The Huntsmen Read online

  With her dagger in hand she whipped around to face the large man before her and heard the children's voices, “Not a threat, helping, trust.” With a frown she looked at him, “Who are you and why are you hunting me?”

  Skidding to a halt, he held his hands up and shot a look back over his shoulder before facing her. "My name is Dierk and I'm here to help you, Princess," he said, not moving. "My friends and I were hired by the Queen to find you but we didn't like the way she lied. We knew you'd need protection seeing as the Royal Guard has been hot on your trail for the last ten miles. She's rather determined to have you back one way or the other and frankly, she prefers dead. We have somewhere we can hide you while we get the guard off your trail, but you need to put the blade down and come with me," he turned his head sharply and listened to a howl, "now."

  She hesitated and looked at him. “Snow,” she whispered. “It’s too dangerous to call me by that title here.” She didn’t want anyone hurt because of her. “How do I know you aren’t going to take me to her?” She wasn’t ready to face the Queen yet. She had to get stronger, needed to learn to use the blade given to her by the Spirit of the Forests before she faced the Queen.

  "If we were going to deliver you to the Queen I wouldn't have told you all that I had.” His eyes still searched through the trees and then cursed as another howl came floating on the air. "They’re having trouble containing the guard, Lady Snow.” Looking at her, he dropped his hands, "Either you believe me and come now or they’ll be on us and frankly I don’t have any desire to have my head on a pike for the Queen's pleasure."

  Snow nodded and moved to him, slipping her hand into his as she did. Her eyes widened as she felt a spark from their palms meeting, but she didn’t dwell on it. “Take us from here, Master Huntsman,” she whispered. “Since the Lost Ones are no longer talking to me I’m going to trust you,” she whispered.

  Lacing their fingers, he let out a low mournful howl before tilting his head. "This way," he told her. Heading due north, he moved quickly judging her fitness as they moved. Finding the hardened path he wanted, he got them down onto it and began to jog. "We can only stay on this for a short time and when we leave the path we need to take care not to disturb anything. We need any advantage we can gain before the guards find the path we have chosen."

  Nodding, she moved along with him. “I will move where you do,” she assured him. “Being with the Lost Ones, I have learned there are certain ways you can step,” she whispered softly. “Go, Master Huntsman, I am your shadow.”

  Squeezing her hand, he tugged her further along, his eyes searching until he found where he wanted. "Put your hand on my back for balance and stay one step behind me," he said, letting go. Getting a nod, he tipped his head for a moment and listened, just the sound of the breeze rustling the leaves could be heard. Frowning, he cursed softly before he began to move forward. Placing his feet with care, he braced his hands on the trees around them, "Small steps and walk heel to toe so we don't leave tracks."

  Snow nodded and moved along with him, she did as he had instructed and ensured that she only stepped where he stepped, moved where he moved. No words escaped her lips, even as she wanted to ask a million questions. She needed to know about him but she knew she couldn’t ask, not while they were fighting for their lives.

  Holding up a hand to her, Dierk looked around a moment before jumping down. Turning, he held up his hands and waved her close, his hands moving to her waist, he lifted her down. Winking, he smiled and took her hand in his to lead her through a path of wet leaves at a slow pace. Stopping only once, he looked behind them at a faint eerie sound. Lifting his chin, he let out a sound to match before he changed direction.

  She could hear the Lost Ones leading them through the swamps and hopefully leading the Queen's men away from them. When they paused again she whispered, “They don’t know who I am.” She hated that she couldn’t reveal herself, but it wasn’t time. “My father’s men, they think I died many moons past. I just hope they don’t take it too hard when they learn the truth.”

  "They’ll just be grateful you are well and safe, Princess," he murmured, guiding her to a stream. Listening for a time, he nodded, "We can rest here for a moment and then we’ll continue on.” Moving to a boulder, he pulled the pack off his back and dug out the skin of water, "It's a little warm but it’s better than leaving tracks too close to the stream.” Digging around, he pulled out a pouch, "Dried fruits and some dried meat if you want something to at least fill the void until we can get a proper meal."

  She accepted a drink from him and nodded. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I hope you’re right,” she told him gently. “I truly hope they’re able to forgive themselves when it all comes out.” She took another drink from the water skin he gave her. “How were you able to see through her ruse?” she asked quietly, eyeing him suspiciously.

  Snorting at that, Dierk pulled out a strip of meat and nibbled on the corner, "Not that hard really," he told her softly, "especially when the mask slips if you don't bow and scrape just the way she likes. She's not very good at keeping it in place at all times. Plus there were three of us there. Baldric and Niklaus, you'll meet them later, Baldric kept the Queen’s attention firmly on him while Nik and I made side comments to irritate and annoy. The fact we left with all our parts attached is actually the truly astonishing part of this tale. We'd been drinking earlier and really, we’re not all that smart in our choices of words when we don't drink let alone when we've imbibed a bit."

  She snorted and shook her head. “Sometimes only those that are highly inebriated can see through her. I know my father didn’t see through her until she was stabbing him with the intent to kill. I pray she failed but since I’ve never seen him since or heard word of him around the palace, she may not have.” She whispered, “And I was stupid enough that I didn’t see through her either. Not until she had me tossed into the dungeons.”

  Reaching out, he lightly touched her bent knee, "I’m sorry for the loss of your father. He was a good and kind, but firm king. He has been greatly missed since his passing. We will help you in any way we can, Princess. We’ll ensure the Queen is deposed and you’re rightfully put on the throne as you should be."

  She nodded and sighed. “Thank you,” she told him softly. “Dierk, I appreciate that a great deal,” she murmured, “I want that woman dead. I truly want her to face punishment for all that she’s done. She deserves to be judged by not only myself, but the people as well. She’s taken so very much from them and has to pay.”

  Nodding, he held out the satchel of snacks to her. "It's not very tasty but it is filling," he said with a shrug. "Though the dried berries are rather tasty," he added with a smile as he continued to nibble on a chunk of meat. "We'll take another few minutes and then we should get moving. At some point we need to cross this creek bed but I’m hoping there's a spot ahead with a downed tree or something that will provide us a path that won't reveal where we've gone."

  “Just don’t take shortcuts because of me. I can travel where you lead. I’ve spent my life preparing for this.” She looked down at the wedding dress and snorted. Lifting it, she shook her head. “The bitch was going to marry me to someone that could be my grandfather, but that wasn’t good enough. She planned to kill me before I made it to his home so she could have a reason to invade. It’d be the only way she could get my father’s men to invade another land,” she murmured softly. “So don’t take shortcuts because of me. I am not a pampered princess. I’m a woman on a path to avenge her father's death.”

  Eyeing her up and down, he nodded, "There won't be any shortcuts on this journey, Princess, but we’ll need to get you into something a little more suitable than that dress. Your movements may need to be fast and that will only weigh you down.” Grabbing his pack, he dug around inside, "Well, it won't be very ladylike or elegant but I have an extra pair of pants that we can tie at your waist and a shirt that should serve long enough for our journey."

  “I couldn’t agree mor
e. I need to be out of this horrid dress. I want to burn it,” she muttered. She accepted the pants from him, “Thank you.” When she touched him there was that small electric shock again. “What in the world?” she muttered. “Do you feel that as well?” she asked softly, her eyes turning to his once again, “The shock?”

  Nodding, slowly he stared at her. "Could be my personality," he murmured and smiled. "My friends tend to refer to me as the shocking one of the group. Never did think it was true but perhaps they’re onto something.” Digging out the shirt, he passed it to her as well noting the small charge that zipped from him to her and back.

  Her eyes were wide and she looked at him. Cocking her head to the side, she asked, “Are you telling me that you don’t feel that because if you don’t, I’m going to have to call you a fibber.”

  Blinking slowly, he smiled suddenly. "I love it," he grinned and chuckled softly. "Get changed while you can," he told her, turning so his back was to her. "The burning of the dress will have to wait though, Princess. We can't burn anything out here," he said over his shoulder.

  “You love what?” she asked and began to undo her dress, jerking and pulling it at as she did, not caring that it ripped. She pulled on the top he gave her and then shimmied out of the rest of the dress, cutting it from time to time as she did so. Finally, when she was able to, she pulled on the belt he gave her and said, “Alright, I’m dressed.”

  "I love being the one that's shocking and slightly too outspoken," he said, turning to face her again still chewing on his strip of dried meat. Pulling a leg up, he wrapped his arm around his leg to hold it in place. "Eat a little of the fruit if you can and we'll head out in another five minutes."

  She nodded, taking the fruit he had offered her and took a bite. Chewing slowly she watched him. “I need to get to my uncle’s castle. When they find that I’m alive.” She bit her lip and fought back the tears. “For too long they all believed I was dead. When they know I’m alive we’ll find a way to destroy her.”

  "We’ll get you to them as quickly as we can, but we also need to take great care. We'll take you to the cabin I mentioned and come up with a plan, as well as get you some clothes that fit. Baldric has a sister that’s about your size. I'll get him to run past her place to get something for you to wear," Dierk said softly.

  Taking a deep breath, Snow nodded. “Alright,” she murmured. “It’d be nice to have pants that would fit me,” she said with a grin and rolled up the bottoms of the pants so she wasn’t tripping over them. Munching on the fruit he gave her, she licked her lips, “Thank you for feeding me and saving me.”

  "It was the better of the two options I had," Dierk said softly. Pushing the last bit of the dried meat into his cheek, he smiled, "We should get going but first, we need to do something with that dress. We need to get it into my pack I think and then we have to start moving."

  “Why don’t we just leave it here?” she grumbled. “Then again, if we’re able to take it with us we’ll be able to burn it, right? I want to see the dress burn up into smoke. I hate that dress and all that it represents.”

  "We can't leave the dress, it’d be a clue as to where we'd been and possibly where we’re going. That would not do in the least, m'lady," he said with a smile, "and yes, with us taking it along you’ll have the pleasure of watching it burn and smolder into nothingness when we’re free to set a fire.” Getting up, he gathered the material and folded it down enough to press into the pack. Taking the satchel of dried goods from her, he tucked it away as well, "Have another bit of water and then we need to go," he passed off the skin of water.

  She took another drink from him and then another, swishing water around in her mouth as she did so. Spitting it out, she nodded. “I’m as ready as I’m going to get. Let’s get out of here and on the move before they pick up our trail again please.”

  Taking the skin, he tucked it away in the pack and then stood throwing it over his shoulders to secure it in place. Holding out a hand to her, he smiled at the little zing of energy that occurred at the contact with her skin. "Total silence again as we travel and remember, stay right in my footsteps."

  “Right, total silence, follow in your steps. I might have been locked away for the last dozen plus years but I know what you’re saying,” she said with a sigh. “I’m as ready as I can get. Let’s move so they can’t stop us before we’ve really started please.”

  Lifting his hand, he cupped her cheek gently. "We won't let anyone harm you, Princess, I promise," he said softly. Staring into her eyes for a time, he dropped his hand and rubbed her arm lightly, "Come, let's get you somewhere safe for a change shall we?" Turning, he looked around carefully before choosing a path through the forest.

  Safe would be marvelous. Safe would be something she hadn’t felt since her father was alive. Once more, when he gave her his back, she placed her hand on his lower back so she could move along with him, so she could be sure to step where he stepped and move where he moved.

  For hours they walked often changing directions or seemingly backtracking. When Dierk finally stopped to look around, he gave her a nod and guided her into the little clearing where the cottage stood well hidden by brush and trees. Taking her hand, he led her into the home and shut the door. On the outside it looked long abandoned, inside though, it was warm and homey.

  Snow looked around the small home and smiled, “It’s so clean, and warm. By the Gods it’s so warm.” She immediately moved to the carefully banked fire and lifted her hands. “I’ve been cold for so very long.” Cold, uncomfortable, seeking vengeance. Yep, that was her life for the last dozen plus years.

  "Well we're safe here for a while, Princess," he told her softly. "If you'd like, I'm sure we can even get you a bath to warm you up more. While you're doing that I'll warm some broth and if we're lucky, we might even have some fresh buns from the other night."

  “That sounds wonderful. If you have a place I can bathe it would be remarkable.” She had been fully bathed before being placed in that wretched gown, but she’d been bathed in the Queen’s water so she would smell like her, the atrocious bitch. “Then can we please burn that wretched gown?”

  "We can then burn the gown little pieces at a time," he smiled at her. Leading her to one of the back rooms, he pushed the door open to reveal the bathing area. "I'll start the hot water if you wanted to start throwing a bit of cold into it. We have a pump there you can use to fill it directly," he pointed out.

  “You’re killing me,” she teased, her smile proving it. “Little pieces at a time? I just want to rip it to shreds and shove the whole thing into the fire,” she muttered. “But we’ll do whatever you think is best. As for the water,” she forced calm into her voice when she whispered, “the hotter the better. I want that bitch’s stench off of my body.”

  "Well we don't have anything luxurious for you to use but there’s the soap from Bradric's sister, which may help a little or dig about in the basket there, that girl is always bringing things to the cabin in the hopes of civilizing us so some woman might one day want us," he rolled his eyes. "It'll be a little bit before the water's hot enough unless one of the others left a kettle on before we left yestermorn. Feel free to poke around and whatever else, you have my permission," he smiled at her.

  “Thank you. I think I will.” She moved away from the large man and began to look through the surprisingly large home. “How is it that this place is so big? It doesn’t look nearly this large from the outside.” Then again, from the outside it also looked rundown, like an abandoned cottage.

  "It's amazing what you can do when you have a hillside to build into," he smiled, moving toward the kitchen area. "Plus we were careful how we constructed it in case anyone were to ever to stumble upon it," Dierk lifted his voice a bit so she'd hear it no matter where she was in the cottage.

  “How interesting,” she murmured and moved back to Dierk. “I really do like your home. You did a great job in creating it. I think you men really took the cake when you did this,” she
murmured.

  "We tried our best," he chuckled softly. "We're still working on it. Likely we'll never finish, but then again we've got three more of them here and there throughout the woods. Technically it's one for each of us but we're closer than kin so we’re usually in one at any given time.” Looking up he smiled at her, "We should have hot water in about ten minutes. One of the lads had left the pot over the fire so I just topped it off and we'll get it going again nice and hot for you."

  “That will be wonderful. Thank you,” she smiled. “You’re being very kind to me. Thank you for that,” she murmured. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you for your kindness,” she added quietly. “It’s good that you’re all as close as you are.” She envied them their closeness. She had never been able to have anyone close to her, not since her father had left the kingdom and hadn’t come back for her.

  "Sure you will, Princess," he said with a knowing look. "Repay us that is. We'll help you get on the throne and you do right by your people, all your people, and that will be repayment enough," he told her quietly. "That's all we want, Snow, a better and happier life, one that we know you'll be able to create by overthrowing the Queen."

  “That’s what I want as well. I wish there was a way to find out about my father, but I’m afraid that after as long as he’s been gone, I may never know for sure,” she murmured. “I have a feeling that father is truly gone.” She hated that, so very much.

  Moving toward her, he touched her shoulders lightly, "I'm sorry, Snow, but the odds are not good that she left him alive, especially given how power hungry she is," he told her quietly. Rubbing his hands on her arms, he sighed softly, "If you’d like, once we have you to your uncle’s home, my friends and I will go and see if we can't find some trace of him. Or, at the very least, give you an answer one way or another of what occurred."