Notes on Monster Hunting Page 5

  Skrale kept repeating something like he was chanting. I couldn’t hear it. His veins had risen to the top of his skin and his knuckles were white from gripping his sword and axe. He wore only a leather chest piece with a chain shirt underneath. He had no sleeves, no helmet, and no armored boots. He started his charge, so I ordered Groose and the others to throw Oiled bombs. They struck the witch and the ground around her. Dirt flew into the sky and the witch’s horrible cry rang through the clearing. Some of the leg plates cracked, but no other damage was visible. Groose grabbed a different bomb, but it was too late to throw it. Skrale had started sprinting. He matched the witch’s ferocity. We fired again before he reached her. My arrow sank into her flesh, but she didn’t flinch.

  Skrale ducked under the first few times the witch tried to stab with her legs. She attacked slowly at first. It seemed like she was focused on getting control of his mind and couldn’t understand why it wasn’t working. Skrale chopped and stabbed repeatedly at her face and mouth. The plates pushed his attacks off. His axe did crack part of a plate, but his weapons were quickly chipping and breaking.

  The witch became more aggressive and roared louder. Its attacks started coming quicker and stronger. The ones Skrale dodged hit the ground and threw dirt into the air. His chain partially brushed one off as another hit him in the thigh. Blood shot across the leg as the witch withdrew it and attacked again.

  The potion worked. Skrale dodged and leapt onto the witch’s face. I don’t think he felt anything. The witch tried to attack, but it couldn’t reach. It moved and shook. Skrale stabbed his sword into its back and held onto it like a saddle as the witch continued to buck. He chopped over and over with his axe, cleaving off chunks of its flesh.

  The witch’s head started to shift again. Back into the form of the lady with claws and fangs. Skrale grinned and stood as the lady lunged at him. His swing was too fast for me to see. The lady’s head fell off her shoulders and shifted back into part of the witch’s head before it struck the ground.

  It wasn’t enough. The bows all shot again, aiming low. A few arrows and bolts sunk into the witch’s flesh. Skrale was tossed off and landed behind the witch without his weapons. Its cries were deafening. It stomped with all its feet, churning up the earth all around. Dark blood poured from its head like a waterfall down its sides. The witch turned and charged Skrale. He rolled away, leaving a trail of crimson blood in the dirt. Lekk threw his shortsword as far as he could. It landed well out of Skrale’s reach.

  “Captain, catch,” shouted Groose as he threw a firebomb.

  “What are you thinking?” I shouted. It was too late.

  Skrale jumped and caught the bomb without letting the shell break. He landed as a witch leg stabbed into his calf.

  “Let me go in,” yelled Lekk.

  Teke blocked his way and shouted at him to stay back.

  Skrale ran back, bleeding, and threw the firebomb at the witch’s face. The shell cracked, spraying the dark yax powder into the air. It ignited and clung to the witch’s whole body. It was immediately covered in massive flames. I could feel the heat from my position. It stomped around and roared and thrashed. Skrale grabbed Lekk’s sword and walked straight at the burning witch. He sunk the sword deep into its face. The witch’s body dropped and continued to burn.

  Skrale staggered away, vomited, and collapsed.

  Teke sprinted with his medic bag. He covered the distance in a single moment. The fastest I’ve ever seen somebody move. Lopuk dropped his crossbow and joined Teke.

  Groose and the other bombers used torol powder to put the fire out before it spread. Lekk had everyone gather at the witch to give Teke space to help Skrale. He was stitching and bandaging quickly. His face was stone, like it usually is. His movements were fluid, effortless. Yet, he didn’t blink or stop for even a moment.

  Lekk’s sword was pushed in past the hilt. Skrale’s sword was still stuck in the back. He loved that sword. We found his axe as well. It is badly chipped.

  Teke got Skrale to a point where we could move him. Lekk and Rexel moved him with close supervision from Teke. Lopuk didn’t say anything. He must’ve been in shock from what he saw. Teke took Kully and Henli and started doing further treatments on Skrale. Lekk and I gave Cremn and Heff a report. We gathered the trophy and worked out our payment with the village. An elderly woman was representing the group. She continually thanked us and asked about Skrale. She had some bandages and other medicinal supplies brought immediately without charge.

  Cremn brought me away from the rest.

  “You doing alright?”

  I nodded.

  “It sounds like you handled it well. Groose is unpredictable. We’ve always known that.”

  “He could’ve killed Skrale,” I said. I wasn’t angry with him. It was a quick decision on his part. I just keep thinking about what would’ve happened if Skrale wasn’t able to catch it.

  “He could’ve. You’re right. But it is Groose. He has ideas for every single situation. If something isn’t going well, I can always guarantee Groose has some type of plan. He does act on his own sometimes, but he’s earned the ability to do that. So try to forgive him.”

  “I will. The whole hunt was just a lot.”

  “It was. And I’m proud of you. I even got you a present.”

  Cremn brought me over to his tent and handed me a new set of boots.

  “Really?”

  He smiled and set them on the ground. “Try them on.”

  They fit great.

  “Now,” said Cremn, “let’s get everyone else and have a meal. We can go see Skrale later in the evening.”

  And that brings us to now. Palon is cooking some potatoes and onions to go with our pickled fish. All stuff he found in Korlen while we were fighting. I haven’t had a chance to go see Skrale yet. Cremn wants to wait until late or in the morning. At least until we get an okay. Kully isn’t even back yet. The witch was terrifying. Its power was unbelievable. I can understand how a witch was able to kill a whole coliseum of people without much difficulty. I hope I never have to fight one again, but I will without hesitation if it helps others.

  Witch Hunt - Day 85 of the year 546

  To avoid manipulation of the witch’s mind control, the captain, Skrale, used a potion that our lead medic called a “rage potion.” It placed him in a fury where he did not feel pain or stop fighting until he went unconscious. The potion successfully made Skrale immune to the witch’s mind control.

  Payment: 120 gold coins

  Warning - Potion may be lethal and requires close medical supervision.

  Teke’s Rage Potion

  Ingredients:

  One Fly Amanita

  Two Cocoa Beans

  Two Handful of Braccish Tea Leaves

  One White Carrish root

  Boil water and steep tea leaves for ten minutes.

  Grind the mushroom, carrish root, and cocoa beans into a paste.

  Mix paste into tea, bring to a boil, mix again

  Let sit for a day.

  Reheat and stir.

  Day 89

  The sky looked like one big cloud when I woke. Rain fell through the night and soaked the ground. I could feel the water running beneath me, turning dirt into mud under my tent.

  Teke looked frustrated when he woke me, but I’ve rarely seen him look happy. Maybe he was annoyed with the rain.

  “How is he?” I asked.

  “Fine. Nobody is great after getting stabbed and poisoned. Get dressed and come with me.”

  We walked through a quiet camp, leaving footprints in the mud with each step.

  Skrale’s tent was sagging a bit from water collected on top. Inside, the ground was mostly dry. Light brown mud clung to the edges of my boots.

  “How long do you think it’ll be before we keep going?”

  “It’ll be another couple days before I’m willing to move him.”

  Teke gestured over to the raised cot that Skrale was lying on. I walked over and stood beside him. I di
dn’t want to get too close. A blanket covered Skrale’s lower body and bandages were wrapped around most of his torso and his right arm. A few spots of fresh blood soaked through the white bandages.

  Some dried saliva and blood was stuck in his beard around his chapped lips. Skrale smiled when I approached.

  “Sit, please.” His voice was hoarse and weak.

  I looked around. There wasn’t a place to sit. Skrale lifted his arm and waved his hand around. Teke loudly sighed and brought a small stool over.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  Teke mumbled something and walked back to his corner.

  “From what I remember, you did great out there.” Skrale stuck his hand out to me, palm up. I looked at the hand until he wiggled his fingers. I placed my hand in his and he gently closed his fingers around it. His hand was big, really dry and rough, and warm.

  “How much do you remember?”

  He softly laughed, then winced.

  “Nothing. Teke told me you did well.”

  “Teke said that?” I looked over at the medic. He was reading a book. Probably not listening to us. “I always thought he hated me.”

  “He probably does.” I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. He took a slow, deep breath, which made him wince again. “Congratulations, corporal.”

  “Thanks, captain. How are you feeling?”

  “Fantastic.” Skrale paused to cough. “How do I look?”

  “Rough.”

  Skrale nodded and closed his eyes. “Have a good night, Beatrice.”

  He was asleep immediately.

  Cremn was smirking when I got back to camp. The rain had turned the air misty, but the downpour had stopped. Everyone was outside sitting on logs around a tiny fire that made a billowing cloud of smoke.

  “How’s it feel?” asked Cremn.

  “Mostly the same. I can just feel Ralet’s jealousy staring at me right now. And that feels weak.” I looked to my right and smiled at Ralet. He was smiling at my joke. He’s the only one I was worried about being upset.

  “Congrats, Beatrice,” said Ralet.

  “Thank you.”

  “How’s Skrale?” asked Kully.

  “He was awake and making jokes. Teke said a couple more days before we keep going.”

  They all nodded and looked at the smoke rising from the wet wood.

  I’m going to rest my head on my knees and try to sleep. It’ll be uncomfortable, but it’s drier than my tent. The log is wet and I can feel it soaking into my trousers, but a wet bottom is better than lying on wet ground.

  Cremn brought me to the side, away from the squad, to tell me what exactly being a corporal will mean. It’s good that he did because I had no idea what was going to be expected.

  I get a pay raise.

  I take charge when Cremn is gone. Or other sergeants or Skrale. Kind of a last resort in charge.

  Cremn might discuss special things with me. He specifically said, “If I’m desperate, I’ll ask your advice.” I don’t think he intended to be rude, he just sometimes says things in a bad way. He did confess that he had suggested I get the promotion to Skrale multiple times.

  He had a lot more to say, but it was boring enough that it reminded me of being back in school. I left that all behind long ago and don’t need reminders of it.

  Day 93

  We’re off. Skrale is riding to start, but he promised me that he’d be walking before the day is over. He looks good, almost normal. Color returned to his face and he keeps joking around. Mostly trying to upset Teke, but he’s mastered reading while walking, so he just ignores Skrale. I still trip often while writing if I don’t look up every few words. Ralet promised he would watch for any hazards in the road.

  “I’ll try to help you not fall” was more what he said. Same thing.

  We managed to get some training in while Skrale was recovering, which was a refreshing change. Usually training and traveling don’t work great together. We don’t need as much training as we used to because we haven’t had a new recruit in years, but it was a great opportunity to let me issue some commands. Everyone listened. It was lovely.

  The road out is smooth. Just dirt, no rocks. Easy walking.

  We rarely like to leave our chosen spots once we start a day’s march, so we pass messages through each other in either direction of our small marching snake. Palon, ahead of me, was told by Rux of Second squad that Skrale wants to talk to me. Skrale probably could’ve just yelled or stopped his horse for a minute.

  “I have an idea I wanted to run by you.” Skrale looked relaxed on top of his horse, while my legs were already starting to hint at the deep ache that long travels bring. Underneath my stomach felt tight, like my muscles were tied in a knot.

  “I’m happy to help, but why me, sir?”

  “I like to change up who gives me advice. Teke gets quite boring.” Skrale looked over to see if he was able to draw a reaction. Teke held his book in both hands with his head bent, completely focused on the page. Skrale shrugged. “You’ve been promoted and you’re educated, so you might be a bit smarter than the others.”

  “It started as a compliment, but I’m not sure I like the direction it went.”

  Skrale shrugged. “That’s okay. Hurt feelings are part of the job.” He pulled a piece of rolled up paper from his shoulder bag and handed it to me. I unraveled it and was surprised to see a bounty for a creature. A Clay Mason, as it said.

  “Three hundred fifty coins? Is this where we’re headed?”

  “Not quite.” Skrale grunted and slowly leaned over. “The scouts found the bounty in the town we’re heading to. Looks like we’re on a lucky streak. We have three contracts lined up.” He sat back up, winced, and rubbed his side.

  “Three already?”

  “There’s the next one, then two near each other by the coast. What if we split the company in half for those later two? It would take half the time.”

  I looked over my shoulder. The bobbing heads of bored hunters marching was like a small flood behind me. “I think we could do it. It would be a good change.”

  Skrale smiled and slightly nodded to himself.

  He looked back over at me and hid the prick of pain in his eyes. “You should probably join your squad before they start to miss you.”

  I spent the night around the fire reading more from Skrale’s book. It must’ve taken him years to write. I wonder why he stopped.

  Ornisect:

  While they resemble ants, ornisects are unrelated creatures that live above ground, usually in forests.

  They are carnivorous and will eat any creature, including other ornisects.

  Aggressive, but slow and simple.

  Ornisects are best handled as a group.

  They become confused and attack slowly when surrounded.

  The tail has a brain, but reacts to things the same way as the main body.

  There’s entry after entry about creatures. I’ve never heard of some of them.

  Day 97

  I stepped in some cow turds. It might be the funniest thing Groose and Kully have ever seen. They can’t stop laughing. None of us are clean, so this hardly smells worse than we do.

  We’re nearing a city with wooden walls that we can stop at for a night to stock up.

  It’s a smaller city than what it looked like from the outside. Mostly craftsmen and traders with some fishermen in the nearby river. They were happy to trade with us.

  I took a bath and washed my boots downstream from the fishermen. It was a nice, refreshing break.

  Most villages we get contracts at are in some way devastated. That’s just how it is and it’s why we do what we do. These creatures ruin lives when they’re too strong or too numerous or in the wrong place. Sometimes people die, sometimes they lose their food or their livelihood. I’ve never believed anyone or anything is evil. The ornisect ate their cows, which was a source of food and money. There are plenty of smaller, calmer ornisects in the wild. They aren’t evil. That one wasn’t. It just n
ested in a bad spot, so we had to kill it.

  Witches aren’t evil, but they cannot coexist with humans. So, when a witch nests near people it has to be killed.

  Growing up, I didn’t like soldiers because they killed people. When I met Skrale and Cremn as they passed through my city, I could sense a goodness to them. They talked to me and assured me they don’t kill people, only animals that need to be killed. I ran away with them the same day I met them.

  Day 99

  The scouts said we were nearing the town with our contract two days ago. Two days. That doesn’t seem near to me. Everything around us is green like it’s summer, but it’s too early in the year for green.

  Fourth squad has some soft bread and some salted meat for today. Ralet accidentally used the last of our butter last night because he thought we had more.

  Cremn asked Third squad if we could have some of theirs.

  They said no.

  Cremn offered to fight the whole squad for some butter. Instead, Heff challenged him to a wrestling match. Cremn refused and tried to act like it never happened. Is he scared of Heff?

  This bread is still great, but Palon and Cremn both look heartbroken.

  Wild flowers cover the ditches beside the road. Blues and yellows blanket the whole area. Some merchants and farmers have been past us.

  Day 101

  There were only a few people living in the small village we arrived at yesterday. The scouts said this was the place, but some villagers clarified that it’s almost like an outpost for the main town deep within the forest.

  They told us this area had been cleared of trees at the end of last year. Only the one road leads in or out. Skrale decided to stop for the night and camp at the village. I bought some bread and celery and was happy to not travel through the forest in the dark.