to be the literal death of him.

  A majestic golden-brown stallion paraded into the clearing where Hunter lay, followed by a herd of horses that looked just as powerful as the first. The lead rider jumped down from his horse and strode over to the injured bounty hunter. Crouching down, the rider pulled off his helmet, revealing dark brown hair that had the perfect amount of wave to it, despite being stuffed under a metal helmet. "Hunter," King Hugh said, "What happened here? Who attacked you?"

  "Last time I checked, we weren't on a first-name basis, Your Highness," Hunter commented warily.

  "And last time I checked, you were suffering from a dangerous injury that needed to be treated immediately. We don't have time for formalities." The King waved over one of the other riders. "Bind this man's wound, then put him on your horse so we can get back home," he instructed the rider.

  Hunter gave a few feeble protests for the sake of his honor, but the rider did as he was commanded. The ride back to the castle was long and bumpy, and every tiny movement caused waves of pain to rush through Hunter's leg, but it was significantly better than being tied up and transported like a sack of flour.

  Finally, the large company rode over the drawbridge and into the castle's grounds. Hunter felt a shiver of dread as he came back into the place he had snuck into just a few days ago. What awaited him in the realm of justice? He already had a life sentence to look forward to, so how could things get any worse? Trying to kidnap the Crown Prince was a capital offense, and he knew the judge would be justified in condemning him to death. People had been executed for less, at least under the old King's rule.

  The riders all dismounted, and King Hugh called for a stretcher. Two guards quickly brought one over, and Hunter was gently lowered onto it. The guards whisked him into the castle and brought him to the healers, King Hugh not far behind. The injured bounty hunter was moved onto one of the softest beds he had ever laid on. A healer cleaned his wound and wrapped it in a fresh bandage, and then Hunter was able to truly relax for the first time in many years.

  King Hugh pulled a over a stool and sat on it. "How are you feeling? Are you comfortable?"

  "You can drop the ruse." Hunter let out a sigh. "You don't have to pretend to be nice to me. I know otherwise."

  "I'm not pretending. You're my guest, and you ought to be treated as such. Is there anything I can get for you? Food, perhaps?"

  Hunter's stomach let out a rumble. "Okay, I could use a good meal." He waited for King Hugh to put in a request with one of the maids before adding, "I just don't understand. You have every reason to hate me. Not only did I literally punch you in the face, I also attempted to kidnap your son, your only heir to the throne."

  King Hugh held up a finger. "Ah, but 'attempted' is the key word there. The guards told me what happened. You could've taken Ralphie and ran, but some thing stopped you. Something prompted you to warn the guards of what was going to happen. I'd like to think that something is a spark of goodness in your heart."

  "I stopped being good a long time ago. After my father..." Hunter felt his eyes tear up, and he looked away. "I was never the same. Some people have just used up all their second chances, and I'm one of those people."

  "Maybe not." King Hugh stared into space, looking thoughtful for a few minutes before finally speaking. "You didn't happen to run into a bounty hunter with a star-shaped birthmark by any chance, did you?"

  Hunter gestured at his bandage. "He's the one who did this to me. His name is Maddox. He killed my father, and I've been after him for a long time."

  "Well, so have we. He's been behind a multitude of crimes over the last few years. It took us a while to track him down, but we finally figured it out just recently. I have a deal for you."

  Hunter perked up a little. "Yes?"

  "If you can capture Maddox and bring him here to face justice and receive the punishment he deserves, then I will pardon you completely for everything you have ever done. It'll be a fresh start. You could build a new life for yourself."

  "Really? You'd do that for me?" Hunter stared at the King in amazement. "That's a great deal! Of course I'll take it! The only problem will be finding him in the first place. He's a tricky one to track."

  King Hugh smoothed down his hair. "Hence why we can't find him down ourselves. We need the best tracker known to man. I'll have to write up the contract, and you need to heal up, obviously, but then we'll have ourselves a deal."

  Hunter's food finally arrived, and King Hugh left to let him eat in peace. The bounty hunter felt as if he was floating on clouds. This is the best deal ever! I might be able to fix my life after all!

  Chapter 2

  The next few months passed peacefully. Hunter spent most of his time eating and resting up. He was bedridden for one month, but the castle's staff worked diligently to keep him company. The bounty hunter spent many an hour playing a game of chess with one servant or another, and he was well versed in strategy when the healer declared him healthy enough to walk around.

  From then on, Hunter walked the castle grounds every day to strengthen his legs. His muscles had deteriorated while he was stuck in bed, and he had to build them up again. For the first week or two, he had to use a cane to get around, and a servant was with him at all times in case he fell. His weakness made him feel sick inside. I'm not used to being at others' mercy, and I hate it. I've lasted by myself for the past fourteen years, and I think I can last a little longer. However, the healer insisted that he use the cane, and Hunter grudgingly accepted it. Hunter was happy when his leg was fully healed and he could walk with a second shadow following him around.

  Three months had passed since Hunter had been rescued by King Hugh. The bounty hunter had been honing his skills in anticipation of the hunt of ages that awaited him. One of the castle guards had been teaching him the fine art of sword fighting so that he would not be caught unawares if he ever had to participate in another duel. When King Hugh heard of the lessons, he had a custom sword commissioned for Hunter. It was forged of a dark grey metal that the ogres had found deep within their caves and was their main trade commodity. the metal, called luster, was known for its strength and lack of shine, so it wouldn't reflect light and give away the location of its owner. The hilt was made with luster as well, covered with thick leather that had been beaten in several rounds for maximum softness and comfort. The sword's sheath had a thin sheet of luster, with cotton insulation to soften the noise of drawing forth the sword and a dark green camouflage on the outside that matched Hunter's cloak.

  The sword had been finished a few days ago, and the bounty hunter had been getting used to his new weapon. For years, he had relied solely on his wits and skills of evasion, but he knew he would need more than that in order to track down the most elusive quarry in all of bounty hunter history.

  Hunter strode through down one of the castle's paths, heading for the open green where he had his daily practices with Jerrold, his instructor. His new sword hung at his side, tucked safely inside its sheathe. He had left his green cloak and his traditional tracking clothes in his room and had donned a trim outfit designed for fighting instead. He had grown to love the tough leather vest and the cargo pants perfect for carrying anything he might need, and he had already requested the outfit in camo green.

  "Hey, Green Hunter, sir!" Hunter sighed inwardly as a young teenager ran up next to him. "My name's Owyn!" the teenager said enthusiastically, holding out his hand for Hunter to shake. The bounty hunter ignored him and kept walking, but that didn't deter the lad in the least. "I've been watching you practice sword fighting with Jerrold for the last couple of weeks, and I gotta say, you're mighty good! I hope to be just like you when I grow up, swing my sword from side to side the same way you do!" Owyn mimed the sword-swinging and tripped off of the path, falling into one of the bushes, but he popped up again almost immediately. "I'm fine! No need to worry!"

  "Look, kid, you don't want to be like me-" Hunter tried to say, but Owyn cut him off.

  "Well, sure I do! You're everything I've ever dreamed of being! Smart, athletic, good-looking... You're probably swamped by girls wherever you go!"

  Hunter couldn't help himself, and he laughed at the youth's enthusiasm. The sudden burst merriment surprised him. He couldn't remember the last time he had laughed. The realization sobered him, and he turned serious once more. "I'm not a role model. Don't do anything I do. Trust me, following my lead will only end in trouble." He stalked down the path, hoping he wasn't late for his lesson with Jerrold and not caring what Owyn did next. Naturally, the teen trailed after his hero, but the bounty hunter didn't bother looking back.

  Hunter found Jerrold running through his poses in the open green where they practiced. "You're late." The swordsman lowered his weapon and gave his pupil a scathing look. "What did I tell you about being late?"

  "I apologize, Master," Hunter replied, gritting his teeth. This is all that teen's fault! I hate having to bend my knee to an ancient wall guard, no matter how skilled he might be! Lately, he was realizing that he hated a lot of things.

  "I assume you brought your little wolf for practice today?" Jerrold raised an eyebrow. "You're going to need to get used to him before you go out on your mission."

  Hunter gave a tight smile. "Of course I did." With one smooth motion, he drew out his sword from its sheath, and it slid out without a sound. All good swords needed a name, and he had chosen to dub his sword "Faolan," which meant "little wolf." It was his hope that Faolan would be as ferocious as the beast it was named after and pursue its enemies with no mercy. Plus, after naming the weapon, he had grown quite fond of it. It was like his partner-in-crime. But partner-in-justice.

  Jerrold rushed at him without warning. Hunter's arm rushed up, and he just managed to block the blow. "You're pretty fast for an old man, you know," Hunter said. He slipped under his opponent’s guard and sliced at Jerrold's back with Faolan's purposefully dulled blade.

  The guard ducked away gracefully. "And yet your enemies will be faster. Beat me, and you might just have a chance at beating them." He unleashed a frenzy of attacks, each carrying the threat of injury but not aimed at anything critical. Hunter knew that Jerrold could swing his sword as close as an inch away from him and yet still be able to stay the weapon before it actually hit Hunter, but he knew that a real enemy wouldn't do that, and he had to be on his guard.

  The bounty hunter dodged or blocked each attack, slowly backing up toward the edge of their little field. He knew his guard was wearing down, so he decided to take control of the situation. Instead of passively letting Jerrold press down on him, he went on the offensive, forcing his opponent to adjust his strategy. For several minutes, there was no time for any small talk other than occasional grunts or panting. Hunter stayed ready, watching for weaknesses in Jerrold's defense while keeping his own defense iron-tight.

  Finally, Hunter saw it. His opponent’s sword had strayed too high, leaving him vulnerable to Hunter's new favorite strike, one he had learned just a day or two prior. Snaking Faolan in a complex pattern, he hooked onto Jerrold's sword and flicked it away. Hunter brought his sword to his opponent’s neck. Even though Faolan was dulled for practice, it still brought forth a tiny trickle of blood. "I think that means I win.”

  Jerrold took a step back and gave a brief nod. “Yes, it does.” He retrieved his sword from where it lay in the dust. “It also means you’re ready for your mission.”

  Chapter 3

  Hunter saddled up his new horse, Nightmare. She had a frightening name, but he knew that she was actually one of the sweetest horses he had ever ridden. And one of the fastest, too. He needed to ride fast and hard if he wanted a chance at catching up to Maddox. The villain had received three months of time to prepare and hide himself away, so Hunter was going to have a treacherously hard time tracking him down. He had beat Jerrold several more times and had finally receive that camo-green outfit he had requested, and now he was ready to set out.

  At this point, his only plan was to ride out into Samyia until he found someone who knew Maddox, like an ex-bounty hunter. The one whose house he had helped to raid came to mind, but he doubted that particular ex-bounty hunter would have any fresh information.

  "I hope you know what you're doing," King Hugh said, watching Hunter's preparations anxiously. "You're our best lead here, and I'd hate to see something happen to you."

  Hunter gave a nod to Queen Violet, who was standing apart with Prince Ralph in her arms. "Just take care of your wife and son. I'll take care of the rest." he finished securing the saddle and his packs, then hoisted himself onto Nightmare, careful not to jab himself with the point of Faolan's sheath. He waved to King Hugh, Queen Violet, and Prince Ralph, glad to be leaving them in good graces, then gave Nightmare a quick tap with his heels and galloped out into Samyia.

  A week passed, and he was no closer to finding Maddox. All the towns he visited were devoid of bounty hunters, whether for hire or not. It seemed as if all bounty hunters had disappeared from existence. He had a hunch that Maddox had something to do with it, but he had not evidence, and no lead. Nothing. He was forced to spend his time waiting in taverns and inns, hoping that he would overhear a rumor, or a story that revealed where all the bounty hunters had gone.

  "Did you hear about those giant wolves down south?" one of the tavern patrons asked his friend.

  The friend nodded furiously. "Yeah, I heard that they're as big as horses and stalk the night looking for children to prey on!"

  "No, no, you've got it all wrong," said another customer. "They're as big as wagons and run freely through..." He lowered his voice. "...Darkwood."

  The three men all shivered at the name, and Hunter rolled his eyes. First of all, Darkwood is a myth, and second of all, there are much more important things to be discussing. Like the tyrant of bounty hunters that tried to kidnap the crown Prince not too long ago and is undoubtedly hatching his next evil plot as we speak.

  Nightmare's high-pitched whinny cut through the air. Trying to act nonchalant, Hunter stood and strode from the tavern. He turned the corner of the building and found a thief pulling at Nightmare's bridle, trying to get her to move. He crossed his arms. "You picked the wrong horse, thief."

  Startled, the thief jumped back and turned to run, but Hunter grabbed him by the shirt. An oddly expensive shirt. Layered with a vest loaded with several daggers and knives. "Who are you, and what do you want with my horse?" Hunter demanded. Thank you, King Hugh, for giving me a horse so loyal that she'll stay put even if someone unties her!

  The thief shook his head quickly, refusing to speak.

  "Are you a bounty hunter?"

  He hesitated, then shook his head again.

  "Hunter, he's one of us."

  Hunter knew that voice. He turned toward the speaker, already unsheathing Faolan. "Laura," he hissed. "Last time we met, you captured me and let your boss almost kill me. Not exactly the friendliest of circumstances."

  Laura put a hand on her hip. "True, but times have changed." Her five bodyguards glared at Hunter, one going as far as to unsheathe his sword. Laura heard the scrape and twisted to give him her own glare. "I told you already, he’s on our side! We're not going to fight him!"

  Hunter kept Faolan at the ready, just in case. "Since when was I on 'your side?' And what's been going on? I can't find a single bounty hunter anywhere!"

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  Laura sighed. "Just get on the horse and follow me. I've got something I need to show you."

  Hunter reluctantly sheathed Faolan and mounted Nightmare. I sure hope this isn't a trap... She's got me outnumbered seven to one, and I doubt even I could beat those odds. With that cheering thought, he gently steered Nightmare after Laura and her cronies.

  Chapter 4

  "And here we are!" Laura announced as the little group came into a bustling camp site. "Welcome to the Rogue Hunters' camp! Very few have seen this place an lived to tell the tale, so count yourself lucky!"

  The clearing was a bustle of activity. From what Hunter could tell, every single person running around and doing chores was a bounty hunter. But this wasn't the way of the bounty hunters. Living together, sharing everything, working as a team... That's not what they did. Bounty hunters were supposed to be solitary people. They were supposed to work alone. Hunter found himself getting more and more confused. "Laura, what on earth is going on? I thought you worked for Maddox? Who are all these people?"

  Laura motioned for him to follow her. "We can talk in my office. Don't worry, you can leave the horse here. We won't bother it."

  Hunter dismounted and looped Nightmare's reins around a branch on one of the trees bordering the campsite. He trailed after his former co-worker, desperate to be clued in about what on Terra had happened while he was gone.

  The duo went into Laura's office, which was actually just a large tent. The inside was clean and well-furnished, however, and there were two comfy chairs for Hunter and Laura to settle into. Laura picked up a teacup from the small table in between them and took a sip. "Alright. I hope you're prepared, because there's a lot that's happened while you were gone." She set her teacup down with a clink. "Not long after you and Maddox had your duel and he left you for dead, Maddox decided to take over all of the bounty hunters in Samyia. He declared himself our leader and... got rid of... anyone who objected to it. I didn't like what he was doing, and I knew a few other hunters that agreed with me, so we snuck out in the dead of night. We stole a few horses and galloped away, and that was it. But Maddox didn't stop until he had every bounty hunter under his control. We managed to save a good amount of hunters that wanted to stay free, but the rest of them are in Maddox's army. We formed the Rogue Hunters, and we hide out here, hoping to stay out of sight. If Maddox ever knew we were here, he would bring the full might of his army after us. Now, how about you? Were you captured by King Hugh? How did you escape?"

  Hunter gave a grim smile. "I didn't have to. We struck a deal." And he proceeded to tell Laura everything that had happened, from being rescued by King Hugh, to resting in the castle, to sword lessons with Jerrold.

  "Well, you've certainly been up to a lot!" Laura became thoughtful. "By any chance, do you think us Rogue Hunters could get in on this deal? We all want to get rid of Maddox, and most of us are done with being bounty hunters anyway and are ready to settle down for good. Make an honest living. That sort of thing. If we're going to find Maddox, though, we'd need to work fast. Once he hears you're still alive, he'll come after you in an instant."

  "I don't know if King Hugh will pardon you guys, but I'd say it's worth a shot." A grin slowly spread across Hunter's face. "And don't worry, I've got a plan."

  Hunter banged the nail a few more times with the hammer, thoroughly anchoring the paper onto the wooden beam. The paper was a message to Maddox, telling him to come to a certain location and time for a re-match duel. At this moment, Rogue Hunters were riding all over Samyia, putting up papers just like it at every town. The time was specially picked so that Maddox would have about a week to get to the dueling location. Please let this plan work... Hunter felt like crossing his fingers, but he wasn't one for luck, and besides, crossing his fingers might actually jinx the duel. I'm not unprepared this time, and neither is Maddox, but only one of us has Faolan. I'm hoping that my months - well, month and a half - of training will pay off, but I'm betting my life on the assumption that Maddox isn't as good as I am. He shivered. Only one way to find out.

  Chapter 5

  One week later, Hunter sat in the middle of a large clearing, his legs crossed and Faolan resting on his lap. It was almost time for his duel with Maddox, and he was struggling to keep his calm. He had to be in top form for that fateful fight, and yet doubts kept threatening to overwhelm him. He took a deep breath. I've got this. He took another breath. I've trained long and hard for this. One last breath. Then he was ready.

  Maddox chose that moment to make his appearance. He strode out of the surrounding forest as arrogant as ever, his cloak flapping in the subtle breeze. The message had stated that the duel would be fought with swords, and he came properly prepared with a long silver sword. "We meet again, Hunter," Maddox said. He unclasped his cloak with a flourish and dropped it to the ground, where it lay in a dark pile. "Shall we begin?"

  Hunter stood, Faolan in one hand. His own dark green cloak was in a safe place, and he wore his camo green combat outfit in full view today. "Why not?" He rushed forward to strike the first blow. Maddox was ready for him. Their swords clashed together. Hunter pressed down with Faolan, testing his enemy's strength. But Maddox was too smart to allow his limits to be known and slipped away. Hunter whirled around, tracking his enemy and always staying on his toes. He and Maddox paced around each other like two tigers sizing each other up.

  Once again, Hunter made the first move. He pushed forward, faking a slice to the left but then going for the right instead. Maddox looked like he was going to fall for it, but he twisted his sword at the last second and hit Faolan away with a loud clang. Maddox's desperate move put him off-balance. Hunter took advantage of his enemy's plight and snaked Faolan in his favorite move. Faolan caught on the cross guard of Maddox's sword. With a quick flick of his wrist, Hunter disarmed his enemy, sending Maddox's sword flying through the air.

  Faolan tickled Maddox's throat. "Surrender," Hunter ordered. "It's over."

  "Ah-ah-ah, not so fast!" Maddox seemed usually satisfied with himself for someone just been beaten in a duel for the second time. "I thought you might try to bring in some backup to stop me from doing anything 'dishonorable,' so I brought in some backup of my own. And I got some nice collateral while I as at it, too." He put two fingers in his mouth and let out a piercing whistle. Two large men in bulky armor emerged from the forest, holding someone in between them. Their captive struggled, nearly getting away, but the men tightened their hold and dragged the person forward, out of the shadows. A stray sunbeam streamed through the trees, alighting on the captive's face and revealing her identity.

  "Laura?!" Hunter spun back and glared at Maddox. "Tell your men to let her go or you die, right here and right now."

  Maddox smiled patronizingly. "If only it were that simple. If you so much as scratch my skin, then there goes your precious little friend. My men have orders to kill her instantly if anything happens." He drew a finger across his neck, which was ironic considering that Faolan was still pressed against his throat. "Here are the terms. I'll be taking Laura with me. You have two days to come to a certain location and surrender in front of all of my forces. Fail to appear, and Laura kicks the bucket. Got it?"

  Hunter stared numbly as Maddox handed him a piece of paper with a name scribbled down on it, and the bounty hunter accepted it mindlessly. Hunter's mind was scrambling, desperately trying to find some way to get out of the terrible situation he found himself in. But he found none. If he wanted to save Laura, then he'd have to surrender himself to Maddox's will, no matter what could happen to him.

  "Toodle-oo, then. See you in two days!" Maddox gave an arrogant little wave, grabbed his sword from where it lay, and slipped off into the forest with his two men and their captive, leaving Hunter crushed. The bounty hunter sank to his knees, staring at the ground. He'd won the duel, but he'd lost the battle.

  "I was foolish to bring him here!" Hunter banged the ground with one fist. "I should've known he'd pull something."

  "But you did know. That's why you had us standing by, right?" Coulson, one of Hunter's old buddies and second-in-command of the Rogue Hunters, came out of his hiding spot and put a hand on Hunter's shoulder. "You did everything you could, Boss- Er, Hunter. You can't kick yourself up about it. You need a plan, and we can help you."

  The rest of the Rogue Hunters trailed out of the forest, where they had been lying in wait just in case Maddox acted dishonorably. Turns out he had, but they couldn't do anything about it. "We'll help you!" one Rogue stated enthusiastically. "Whatever you need, we'll get it for you!"

  "Yeah!" the other Rogues agreed.

  "We're here for you!"

  "Whatever you need!"

  "We can help brainstorm ideas!"

  "Together ‘til the end!"

  The last call caught on, and the Rogues started chanting it. "Together ‘til the end! Together ‘til the end! Together ‘til the end!"

  Hunter motioned for them to quiet down, and they obeyed him. "I appreciate the intention, but I'm going in alone." His voice hardened. "The best way to help me would've been to ensure Laura's safety. She's your leader, for goodness' sake!" The Rogues shuffled their feet and stared at the ground. Hunter pushed himself off of the ground and stood, Coulson just behind him and ready to support him like he had in the past. "Coulson and I will be discussing strategy tonight, to see if there is any possible way to get out of this. If not, then I will leave in the morning, and you will likely never see me again. Let's get back to camp."

  Chapter 6

  The journey back was desolate and quiet. All the Rogues were considering the ramifications of the duel's outcome, and Hunter was thinking up ways to wiggle out of his inevitable death at the hands of Maddox. But nothing he could think of had a chance to actually succeed.

  Back at camp, the Rogues preformed their daily duties as if nothing had happened, and Hunter went into Laura's office with Coulson. The pair discussed traps and plans for two hours, but nothing came of it. Eventually, the had to admit that there was no alternative. Maddox had Hunter as trapped as a criminal in a noose.

  Hunter moved to leave the tent, assuming their meeting was over, but Coulson cleared his throat purposefully. Hunter turned back. "Yes?"

  "If you're going to your demise, at least leave Faolan behind," Coulson suggested. "We can't risk such a fine sword to fall into the hands of our enemy. We could disguise one of our lower-quality swords with paint to look like Faolan for you to take with you, and by the time Maddox would realize he's been duped, he wouldn't be able to do a thing about it."

  Hunter sighed. "Yes, I suppose you're right." He took off Faolan and its sheath and gave the sword a sad look, then turned and put it, sheath and all, on the small table in front of Coulson. "Here you go. Use Faolan wisely when I'm gone. I'm going to bed." He pushed his way out of the tent.

  Coulson leaned forward to examine Faolan's fine craftsman's work, and he noticed a small white thing on the carpeted ground. Curious, he picked it up, and he realized that it was the piece of paper that Maddox had given to Hunter. Coulson briefly glanced at the words written on the paper and saw that it said "Druid's Hollow." But then he got ahold of his senses and knew he had to return the paper to Hunter, so the bounty hunter would know where he was going. But I'll remember Druid's Hollow... just in case.

  Hunter left the next morning, after he had packed up his things and enough rations for the journey ahead. His destination, Druid's Hollow, was on the edge of Samyia, near the ring of mountains that bordered the entire country, so he'd have to ride hard to make sure he made it in time. Maddox hasn't specified when to arrive, so Hunter planned to arrive by tomorrow morning to make sure he covered all fronts. He double-checked that the saddlebags were secured, then he mounted Nightmare. Coulson handed him a short sword, which had been painted to have the same dark grey coloring as Faolan. Hunter took the sword and slipped it into the basic sheath he had picked from the armory earlier. "Farewell, Rogue Hunters," he said to the crowd of Rogues gathered around him and Nightmare. "It was a pleasure to meet you. Continue to stand against Maddox, no matter what it takes." He saluted them and then galloped into the forest. The wind tore a few tears from his eyes, but he ignored it. I'm definitely not crying. I haven't cried in fourteen years. So what if I'm riding to my death? As long as Laura is safe, it'll be fine. I've lived a wretched life anyway.

  That night, Hunter picked out a soft patch of grass as his spot to pitch camp for the night. He took off Nightmare's saddlebags, hitched her to a tree nearby, and fed her a handful of oats. Before retiring fully, he unsheathed his new sword and started practicing with it, just to get himself used to it. He found himself missing Faolan's familiar weight, and it felt weird to be wielding a different weapon. Hunter decided to name his new sword Bora, meaning "stranger," to reflect how he had become a stranger to the world, and his sword was a stranger to him. Plus, it sounded like "boring." (Naming things is fun, am I right?) Once Hunter had gotten used to Bora, he lay down in the grass, keeping his new sword close to him just in case of danger, and fell fast asleep.

  Chapter 7

  Hunter reached Druid's Hollow at mid-morning the next day. The cozy oak forest gave way to a grassy clearing, which sloped down toward the middle like a huge bowl. Nine large columns, each made of a different material, lined the edge of Druid's Hollow. The was a column of glass, one of iron, and even one of seashells, just to name a few. Hunter couldn't see a pattern to the materials and it just seemed like nonsense to him. And yet there was a graceful beauty to Druid's Hollow.

  But that beauty was marred by the large crowd of people that invaded it. They trampled over the soft grass and their horses splashed muck onto the columns as they trod by them. Maddox was lounging in an exquisitely carved wooden throne, positioned in front of the center column, the one made of seashells. The people in the clearing - Maddox's army of bounty hunters, most likely - steered clear of their leader, giving him a wide berth.

  Hunter tugged on Nightmare's reins gently and brought her to a halt just outside of the ring of columns. Maddox noticed him immediately. "Ah, Hunter, you're right on time! Why don't you join us? Feel free to dismount your lovely steed - None of us will harm it here." Reluctantly, Hunter slipped off of Nightmare. She had borne(?) him a long way, and he disliked being separated from such a loyal beast. One of the bounty hunters snatched Nightmare's reins from him and led the horse away, leaving Hunter feeling isolated and exposed.

  "Come to me, my beloved Hunter," Maddox commanded.

  Hunter did so, bending his knee before the tyrant and offering up Bora, the sword he never wanted.. "I have come to surrender to your will," Hunter stated. "In return, you will free the maiden called Laura."

  Maddox let out a hearty laugh, startling all who gathered in Druid's Hollow. There was an awkward pause, and then his minions joined in uncertainly, their laugher sounding thin and fake. After a long minute, Maddox finally composed himself and became serious once more. "I never said I would free Laura. Who are you to tell me what to do?"

  Hunter stood sharply, shaking with rage. The bounty hunters in Druid's Hollow shrank back, all too aware of what his anger could bring about. "The terms were that I would surrender, and you would let Laura go," Hunter said, his voice low and threatening. "Are you going back on your word?"

  Maddox smirked. "I can't go back on something I never said. I simply said that I would kill Laura if you didn't surrender. What remains to be seen is what happens to her after I kill you. That, my friend, is yet to be decided."

  "Then you'd better decide quick, or else you'll feel the point of my blade!" Hunter jabbed Bora in his enemy's direction to illustrate his point.

  "I have numerous guards. I doubt you'd get past even two..." Maddox's voice trailed off. He was usually so confident and sure of his words that it was strange to hear him falter. "That sword," he said finally. "It's not yours."

  "Of course it is!" Hunter said. "Why else would I be holding it?"

  "No, no, that's not what I mean." Maddox squinted at Bora. "That's not the sword you dueled with. Your dueling sword was one of the finest I've ever seen, so I assumed you'd bring it with you to fight your way out of this. That's what you always do, after all."

  Hunter threw his hands in the air. "Well, it's not what I'm doing this time. Just let Laura got, and you can do whatever you want to me. I honestly don't care anymore."

  An evil smile spread across Maddox's face. "You don't know how good it feels to hear you say that after all these months. To know I managed to bring the second-best bounty hunter to his knees... Now that brings me satisfaction!"

  "It's the last satisfaction you'll ever know, you monster!" Hunter jerked his head around at the sound of Laura's voice. He saw her burst out of the forest that surrounded Druid's Hollow, Faolan gleaming in her hands and the Rogue Hunters streaming out from behind her. "Together ‘til the end!" she yelled.

  "Together ‘til the end!" the Rogues echoed. They bore down on Maddox like a wave formed of steel and bravery. And what's more, as Hunter looked on in shock, a good number of Maddox's bounty hunters turned on their leader and joined the attack.

  Maddox let out an unmanly squeal of surprise and bolted. He scampered out of Druid's Hollow and jumped onto a nearby horse. "Unhitch it already!" he screamed at one of his bounty hunters. "Unhitch the horse!" The bounty hunter frantically untied the horse, fumbling all the while, and Maddox sped off into the forest.

  One of Maddox’s bounty hunters swung at Hunter, and he quickly came to his senses, using Bora to block the blow. He could tell the bounty hunter wasn’t particularly good with a sword, and he was able to quickly disarm his opponent. Another enemy came up behind him, but Laura stepped in to defend Hunter with Faolan.

  “I gotta say, having allies in your enemy’s ranks is very helpful!” she said as she easily batted away her opponent’s sword. “Do you want to swap weapons?”

  "Absolutely!" Hunter gave her Bora, and in return, he regained his beloved sword. "I'll go after Maddox. You guys deal with his bounty hunters."

  "Be careful!" Laura called after him, but he was too busy sprinting to the edge of Druid's Hollow and mounting Nightmare. Thankfully, the horse had yet to be tied to anything. He gave her a sharp tap with his heels, and the race was on.

  Maddox had a bit of a head start, but it wasn't enough to keep him ahead of Nightmare. The pitch-black horse galloped through the forest at a frightening speed. Wait, is she named Nightmare because she can go scary fast? Hunter briefly wondered, but he had to put that thought on hold for another time and duck to avoid a low-hanging branch. Better watch out for more of those! He leaned forward and hugged Nightmare closely to avoid getting ripped from the saddle by a second branch.

  It wasn't hard for Hunter to follow Maddox, as the villain's horse was crashing loudly through the trees. Nightmare threaded the leafy obstacles of the forest easily, so he didn't have to worry about navigating the bushes, streams, and oak trees. But Hunter had enough on his plate just trying to stay on his horse. It seemed as if every single branch was perfectly positioned to whack him in one way or another. He was covered in bruises and scrapes, and he had twigs stuck in his hair. And yet he kept going. I'm not going to let some measly plants get in the way of enforcing justice - both for my father, and for King Hugh. He would never admit it, but he actually kind of liked the royal. And he had a contract to fulfill.

  Maddox looked over his shoulder. He saw Hunter, his face ablaze with righteous anger, riding a black horse that slipped through the forest as easily as water down a river, and he was absolutely terrified. He kicked his steed viciously again and again, but it didn't run any faster. "Come on, you stubborn beast!" Maddox was frantic now. He could see that he would never be able to outrun his pursuer. Nightmare was one of the fastest horses alive. In one last desperate move, Maddox jumped off of his horse, hitting the ground hard and rolling a few more feet. His horse galloped on without him, happy to be free from such a cruel master.

  Maddox hid behind a tree. He paused. All he heard was silence and the faint hoofbeats of his horse in the distance. He let out a breath. Then he felt cold metal against his neck.

  "Maddox, you are under arrest in the name of King Hugh and all of Samyia."

  "And I suppose this means you win?" Maddox said with a sigh.

  Hunter allowed himself a rare smile. "I could've put it better myself."

  Epilogue

  King Hugh pardoned all of the Rogues, including all of the bounty hunters that had turned against Maddox in the final battle. He awarded the rest of the bounty hunters long prison sentences. Maddox himself was granted a life sentence and restricted to the most secure prison in all of Samyia.

  Hunter decided to get his act together and proposed to Laura before a week had passed. She accepted, of course, and the couple was soon happily married. Owyn was proud to be the ring bearer, and Hunter chose Coulson as his best man. All of the Rogues were in attendance, and there were loud cheers when the couple kissed.

  After the wedding, most of the Rogues disappeared into the far corners of Samyia, eager to settle down as honorable, law-abiding citizens. But there were a few that wanted to remain in King Hugh's service. Their sneaking and spying talents wouldn’t be useful as normal soldiers, so the King created a special squadron just for them: The Green Wolves. They were led by Hunter, with Owyn as his apprentice. The Green Wolves wore dark green cloaks for camouflage and to honor Hunter’s father.

  Hugh was happy to be honoring his father’s memory, Laura was happy to have an honest living and an amazing – if sometimes serious – husband, Owyn was happy to be apprenticed to the hero of his dreams, Coulson was happy to finally settle down, and King Hugh was happy to have a squadron of loyal and skilled ex-bounty hunters. In other words, they all lived happily ever after.

  The End