Notes on Monster Hunting Page 3

  Warning: The largest wolf was more aggressive than anticipated. Its behavior was unnatural.

  Payment: Original contract - 100 gold coins. Renegotiations posthunt - 150 coins.

  Notes: The elders of Alvan were delighted with our help. They suggested raising the payment, as we normally stick with the original negotiation.

  Day 61

  We left just before noon. The injured rode in the carts and the more exhausted rode the horses. Skrale didn’t push the pace, but he was visibly excited from the news of all the new hunts.

  Tullinbran. An odd name for a kingdom. I haven’t heard of it before. But that’s what three years of walking away from home will do. Lots of new names and places. Skrale said the kingdom ran along the coast. That had to be far away, since we’re still walking through snowy roads.

  I’m happy to move again. Staying still for too long gets uncomfortable. Rux and Urny were both feeling better. They threw jokes out the back of the cart at anyone walking behind. Henli was the target of a few jokes from Rux, so Henli hurried past the cart and walked beside Kully.

  Skrale halted around dinner time. We spread out and formed camp near the road. A few travelers stopped and talked. They were mostly curious who we were. I guess some local armies had been moving in the area and they didn’t want to camp near soldiers. Skrale invited them to camp nearby and even join his squad for dinner. One of the groups of traders took his offer, and the others moved on. I understand the caution. Our company is mostly rough-looking men.

  Day 62

  Skrale gathered us as the sun rose. Four days until we cross the border from Korvin into Tullinbran. If the other hunters were right, there should be more than enough work for us. Soon we’ll also have sunshine and green fields.

  It’s going to be a wonderful spring.

  Cremn walked with me all morning. He usually walks or rides with the sergeants. We didn’t talk much, but it was nice having him around. Cremn and Palon joked and talked about what they wanted to cook for dinner. Cremn shared some dried apples with me.

  We were all happy to be moving on. A new land and the guarantee of work. It’s all very promising. I’m curious about the types of creatures we’ll see as we near the coast. I’ve never seen any sea creatures. It would be great to find some that aren’t causing a problem. Just to watch instead of hunt. I used to watch foxes back home through the window as they stalked through the yard looking for rabbits or squirrels. I loved seeing them all and they never knew I was watching.

  Day 66

  We’re in Tullinbran. It was an uneventful walk. Yesterday, just after noon, grass started to poke through the thinning snow. Ten days until spring. Back home, it would still be snowing late into spring. New kingdom, new weather. I’m looking forward to it.

  There wasn’t much at the border. A few soldiers asked who we were and Skrale gave him a bit of a prepared speech. They welcomed us and gave Skrale some directions to a village called Grendlehorn. The soldiers said it’s the nearest contract. An ornisect has been bothering the villagers for a long time. Luckily, ornisects like to settle down in one spot, so it hasn’t caused any issues after it found a nesting ground. Unfortunately, that spot is right in the middle of a farm, not too far from the village.

  I haven’t seen an ornisect in a long time. One of my first hunts, about three years ago, was for one. It was taken out quickly. They aren’t the most agile monsters. Just big, angry bugs.

  I’m curious about the cities in the area. Just to see what they look like. But I do prefer camping or staying in small villages. Cities are cramped and smell awful. It’s like living with Groose.

  The Tullinbran soldiers said it’s about another half day to Grendlehorn, so we traveled a bit more before we camped.

  “Rest up. Relax. We’ll have a long night, then a hike and a hunt tomorrow. We can spend tomorrow night in Grendlehorn after we take out the ornisect. Rux and Urny will sit out. No reason to risk your injuries at the moment. Heff and Lekk will take flanks. Fourth will take head. First gets rear.”

  Widdy loudly sighed. The back was the most dangerous part of an ornisect. They have tails like rabid snakes. But Widdy didn’t hold the front lines, so he complained for no reason. Orkin and Skrale were the ones that would fight the snake tail.

  Fourth gathered around our own fire. Other squads were playing grunle, but none of us were feeling competitive. And we were out of alcohol, which is an important part of the game.

  I made tea from dried jasmine and white tea leaves. Kully had a collection of teas. He usually liked to be the one to choose what we were going to drink, but he let me choose this time. The night was cool, but not frozen. With the fire and the tea, it was pleasant. We laid out furs and sat on the ground beside the fire. Groose fell asleep on Kully almost immediately. Kully never moved when that happened. And it happened often.

  Ralet and I shared a small pot of stew, while Palon and Cremn ate some salted garganalces with some potatoes. It was a quiet meal. Just the fire’s crackle and the crunch of snow from other squads walking about.

  “I’ll miss the snow,” said Cremn after we all finished eating. He grabbed a handful and squeezed it.

  “I won’t,” I said. “I’ve had enough snow for the rest of my life.”

  Cremn tossed the snow into the fire. It sizzled and vanished. “Just imagine how difficult it’ll be to get water for cooking now. You’ll have to walk all the way to a river just for a small pot of water.”

  “But we do that half the year anyway,” said Ralet. “Isn’t it the same as then?”

  Cremn shook his head. He kicked his feet out into the grass next to the fire. Groose yawned and curled into a ball. Kully finally stood and went to his tent. He came back with a pillow, which he put under Groose’s head. I handed him the last of my stew.

  “Thanks, Beatrice.”

  We all listened to the crackle of the fire and made more tea. Kully took charge this time. Something with rose. I didn’t see it all, but it tasted wonderful. Second squad started to get loud, which meant they were losing to Third. Too much drinking when you lose a game of grunle. Heff saw us looking over and waved. Cremn stuck his middle finger up and we went back to peacefully drinking our tea.

  “What’s the plan for tomorrow?” I asked.

  Cremn took a sip and sniffled. “We’re at the head. Don’t you listen to the captain?” He grinned.

  ‘But what’s the plan at the head?” I asked.

  “Palon’ll be our front man. Shield off any bites. Then we need two strikers. You want to be one?”

  I nodded.

  Cremn smiled and took another drink. “That’s what I like to hear. You can take the left, with me as your rotation. Ralet will take the right and have Groose to rotate. Why are you planning already?”

  “Just want to be ready, sir.”

  Cremn looked at me. He didn’t like being called sir.

  “It’s a good plan, sir,” said Palon.

  “Best plan, sir,” said Kully.

  Cremn stood and stretched down to his toes. He didn’t reach them. “I’m going to take a pee and find a new squad that doesn’t annoy me.” He walked out of the firelight. We could only hear his footsteps crunch in the thin snow.

  We moved to our tents a short time later. It will be an early day. Possibly a long day. I’m excited about it. Hunting an ornisect will bring back memories of my first year with the company. And it’ll give me an opportunity to show off for the sergeant and captain. Our squad has a corporal position open. I don’t intend to let Palon get it. I need new boots. The extra pay would really help.

  Day 67

  We started as the sun rose. The road wound through short hills, by groves and thawing ponds. We passed a village full of people working. Thatchers repairing roofs, masons filling holes in walls, and everybody else was moving and carrying something. Even the children were pulling carts and carrying stones. It was as if the village had reawoken with spring.

  The next village was less active. Stone huts
and only some farmers out working with their livestock. A nice old man waved to us while milking a cow. I loved the differences. Further north, it would still be too cold to be outside for more than a few moments. Down here people seem to ignore the snow and go about their daily routine.

  A scout ran to each village and asked what it was called. We were sure it wasn’t the one we needed, but checking never made things worse. The company continued its journey by. Some villagers waved, others stared, and some didn’t even notice us.

  Skrale stopped us at noon. We all ate lamb bought by Skrale, distributed by Oitter. The meal was brief, but filling. It was a much needed rest. Skrale reviewed the positioning plan as we started moving again. Then he checked with each sergeant to ensure they had a plan for individual positions. Skrale walked beside Cremn as he shared our rotation plan.

  Cremn sounded like a new recruit, nervous about speaking to the captain. It seemed out of character, but we all know how close the sergeants and Skrale really are. Cremn obliges and shares the detailed information just to reassure Skrale. I’m sure Skrale already knows his sergeants have plans long before he asks each time.

  Not long after getting back on the road, we ran into another village. Prenn rode out to the edge of the village and asked.

  He waved back and shouted, “Grendlehorn.”

  Prenn dismounted and introduced Skrale and the company as we all approached. A woman hanging clothes welcomed us and pointed Skrale in the direction of a job board beside a well in the middle of the village. Our arrival caused a bit of a commotion, so others came out and began talking to Skrale. We were ordered to wait near the edge of the village as Teke, Heff, Lekk, and Cremn joined Skrale in a conversation with a group of old men. I assumed they were the village elders.

  Groose pulled out a grunle card and waved it in front of me. “Want to see a magic trick?”

  Ralet sighed.

  “Go ahead,” I said. I’ve known Groose for years and I still never know what to expect.

  Groose moved the card between his hands. Nothing magic about it. Then he snapped and the card burst into flames.

  “Great,” said Ralet. “You wasted a card and some yax powder.”

  “Yax what?” Groose pulled out a new copy of the same card. “Is this what you were looking for?”

  “The old one had a dent on the corner, Groose,” I said.

  He shook his head. “It’s the same card.”

  “That’s real magic,” said Kully. He was behind me, leaning on the cart. “Groose, you might as well leave the company and start a new traveling act.”

  Groose nodded. “I’ll need an assistant. I figured I would have the best luck with Ralet.”

  “Me?” Ralet spit on the ground.

  “Well, Kully already said he wouldn’t do it. I figure you would be the best second choice.”

  “Great,” Ralet placed his hand on Groose’s shoulder. “You really know how to make me feel special.”

  “Grab your combat gear.” Cremn’s orders were loud enough that it sounded like he was directly beside me.

  We all dropped our camping supplies in piles beside the cart. A few people grabbed weapons from the inside the cart, and others put on armor. Kully helped Palon tighten the straps of his chestpiece.

  Skrale whistled and drew everyone’s attention. He stood apart and faced us. He wore all studded leather and had an axe and a dagger in his belt, as well as a sword sheathed at his side.

  “The nesting ground is just over the hill. We approach quick and take positions before closing in. We follow Fourth’s mark once in position. Let’s move out.”

  He turned and started walking. First Squad caught up quickly, and we all filed in behind them. It was only a short walk before we reached farmland. Or what was once farmland. Bones covered the area. Mostly cattle, but some horses, humans, and rodent bones littered the ground as well. Some more brittle than others. The sunlight had started to melt more of the snow, which helped our footing.

  The farmhouse was partially collapsed and rusted tools were stuck in the ground beside some of the bodies. In the middle of all of it, the ornisect stood and growled at us. Its growl was like metal grinding on metal.

  Ornisects look like giant insects, but I don’t know if they actually are. They have giant, bulbous eyes that are the color of nightshade. And enormous mandibles that can cut a man in half. Their bodies are sectioned off and the nasty snake tails always wiggle like a serpent in the grass. To make it all worse, they’re bigger than bears. This one was even bigger than most. Its mandibles were scarred, missing small chunks, and dried flesh hung from the sides.

  First and Second squad rounded the right side, right past the farmhouse. Second stopped to its side, while First positioned itself in the back. Third took the left side and we pushed right in front to keep its attention forward.

  Palon was the first to reach the creature. He pounded the pommel of his sword against his shield. The ornisect growled louder as Palon continued his quick advance. I was directly behind Palon, matching his steps, while Ralet was behind me. Cremn held his axe and followed behind to my left.

  The other squads pushed in as Palon reached its face. It bit at him, so he smashed its mandibles to the side with his shield.

  Lekk and Heff pushed in and chopped at its six legs. Rexel’s heavy swing cut through one of its legs. It roared and shifted to regain its balance. Palon pushed its mandibles aside again. I stepped to the side and stabbed at the ornisect’s head. My sword punctured its eye and slid up to the hilt. Ralet chopped down and cut the skin beside its other eye. Heff’s squad cut through the other two legs. The ornisect collapsed onto its side and released a horrible scream. I backed away, sword still stuck in the eye. Violet blood stuck to my arm and chest and little bits on my face. It was sticky and thick. Cremn stepped forward and finished off the ornisect with a blow from his axe between its eyes. First and Third backed away.

  Second rotated around to help with the tail. It snapped out, passed by Skrale’s head, and sunk one of its teeth into Widdy’s shoulder. He swore and punched it. Teke stabbed his sword into its head and Lekk severed the whole tail at the base with one massive swing, like an executioner.

  “Any injuries?” shouted Skrale.

  Widdy raised his hand. The tail was still stuck in his shoulder.

  “Other than you. You’ll be fine.”

  Skrale surveyed the company and made eye contact with me. Covered in blood. He smiled. “Nice look, Beatrice.”

  I nodded. I felt the little bits on my face wiggle like jelly.

  We moved the corpse off the field, near the woods. The field would still be in rough shape for a long time, but the villagers would be happy just to have it back.

  Skrale decided to bring the tail as the trophy. No need to move the real head. Cremn had me and Ralet go to the river to clean ourselves because Ralet had some blood on him as well. We undressed, scrubbed our clothes, then sat on the shore. There was a chill in the pebbles, but the air was warm. Ralet shook his clothes, like that would make them dry faster. He finally laid them out beside mine and sat beside me. Ralet was always shy when nudity was involved.

  I caught up in here while waiting. It was a nice break from everything else. Kully brought some fresh clothes, so Ralet and I are going to dress and join back with the squad.

  Ornisect Hunt - Day 67 of the year 546

  The giant insect had established a killing ground in a pasture on the outskirts of Grendlehorn. The farmers in the area lost most of their cattle. We used our numbers to surround and quickly immobilize the creature. First squad had one minor injury from the Ornisect’s tail.

  Warning: Living, fanged tail. Needs to be killed, as it will live on after main body is dead.

  Payment: 200 gold coins.

  Note: Citizens of Grendlehorn promised a feast if we return and gave us a horse.

  Day 70

  We rested for some extra time. After the first day of rest, Jenn, Yutt, and Prenn went out scouting. They would
determine where we go next, so we had several days left. Skrale gave us the option of inn or camping. Cremn, myself, and Groose stayed in tents outside the village. Oitter, Heff, and Lopuk stayed near us as well. Everyone else stayed in the inns. I already felt restless and staying in an inn wouldn’t help that.

  We spent a day hunting in the woods, then telling stories by the fire. Groose sat nearby at the mouth of his tent and put some of his munitions together. He grumbled about Wennel and Trennor not helping him, but he would’ve complained if they had helped. At one point, he swore and tossed a handful of powder into the fire, where it exploded. It only made the fire a bit bigger. Harmless overall.

  “Close call?” asked Cremn.

  Groose sucked in his lips and nodded. He pinched some oiled powder and slowly brought it around.

  “Accidentally mixing again?” I asked.

  Groose glared and turned his operation around so I couldn’t watch. I’ve never truly understood the process. It’s something about mixing the alchemy powders together in just the right quantities. Few people, if anyone, know about it outside our company. Most alchemists use the powders medicinally or for tricks. Groose never cared for anything like that.

  We went hunting the next day as well. Oitter seemed to hit everything with a bow, but I managed to outshoot Cremn. Oitter managed to hit three birds while Cremn and I got four squirrels. It was a good meal.

  I realized my leather armor had some purple coloring to it from the damned ornisect blood. It didn’t smell terribly, but it did hold onto a bit of the stench. It smelled a bit like a beetroot field rotting after the snow melts.

  Day 74 - The First day of Spring

  Jenn returned first. Oitter told me she didn’t sleep while scouting. That’s why she often gets back before him. I think she’s just faster.

  Jenn found a hunt for a witch. She estimated about seven or eight days out for us. Skrale thanked her and gave her a meal. After eating, Jenn decided to stay outside with us. Oitter groaned and said he might go sleep at the inn instead.