Kiera thought Kurt was unlike Vicksburg in every way imaginable. Unlike Vicksburg, Kurt was situated west of the kingdom's capital. It was a bustling town full of merchants and farmers. The biggest difference between the two was that there were no scantily clad women out on the streets calling out to every man that passed by. There were no houses that emitted strange scents and even stranger noises.
Kiera and Sam first gathered as much information as they could from the most crowded places on the streets of Kurt, then they set their sights on the different stores along Kurt's main street. Finally, they entered one of the inns and were greeted enthusiastically by the innkeeper.
"Welcome, sir! Are you and your wife looking for a room to stay in tonight?" He spared Kiera not a single glance and only talked to Sam. She didn't mind the disrespectful attitude from the man, as she was content to watch the prince.
As they went around Kurt, he skillfully asked questions in a manner that did not arouse suspicion. She was fascinated by him as he persuaded the townspeople to talk to him. His smile alone would put people's hearts at ease, but his smile and his friendly way of speaking gave people the impression that he could do no harm.
"My wife and I were planning on staying in Kurt for another day," Kiera had heard him refer to her as his wife many times now as they went through Kurt searching for any key information, but the term still sent a tingling sensation throughout her body. "There was someone outside that said there was some sort of an animal or something like that loose within Kurt. Is that true?"
"Who was the fellow that told you that?" The innkeeper looked angry as he thumped his fist against the table nearest him. "Was it the damn merchant's son? You can't take the word of such a young boy sir, he is known to exaggerate things."
The innkeeper was trembling with rage as he insulted the young merchant's son. Kiera felt somewhat sorry for the unknown boy, to be condemned by such a scary-faced older man such as the innkeeper.
"The merchant's son?" The prince asked with one eyebrow raised.
The innkeeper waved off the question. "Not so long ago, a widowed merchant and his young boy recently moved to town. His son quickly became this town's local big mouth, always getting into trouble with that imagination of his. He's got the mayor and some families going around and asking for mercenaries to help kill the damn beast. They even sent out a letter to the region's lord, calling it a devil because it ripped apart some old farmer's cow." The innkeeper scoffed at the absurdity of it all as Kiera lifted her face at the mention of a beast.
Sam caught the look she sent him and nodded his head as if he understood.
"Where can we find this boy?"
The innkeeper looked between the two. His face changed.
"Wait a minute. Are you the people the lord sent to help?" Sam neither confirmed nor denied the innkeeper's theories, but it didn't matter as the innkeeper had his mind set on their true identities.
"I didn't think the lord would send his people out here. Especially a woman." The man finally looked at Kiera, as if her presence was rare. "The merchant and his son live at the edge of town, nearest to the forest. If you take this street and turn right, continue going until you see the house. That's where they live."
"Thank you." Sam flipped a coin into the air and the innkeeper caught it in his hands. "For your silence," Sam told him and he nodded at the prince, his eyes on the golden coin in his hands.
Kiera followed Sam out of the inn.
"What are you thinking Kiera?" He turned to ask her as soon as they walked out, but she strode ahead without stopping.
"I think we should pay the merchant and his son a visit." She said over her shoulder, her eyes on the treeline just beyond the last line of houses. The prince had no choice but to follow behind.
A wooden two-story house stood out as it was the only one along the border where the trees weren't cut down by the town's development. It was a newer house, built on top of a freshly cut-down area. The grass hadn't begun to grow back on the ground yet from when the builders first constructed the house.
Kiera was walking towards the front door of the house when she was stopped by the prince.
"Wait Kiera." She looked down at his hand that was on her arm. The prince took back his hand right away, but not before leaving behind a strange sensation where his hand was on her.
"I should be the one to talk to the merchant. You stay outside."
Kiera immediately opened her mouth to protest.
"Kiera, this is the only person that seems to know more about the recent animal attack. I'm going to pose as one of the local lord's people, but I can't even begin to come up with a plausible excuse as to why a woman is with me. You will have to stay outside as I talk with the merchant and his son."
"I can't do that Your Highness." She shook her head. "What if you need my help?"
"Then I'll call for you. Beasts have really good hearing no? You'll be able to hear me if I call out your name." He smiled at her, "Besides, I doubt the merchant will attack me. Even if he did, I do have the ability to at least defend myself Kiera." He motioned to the sword strapped to his side underneath his cloak.
She stared at him for another moment before she finally gave in. She sighed but nodded her head at him.
"Fine. Make it quick. If you don't come back after a while, I will go inside after you."
The prince must have interpreted her words as concern for her, for he lifted up his hand and brushed his fingers across her cheek.
She flinched away from his burning touch, glaring at him.
"I'll be back. Wait for me Kiera."
He turned his back to Kiera, she was struck by a feeling of loneliness that was washing over her as she watched him walk away.
The Beast General shook herself mentally from those thoughts. Then she looked around for a place she could hide as she waited for the prince outside. Her eyes landed on the wooden building next to the house. It appeared to be the merchant's shop.
Kiera rounded around the building, coming behind the workshop. It was then that she smelled something in the air.
She lifted her hood away from her face and sniffed the air. After a second time, there was not a doubt inside her mind. She was smelling the scent of blood.
Kiera's head snapped to the left when she heard the scuffling sounds of a person. Her eyes went to the wooden crates on the side of the workshop. Her ears picked up the noise of a child's heavy breathing.
She neared the crates and the child's breathing got heavier. Kiera looked behind the crates at a boy hiding behind the crates.
"P-please don't hurt me! I-I don't taste any good I promise!" The boy was older than she had imagined, his clothes were wrinkled and his straw-colored hair was in a mess. He shivered as he stared up at the Beast General. His arms were up protectively around his face.
Kiera slowly crouched low to the ground. "I won't hurt you boy." She reached out her hand towards him. "Come on out."
The boy quickly shook his head and Kiera saw the terrified look on his face.
"I-I can't. It's s-still here. Waiting for me. I-I can't." He stuttered helplessly. His small frame shivering uncontrollably.
"What is here?" She asked but the boy refused to say any more. He instead crawled further back into the crates. Kiera shook her head, it was apparent the boy would no longer speak to her. He looked to be in complete shock.
She stood up, stretching up to her full height. She shook the cloak off her shoulders, revealing her beige dress. On her waist, was a leather belt with her sword holstered to it.
"Stay here kid." She called out, hoping her voice reached the young boy's ears. "No matter what you may hear, do not leave this area."
She stepped away from her cloak on the ground, stepping carefully away from the building. The General was now on full alert. Her nose led her feet in the direction of the overpowering smell of blood.
Kiera reached down and slowly pulled her sword from her sheath. As she approached the trees behind the workshop, she looked once more at the house next to the workshop. Kiera's thoughts went to the prince.
She thought about going back and telling the prince about the scent of blood and the boy hiding behind the crates, but she knew Sam would only insist on coming along with her if she went into the forest. Kiera was tasked by her King to protect the Third Prince, and she would be damned if she let anything happen to him.
She looked back to the line of trees. Her mind has been made up.
The Beast General stepped in, breaking through the first line of trees.