B2 Chapter 136: The Return Finale

Kaius slumped, leaning bodily against Porkchop as a wave of grief washed over him. He felt boneless, sapped of all energy.

Yet, it was almost a relief. To know. He’d suspected for so long, dreaded and ruminated on the ‘if’s and ‘maybe’s of it that to finally have it confirmed was like dropping a weight that he had held since falling from that cliff so long ago.

He took a breath, half surprised that his eyes remained so dry. He supposed he had been grieving for some time. Father always would have found him if he could have.

Porkchop bent down, resting his head on top of his own. “I’m so sorry, Kaius.”

“What happened?” he asked the silent room, reaching up to scratch Porkchop behind the ear as he enjoyed his bond-brother’s support.

Illendra broke, tears welling up in her eyes. She flew from her seat, circling the table to wrap her arms around his shoulders. Kaius let her, though he struggled to find any true comfort in it. Not in the same way he found with his bonded at least. Everything felt a little too… numb.

Hurrin took a ragged breath, slumping down onto the table to rest his weight on his elbows.

“I’m sorry lad, truly. That was not how I wanted ye to find out.” Hurrin’s voice was heavy, his head slumped forwards to obscure his face.

The others weren’t much better, each looking at him with their own mix of sadness, sympathy, and the toll of their own loss.

Hurrin looked across the table, meeting Saldar and Eilish’s eyes. They both nodded, standing from their seats.

“We’ll be back, boy. You’ve done much for the community today, and I shan’t forget it.” Saldar said, respect clear in his face. “But this conversation is not for our ears, so we will be taking our leave.”

The two turned and left. Eilish paused at the door to the stout oak, looking back to Kaius. “It’s good to see you, Kaius, truly. I just wish it was under better circumstances.”

The heavy oak door thudded as it shut behind her, Hurrin jolting slightly at the sound.

Kaius watched them curiously.

“They weren’t here when…Hastur passed.” Hurrin said, answering his unspoken question. “He trusted us with some things that were for your ears only.”

Kaius nodded, breathing heavily. He had to grit his teeth to stop it catching in his throat.

Hurrin turned to Jekkar, addressing the veteran hunter. “Do you want to tell the tale? You were the one who found him.”

Jekkar gave a small shake of his head. “No, no. I’m not right for this. Too short of words, you should.”

The tavernkeep took an unsteady breath, before he drank deeply from his tankard and nodded. “Aye, you always have been a shit storyteller.”

Kaius snorted; he couldn’t help it. Hurrin was right, Jekkar was crap at telling tales. He could have hunted a phoenix and the best you’d get out of him was that he’d managed to nail a pretty bird in flight.

He drank deep from his cup. “I’m listening.”

Hurrin sighed. “Aye lad. It was just over a year ago.”

….

Wiping down the counter, Hurrin listened to one of the local farmer boys try to chat up his daughter. Well, failed to was more like. He was pretty sure the lad was one more bad joke from getting a full tankard to the face.

He chuckled to himself, wiping up a spill.

A loud crack cut through the soft murmur in the inn. It was near lunch, so there were still a few stragglers finishing up their midday meals, but no true hustle and bustle to cover up the noise of his door being kicked in.

He snapped his head up, eyes widening in shock.

Jekkar struggled his way in, a mountain of a man draped over his shoulder. His stomach dropped. Hastur.

Garbed in thick leathers that were utterly drenched in blood, his old friend’s face was twisted up in what looked like agony, his jaw clenched so tight he was surprised the old wardog’s teeth hadn’t bloody shattered.

“EVERYBODY OUT!” Jekkar bellowed, startling the clientele out of their daze. The sounds of a dozen scraping chairs filled the room as they rushed to the head hunter’s command. No one had any desire to ignore one of the strongest in the village, none the least if they were carrying someone injured.

Hurrin was already moving. “Illendra!” he yelled, snapping his daughter out of her shocked stare. She looked to him, fear and uncertainty on her face. “Get Yanmi here! Then go tell Holt he needs to get his boys on the wall and be ready for trouble.”

Illendra just kept standing there, rooted to the spot as she stared at him. “Now, lass!” Hurrin clapped his hands, jolting his daughter into action.

She sprinted out from behind the bar, dashing past Jekkar who was already hauling Hastur into a padded bench so that his friend could lay flat.

Hurrin burst into motion, snatching his medkit from under the bar. It was a shite thing, barely a few bandages and swabs to mop up the rowdy boys who’d get into a weekend brawl before they had any decent Health.

Not nearly enough for whatever was wrong with Hastur, not if his Health wasn’t enough. The man was as tough as iron.

He just hoped that Yanmi would get here quick enough.

Charging across the room, knocking chairs aside in his haste, Hurrin dropped to his knees and started pulling out bandages. A bloody hand clapped on his wrist.

“Save it, old friend. It’s not my blood.” Hastur choked out, focusing on him with steely eyes. They were bloodshot, so red it made the green of his irises stand out like shining emeralds.

“I..What? What’s wrong with ye then?” Hurrin asked his old mate, as Jekkar worked to strip him from his chest armour.

“Just the past…” every muscle in Hastur’s body tensed at once, a desperate pained cry forcing its way past his clenched teeth as his head was thrown back. A moment later, the fit ended, and his friend slumped back to the bench, panting. “Catching up to me.”

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Hurrin rushed to Jekkar’s assistance, working bloodsoaked buckles to strip Hastur out of his light armour. It was drenched in blood, with dozens of rents covering its every surface. He shoved his finger through one, feeling its clean edge. Too clean to be a beast. He looked at Jekkar questioningly.

The old hunter nodded. “Blades.”

“Fucking bounty hunter. Lead a troop of bandits right down on our heads. Thought we were safe. That it had been long enough. Turns out the bastard found a lead in Deadacre, someone telling tales of an interesting looking blade with diamond cutouts, I knew that visit was a stupid risk.” Hastur hissed, his neck bulging with stress.

Hurrin grit his teeth. Bandits were no good, especially not if they could put Hastur in this state. He’d seen the man demolish beasts with nothing more than his general skills.