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Hunting Competition

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Synopsis

Chapter 1 - The Hunt

"I am glad to hear you are finally starting to return to society, though I am a bit surprised to hear you're going to a hunting competition." His mother commented over dinner.

"What are you talking about? Why would I go to a hunting competition?"

"Well, I'm not sure but it was all anyone wanted to ask me about at the tea party today and as you didn't mention anything to me, I had no answers to give. I must say I felt quite blindsided."

"I have not accepted any invitations, least of all one involving hunting," Ravi'en said with disdain. 

"But… the Calumes swore they had received a response that you would be attending"

"Either they are lying to stir up drama or someone forged the document to try and force my hand. I'll look into it," he said irritated. He wished everyone would just leave him alone, but the more time went by the more the family council began to push him, and the more rumors spread of his dark and twisted nature in both body and soul. And he couldn't help but agree.

However, after a week of investigation, his aid had come up with Zero leads, the family denied having sent any letters on his behalf and the Calumes' seemed to truly believe he'd be going and had a formal acceptance letter with his personal seal and what appeared to be a passing resemblance to his signature on the bottom of the short (to the point of being rude) reply to the invitation. Whoever it was must know him well or be a professional in forgeries, and although the short letter somewhat resembled his penmanship and accurately depicted how tersely he would have replied, had he bothered to reply and actually wanted to attend, it gave no indication of what the person's goal was by sending this letter in his stead. Frustrated he decided he would go, not to the party itself but close enough to spy on it and see who had dared create this mess.

He dressed in the simple black uniform of his army, the only telltale sign it was him was that if his hood happened to fall back only one eye would be visible. However, with the hood, his whole face would be in shadow. The hooded cloaks his soldiers wore, were for protection from the elements and to aid in stealth, but they had earned them the nickname "The Reapers" due to their reputation for bringing death and their apparently, intimidating appearance.

Not wanting to draw attention to himself he brought just one trusted guard, also in the simple uniform of a lower common rank. Gilbert was his most trusted guard and the only friend he had left. They rode together on horseback rather than take a carriage as most nobles would but Gilbert didn't complain. He understood it was quicker and safer.

It took two and a half days to get there at a fast clip and instead of stopping by the manner, they circled around the edge of the forest the men would be using for the hunt and slipped in between the trees unseen. They navigated towards the edge of the forest where beyond the trees and dense foliage they could see a well-manicured lawn with tents and banquet tables set up all around.

It did not take long to discover the source of his current investigation. An imposter sat atop a dark brown stallion with a black mane and tail in the full dress uniform of a knight commander. The imposter sat alone a ways off from everyone else, much as he was apt to do. He crept closer to the edge of the forest making sure to stick to the shadows as he attempted to get a better look but the man was simply too far away, and to approach him, meant announcing his presence.

As he watched a young lady nervously approached and offered him a handkerchief... from several yards away. Apparently, ladies were as awkward around him as he was them, he'd spent so long at war followed by a full year of avoiding people like they had the plate that he didn't even know what he'd say to a woman if one approached him.

The imposter simply shook his head, and the girl quickly made her retreat in embarrassment. He couldn't help but think that had it really been him she would have likely run off in tears after he'd failed to find words and simply stared like an idiot.

A little while later a few of the upper-class noblemen approached him together and from the same awkward distance attempted to make conversation with his imposter, but it appeared little was said before they also retreated to where they'd been gathered before.

Whoever it was, they were actually doing a decent impersonation, and as such he could not guess at any political motivations for such a ruse other than the previously suspected Calums who would benefit from a larger turnout due to nobilities incessant curiosity. Though it could be someone trying to sully his honor by bringing in a pathetic hall or possibly even an assassination attempt meant to be framed on him. Whatever the case he wouldn't let whoever was involved, get away with it.

Satisfide there were no imeadiat fires to put out and preferring to stay in the shadows he retreated further into the woods and sat and ate lunch with Guilbert as they waited for the competition to start. Their plan was simple, once the impersonator charged into the woods, he would follow silently until no one else was around, and then confront him, and his guard would stay back and watch for his exit in case he failed to track the man down or corner him in private.

The bugle sounded and the horses took off, the brown horse with the mystery rider in the lead headed towards the woods at a full gallop. He barely slowed once he reached the tree line. His goal was obvious, he planned to be the first to make it into the deep woods; where the pray would flee to when they heard all the ruckus the rest of the nobles were making.

After a good hour of riding the man stopped for a moment then changed directions heading downwind and deeper into the forest at a slower pace moving silently. They had lost sight and sound of the other nobles half an hour ago or more. Since they weren't as reckless as to bound that fast through dense foliage or skilled enough to stick to the dear paths, the other nobles had been left far behind. The imposter had led himself to a perfectly secluded ambush spot where no one could hear him scream...

The man got off his horse, his feet silent on the forest floor as he weaved his way threw the trees; his gaze following something unseen with careful concentration. He leaped off his horse and followed just as silently as he neared the other man's horse he noticed it was smaller than expected; at least a full hand shorter than his own. Extra careful to not spook the horse and alert the man of his presence he crept silently after him.

He froze as the man drew his bowstring to his ear, knowing the hunter was stretching out his senses as far as possible, two spare arrows hung from his hand ready for a rapid reload. When the man's breath stopped the first arrow was released and the second arrow was pulled back before the first hit its mark. He released the second arrow in another direction right before the first arrow thunked. Then he waited a heartbeat with the third arrow loaded and drawn. The crash of a large body hit the ground and birds and small animals scattered in fright. The last arrow was released and the man started forward to fetch his prey.

Now that the man was moving again, he followed confident that his presence wouldn't be detected. He came upon the edge of a small clearing where a stream cut through. A watering hole. No wonder there was plenty of game in one place. Two dear lay dead, one to the right with an arrow threw its eye and the other on the other side of the bank who'd appeared to have sprinted just a little ways before collapsing the arrow piercing from behind its front shoulder threw its lungs and heart. It thrashed its antlers once when the man stood up, its eyes going wide but it had little fight left.

He figured the man would wait until it stopped struggling completely but instead, the man began to hum, or rather hum a little louder as he approached the downed beast, The song wasn't a cheerful tune but a soft and sad sound similar to a lullaby and the beast stilled as the man slowly bent down hands outstretched until they rested on the deers face, he stoked it and muttered "I'm sorry" before plunging the dagger threw its brain stem, it went limp instantly and the man apologized again with gutwrenching sincerity... Was he crying? The unexpected compassion had him frozen in shock.