Munching on a cheese and meat breakfast pie, Talac strode across the cobblestones, headed for the not very secret door providing access to the outside world. He’d been woken from a deep slumber a few minutes ago, an invitation to hunt thrust into his hand by a bleary eyed messenger. Noting Alia’s signature he’d rushed to dress in a dark green tunic, black pants and boots.
There’d been a large basket full of wonderful smelling baked goods by the main door as he exited into the still grey air of dawn so he’d helped himself. The sky outside promising to be bright and clear eventually but for now coolness nipped at the air, a breeze causing the far off trees by the stream to sway ever so gently.
Talac had been provided few details other than a time and a location. Still, it came as a little bit of a surprise as he neared his destination to note the calibre of the hunting party. There was six of them huddled around Alia, all dressed appropriately in sombre colours, wearing crossbolts strapped to their backs, their expressions deadly serious.
Was this a joke? Not a one of the hunters, excepting Alia, was over three feet tall or above the age of six. Children? Ah, weren’t they adorable. Or perhaps not, as two shot Talac snotty looks of disdain for his tardiness, whilst a third gifted him with a sneer, directed at the breakfast pie he held in his hand. Hurriedly he shoved the last of it into his mouth, chomping down on it quickly.
Alia gave Talac a nod of greeting, blue eyes sparkling with amusement whilst six pairs of eyes remained fixed upon him full of suspicion and silent judgment. Tough crowd.
“Talac, meet Gordo, Leisha, Ilana, Piven, Cathie, and Mellie.” Alia handed him a crossbolt, a brace of bolts and a chest strap before glancing down at a dark headed girl beside her. “Leisha will be our hunt leader today. Do you have any instructions for us?”
Chest puffing out with obvious pride, Leisha addressed the group. “Stay within eyeline. Follow my signals. And…” The child shot a dark look Talac’s way. “… remain quiet. Cook is depending upon us, she needs at least ten hares for her stew. We will not let her down.”
Alia and Talac fell to the back of the group as they exited the Lair, hugging the shadows of the battlements before melting into the surrounding woods. The children all moving quickly and quietly. Talac feeling pressured to make an extra effort to follow their example, less he fall any further in their estimation.
Eventually they came to the edge of a lush dell, Leisha holding her fist up, signalling everyone to halt. Matching the hand signals to the actions that followed, Talac presumed she was instructing three of the children to sneak forward through the ferns and lay traps.
A few minutes later the children returned. Leisha then signalled the party into position, creating a large circle around the edges of the dell. Talac unholstered his crossbolt, following Alia’s example. Studying it for a quick moment, noting the slim bolts, perfect for hitting small game and not obliterating it. Holding it at the ready, he watched Leisha standing far off to his right raise one of her hands and slowly fold her fingers down. When the last one came down the children all yelled loudly, a nonsensical war cry. Birds squawked overhead and left their nests whilst ferns and fronds dipped and swayed as small woodland animals raced for shelter.
Talac tracked a nice big floppy eared hare, shooting it in the head, sending the body sprawling.
“Retrieve.” Leisha instructed as silence abruptly descended once more upon the woods.
Talac made his way forward into the dell, scooping up his prize, whilst the others did the same along with checking the traps.
“Seven.” Alia studied their results. “An excellent haul. Piven, you and Ilana carry them back to the Lair. Where to next?” Addressing Leisha.
“The stream with the rocks that look like a rooster. There are lots of burrows located nearby.”
Twenty minutes later they had six more hares. Alia congratulated the remaining children, requesting they carry the spoils back to the Lair, promising she would bring up the rear with Talac.
The children nodded solemnly, gathering their prizes and hurrying away. At the last moment Leisha winked Alia’s way, wishing her luck, before ducking away into the gloomy woods.
“I hesitate to ask what the wink was about?” Did the child think he and Alia required some alone time for a dalliance… not that he was averse to a dalliance, but having the blessing of a six year old made Talac feel rather uncomfortable.
“She thinks I’m going to kill you and dispose of the body.”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t take it personally.”
“It’s a little hard not to. What exactly am I supposed to have done to earn such treatment?”
“They’re just wary of strangers, and they don’t know how to define you. You’re not a suitor. And you’re clearly hale and hearty, so not on a pilgrimage, or seeking to stay at the Lair.”
“And you are notorious for killing and disposing of any man who doesn’t fit into either of those two categories?”
“Not as such. We get all sorts of tinkers, gypsies and travellers through here, selling and buying. We value their business. And as long as they stick to the marked roads, they’ll be safe.”
“Come now, no rumour starts without some kernel of truth at the core, who did you kill and leave in the woods to rot?” He was highly suspicious of the rare wide smile Alia sent his way.
“Only the last man who dogged my every step and demanded he be front and centre of my every waking hour.”
“You had a suitor of your own?” Talac almost stumbled but managed to step over the exposed root at the last second. “Wait. Do the children think I’m courting you?”
“Hah.” Her roughened merry laughter sent a few birds flying. “You should see your face. Be at peace. We both know why you’re so attentive… master spy. Don’t worry, I know you’re no suitor of mine.”
Well, why the hell not? Was his first thought. Alia was beautiful, smart, and solidly built enough that those curves would keep a man entertained for hours on end.
