Chapter 34: Chapter 33

Days had come and gone, and Etrius found itself on the back of Maul, on the road. Though this time, it wore its uniform instead of tattered robes or normal robes. Abby once said that it looked cool in them, and Etrius was sort of living off that high now that it was alone. To be exact, it wasn't alone. It had Maul, all of those dogs that it picked up three years ago, the shadows, crawling shadows, and the Deacons who weren't really doing much.

Many days had passed since it left Crasmere and it was already drawing near the meeting spot. Though it would make sense if it was in the middle of the capital, it was not. Instead it was in the king's woods just outside the capital. Though they would like for the location to be hidden for their meetings, practicality was slightly more important.

Seeing hoofprints in the dirt path, Etrius knew that it wasn't the first to arrive, though that didn't matter. Soon enough, Etrius entered a large open area under the cover of the trees. Sunlight struggled to leak through the canopy, and many candles and lanterns worked hard to replace the light that didn't reach the floor. In the dim light many rangers, similarly dressed as Etrius, were busy setting up tents that they would use for the meeting.

One might wonder why they didn't have bunk houses to sleep in. That answer was simple. A witch hunter, who herself was a witch, performed a deed of foul magic and caused all but the foundations to be disintegrated. This witch hunter was then chained up, thrown in a deep well, and buried alive. The remains of the well could still be seen near the center of the meeting place. Even now, years later, some of the older rangers still spit on it.

Finding itself a spot in a beam of sunlight, Etrius let Maul roam free and set up its tent. Though Etrius called it a tent, it was more of a tarp that could be used as a tent. Quick to set up and quick tp put away. It was standard and very easily replaceable ranger gear that could easily be abandoned if need be. Finishing setting up its own tent, Etrius heard the approach of a horse and its rider. Looking over, Etrius saw an old friend.

 

"Hey Clint." Etrius said.

"Well, look who's in uniform for once." Clint said, dismounting his horse. "I never thought that I would see the day."

"Yeah, well my daughter thinks it looks cool." Etrius said.

"So it's true, you do have a daughter now." He said. "Didn't know that you got married. Who's the lucky girl you ended up with?"

"I'm not." It said. "Her parents don't like me."

"Merchant or noble?" He asked, taking his own tent off his saddle.

"Noble." It said.

"They're like that." He nodded. "Not many nobles like us."

"Aren't you a noble?" It asked.

"Disowned." He shrugged. "Apparently my folks didn't want an inheritance dispute."

"Tragic." It said.

"If you feel so sad about it, how about cooking me dinner?" He asked.

"Sure thing. I picked up a couple rabbits on the way in." It said. "Illegally, of course."

"I stole some eggs if you need them." He said.

"Depends on what we're having." It said.

 

As the conversation drifted off, Clint set up his tent nearby and Etrius made a small stone circle for their fire. Not long after, the surroundings became little islands of tents, as rangers arrived and claimed their places. Having the time on their hands, most rangers socialized, with regular patrols guarding the encampment from any intruders. Clint was inspecting his weapons, and Etrius decided to do the same, starting off with its bow. Clint, seeing this, took a good long look at it's bow.

Unlike Clint's bow, or any of the other rangers, Etrius' bow was different. It was flat as opposed to the rounded bows that were most commonly used in the kingdom. Though constructed in a different way, it operated the same with no notable differences. Many rangers had bows that were visually distinct from one another, Etrius' was by far the most unique due to its shape.

 

"You're still using that thing?" Clint asked.

"It works perfectly fine." Etrius said.

"It looks weird." He said.

"Hey, yours isn’t exactly a work of art either." It said.

"Whatever." He sighed. "So, what do you think about the end of the dark age?"

"We're going to get a lot busier when it happens." It said.

"You think it's going to happen?" He asked.

"Everyone's saying it will. And when was the last time that a group of people said something was wrong?" It asked sarcastically.

"There are still people who think dragons aren't real." He laughed.

"I don't understand that. All they need to do is look up." It said.

"You know how people are." He shrugged. "You think they broke out the drinks yet? I hear this year they're coming from the king's supply."

"Didn't he increase security in the castle?"

"That he did."

"I wonder which poor sap has to get through there."

"I don't care as long as I can get a drink."

"Same."

 

Finishing checking their weapons, there was nothing to do but wait until the meeting was officially called. Luckily, they didn't have to wait long. Soon enough, rangers migrated towards the center of the opening, with a familiar looking figure standing on the ruins of the well. Joining them, Etrius and Clint stood near the edge of the group.

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"Rangers from across the kingdom." Their leader, Roy said. "I am glad to announce that seven bottles of the king's finest wine have been brought to us here today by a promising newcomer, Valentine!"

 

To a surge of cheers, a short young lady climbed on the well next to Roy with a bottle of red wine in her hand. Aside from the triumphant smile on her face, she had brown hair with a streak of gold in it.

 

"Come on, say some words." Roy said.

"Holy fuck, I can't believe I did that!" She said.

 

There was a cheer for her along with laughs.

 

"I'm not going to lie. I thought stealing from the king would be a risk, and it was, and it was worth it!" She said. "As I was told by my mentor which I will tell you, 'we fight for the king, and tonight, drinks are on him.'!"

 

There was another cheer as she triumphantly held up the bottle of wine. Stepping off the well, she was warmly welcomed by the surrounding rangers. Now, one might think that stealing from the king was doing the opposite of "fighting for the king" and it was. However, this was a proud, and very much looked down upon, tradition of the rangers. It was also the main reason that nobles hate them. Every five years, when the rangers from across the kingdom met up, they would steal something. Anything that they desired, mostly from nobles, and brought it with them. Attempts have been made to stop this, but all have failed. Even the king was helpless from this tradition. This was not the reason for their low pay, but it was one of the reasons why it has never been raised.

Now, as for why this became a tradition, was a stupid reason. They thought that it was funny, so they kept doing it. For all the years it has been going on, no one has been able to stop them, or cut their funding. Possibly and probably due to their criminal behavior, rangers were one of the few groups who had a friendly relationship to the witch hunters. They both still annoyed each other and avoided dealing with each other, but a friendly relationship nonetheless. The proof of this friendship was that, aside from rangers, selected witch hunters have joined in these secret meetings before. Up till the incident that was the case. Until the witch hunters paid for the damages that one of them caused, they were banned from attending.

Now alone on the well, Roy held up his hand to quite the crowd.

 

“Now then, with celebrations on hold, we have some business to attend to.” Roy said. “We have confirmed with the king that the dark age will be ending within the next two weeks. We can suspect that demons will appear shortly after. Some of you may have even run into demons in recent years.”

 

Etrius, along with a few other rangers nodded. That two headed deer demon was still being sighted in Crasmere, though Etrius hadn't seen it personally. Given how many times it was brought up, there may have been multiple of them, but it couldn’t be sure of how many. Especially given its current limitations.

 

“Given the fact that demons are going to be appearing, the king and the advisors have given authorization for special armaments and enchantments for your equipment free of charge.” Roy said. “Furthermore, your policing powers will be expanded to deal with any aspiring adventures. Should any of them be deemed a threat to the kingdom, eliminate them.”

Far away in Crasmere, Adriana lay back in a recliner with Abby playing by her feet. In her hand was a glass of red wine. Though she didn’t actually enjoy wine, she thought that its scent was a good match for her mood.

Etrius had left several days ago for that ranger meeting, and she was left here alone. Though she wasn't alone. She had all of her servants, and guards, and of course, Abby. Etrius left abruptly, but that was nothing new. It often left without saying goodbye, though this time it did have a letter brought to her. As usual, it had its familiar scent which calmed her. Etrius may leave, but it will return. If it did not return, she would follow. Wherever it was, she would follow. Nothing would stop her. No person, no beast, and none of those voices that surround Etrius.

Those voices. Just the thought of them made her angry. Whatever they said, Etrius would do without question. Most of the time they were simple commands, some of which were even beneficial to her. However, a few of them she considered to be hostile. To leave. Even for a short time, that was the most dangerous command. Nothing she could do could stop it. If she restrained it, Etrius would escape and follow the command. Nothing she could say or do could stop it.

 

“Mama.” Abby tugged on her clothing.

 

She sounded worried. Snapping out of it, Adriana turned her attention to her surroundings. Aside from herself and Abby, there was a maid in the room with them. It wouldn’t be good to release her claws. Not here. Getting rid of the maid would be easy enough, but Abby would be the problem. For some reason, Etrius was fond of her. Killing her would be counterproductive.

 

“Yes dear?” Adriana asked, concealing her dark thought.

“You lonely?” She asked.

“Well, I suppose I am a bit.” Adriana admitted.

“I- I’m here!” Abby said, pulling at her. “I’m with you!”

“Yes, yes you are…” Adriana could help but chuckle.

 

This child. Abby. Their child. Abby was the daughter of Etrius and herself. Their one and only child. Proof of their love. Setting down her wine glass on the nearby table, Adriana picked Abby up and set her on her lap. This was their child, this was her family. How could she even think about bringing harm to her? They were a little happy family. Nothing and no one will change that.

 

“They’re mine…” Adriana thought to herself. “They’re mine. They belong to me.”

 

“Mama!” Abby said happily hugging her.

“Sweetheart!” Adriana smiled with something different from love in her voice.

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