CHAPTER 10

The woods groaned in protest as Catherin walked down the flight of stairs. She had not taken the elevator, for fear of being killed once the door slid open. Walking down the stairs was the warning she needed to take. She had seen men and women alike, slain without cause because they wanted the luxury of the elevator. 

She took the bend down the hallway and continued towards the backside of the motel. There were at least five hunters in this motel, and if she was not mistaken, she thought she saw Austin, leading his pack into the wild. The man was a fool and a disappointment for a hunter. Having shown him the way and how best to make cool cash without getting caught, Austin had deserted her, and had started his own hunt. He had bitten the fingers that fed him and had spat on her face. And now he was here too, parading himself as a champion. How could he possibly survive in this game of chess?

Catherin adjusted her Airbag when she came close to the white wall. The shadows in this path of the motel made the wall invincible and if one does not look carefully, one will not see the small leverage, engraved on the right side of the tiled wall. This was the place of meeting or the place they had decided to hide, whenever the authority was on their heels. It was what some of them termed the hole, a confined space to keep them safe. The motel was also a preliminary foreground to discuss the fate of their kingdom. The battle has been intense and they needed more warriors to sustain the troupe. Five years ago, they would have stood a chance, but now…they were losing. And if adequate care was not taken, they might lose themselves to the Flea.

She had her gloves on, but that didn’t prevent the cold from traveling into her body from the tiles. The wall depressed as she applied a slight pressure and shifted to the side. It slid back almost immediately as she walked into the room and towards the people in the room.

If the lights were not motioning the shadows, it would have been difficult to pick out anyone from the dark. The room was small and should be stuffy but for the vent on the ceiling. The message she had gotten earlier had not mandated any hunter to come with the ceremonial ash and brown shirt, with a transparent black jacket and black pants. Yet, everyone was in their uniform, looking straight and rough.

“You are late,” the dark-haired man said when Catherine walked towards the blue and white lights.

“Needed to make sure everyone was in bed. You haven’t changed once, Austin.” Catherin signed and took the empty seat.

Men and women spread through the little room. The smell of tobacco lingered in all directions, emanating from the two men that were playing idly with the snooker board. But for the dark-haired man, Catherine was not acquainted with the rest of the fellas that were muttering silently with some of the girls.

“And you too,” Austin laughed and shook hands with Catherine. “Hello folks, let's welcome the queen of the hunt, Catherine Moonstone.”

Heads turned in their direction. There were a few grumbles and applause which didn’t last long as the people went back to what they were doing, totally uninterested.

“That was intense,” Catherine gave him a weak smile. The man had grown muscles and had left two buttons off his shirt, probably to impress some of the girls.

“Need something to drink?”

“I am fine, Austin. What’s the occasion? We should be in bed right now, tomorrow will be a long day.”

“Same old Catherine” Austin giggled and pointed to the empty chair. 

Catherine took the seat and crossed her legs. She had not taken off her boots and it was beginning to pinch. But she endured it. This was the only time she would wear them. There would be no time for such luxury when they get back to Arthesia.

Austin gulped the content of his cup before smashing the glass on the marble floor. That seems to do the trick, killing the noise and buying the people’s attention. He cleared his throat afterwards and stood on the table, ready to address his fellow hunters. Catherine wanted to argue with him, to tell him to sit down while those that were much older in the hunt speak. But the undivided attention that the people gave him, made her think twice. His charisma was admirable and she wouldn’t want to make a fool of herself, since she didn’t know how much support she might have if she raised the issue.

“It was a simple mission. To get a warrior that would defend the gate.” Austin said and stamped his feet on the table, “Who got the garrison on our heel?”

Eyes and neck turned towards sitting on the counter and staring widely into the distance as if he wanted to be anywhere in the world than there. His complexion was too light for an Arthesian. He must be from Vandesia. Those Wetlanders know little about the Flay and the gate. Perhaps, that was the reason why he had been careless in his dealings and had alerted the Garrison of Bel Haven.

“Bloody, Wetlander.” Someone cursed, but Austin was smart enough to wave him down before the room could burst into an uproar. That way he would maintain order and also keep the attention to himself. 

He really has leadership qualities. Catherine rubbed her gloved hands with envy. She had been on the hunt since she was seven, and now she was in her early forties. Yet, she could not muster such unique qualities that Austin was pulling together. It made her believe the old saying, ‘even fools grow old too.

“How could you?” Austin asked and pointed accusingly.

The white lights hanging on the ceiling were dancing in the eyes of the pale skin man, who was standing now and hugging himself as if cold. It was as if he was going to break down in tears and staring at him should have driven a level of sympathy into Catherine’s stomach, but it didn’t and like the rest of the hunters, she just sat there, watching and waiting for the verdict to be passed.

“It was an accident, please.” The man begged, “I didn’t mean to. It was an accident” but it was too late. Some hunters had grabbed him and were dragging him to the door at the back. Only Austin knows what they were going to do with him afterwards.

“That should serve as a lesson to anyone who tries to betray their hunting oath,” Turning Catherine he said, “You have not registered your catch yet.”

And I have no intention to do that. Catherine wanted to say but bite back the anger. Austin should think twice before he speaks. They were in the midst of other hunters and she wouldn’t hide her resentment if the man forced her to. Besides, registration of hunts was made by the officials of Arthesia and not by a pun who had forced his way to the top.

“What’s the need for registration if they were going to die? Are you going to send flowers to their family?”

A sharp light flashed in Austin’s eyes and was gone the moment he blinked. The skin under his jaw was twitching now, a demonstration of his disappointment. He had expected something different and Catherine was glad that she had dented his ego.

“The gate will fall if we don’t get people back as soon as possible. That’s the reason for the hunt and that’s why we have been sent to hunt people. We are fishers of men, born to serve and restore glory to our homeland…”

Austin’s voice faded in Catherine’s ears as she looked the other way, towards the door where the pale skin man had disappeared. Was that the torment room and the questionnaire? Catherine shook her head. Brooding over the boy’s actions would only leave her doing things she wasn’t supposed to do. Besides, this was hunter’s business and how they run their individual lives was not her concern. All she wanted was for them to keep off. Austin should know his turf and not step on her toes. She was a viper, and a dangerous one.

“How many more are we going to send to the capital?”

The question brought back Catherine’s wandering thoughts as she watched the girl, leaning on the shoulders of some boy with tattoos all over his face and arms. She had a ring on her nose, eyebrow and ear. On her neck too was an identical tattoo, to those of the boy.

“As many as possible,” Austin grunted.

“But that would take our effort and the effort of our children’s children. Fighting a war is one thing and winning is another. Both work hand-in-hand.”

“Please, what is your point,” Austin asked, and pursed his lips. He was not happy with the question, everyone in the room could read it from his expression. But the girl did not care. She kept a firm voice and her face was as stern as a white stone.

“My point is that we are losing,” She leaned away from her boyfriend’s shoulder and took a step forward. “For the past decade, we have been fighting a war with the Sun Flay. My mother used to tell me stories of how her father had fought and had died in the war himself. And so the father’s before them. What is the need of fighting this battle if there is no hope of survival?”

“You are a hunter, my dear. Stop talking like a fool.” Austin said and jumped down from the table. The girl was not happy with his reply, but like the rest of them, she only gnashed her teeth and said nothing.

Austin walked towards her, groaning like a wounded dog. For one who always has people in agreement with everything he says, tonight was not his night, and he was trying not to admit it.

“We are hunters,” He repeated, “And that means, you should do what you are paid to do. Hunt warriors and submit them to the council. Whether they win the Flay or the Flay wins, should not be your problem. You get that?”

The girl’s frown deepened but she did not look away from the dangerous glare that Austin shot in her direction. His knuckles were also tightened—not that she was going to risk hitting her superior—but she seemed ready for anything.

“Gen,” Her boyfriend patted her shoulders. She took a long deep breath and looked away before letting the tattooed by lead her out of the hall.