WhiteShadow didn't seem to notice that his name had been mentioned at first. When he noticed Radlin looking at him, he looked to Zedd, who was looking at WhiteShadow with a quizzical expression. WhiteShadow couldn't help but think that it probably matched his own.
"What does he know?" Zedd asked petulantly.
WhiteShadow growled softly at Zedd. "I know quite a lot, actually, Zedd. And that includes what I think Radlin is talking about."
No one noticed, but a small, self-satisfied smirk crept over Radlin's face at that remark.
"Just like the forest is my home, and I want to protect it, from ANY threat, this planet is our home. All of our homes. And this whole political trouble is a serious threat to our home; if the two... " WhiteShadow stumbled for a moment. "Candidates? Yeah, candidates that Radlin spoke of rise to power. So we have to do something."
Zedd scoffed loudly. "Like what? I don't remember any social outcasts having much say to the people that hate and fear us."
WhiteShadow continued to glare at Zedd. Turning away, he muttered to himself; "Oh well, at least I didn't sacrifice anyone."
Zedd remained silent as he looked almost hurt. Yasmine, who had said nothing throughout the proceedings, found it hard to believe that someone could penetrate through Zedd's egotistical shell.
Radlin spoke up once more, relieving the tension that the silence had brought. "Alright, so now you know the why, boys;" He emphasised the childish tag, as if rebutting the two without going overboard. He had no authority to. "But what about the how? Zedd hinted at it, and I have a plan, but I'd like to see what you three can come up with on your own. And before you do, let me just say that storming a tower with just the three of you against an unknown force was a fabulous plan."
WhiteShadow simply turned his glare to Radlin, while Zedd gave a small chuckle. Seated a little back from the group, Yasmine gave a little smile.
Chaz leaned back in his chair, his laserboots resting on the wooden table in front of him. The bartender scowled at him, but being one of the Hunters Guild's top ranking hunters, Chaz did have more free reign than most. Smiling cheekily at the bartender, Chaz raised a soda to his lips and drank deeply. Giving a sigh of satisfaction, he looked around the tavern portion of the guild, it's stage still standing, but the rest of the room, and the guild itself, was steeped in reconstruction chaos. The bartender had not reprimanded him vocally simply because he would have had to cross the room and yell in Chaz's ear to be heard.
Finishing off his soda, Chaz got to his feet and, after dodging a few slaving workers and similarly relaxed hunters, checked the notice boards for any interesting bounties. After wiping off a layer of sawdust, Chaz grimaced as he saw the two higest paying bounties still remained, after months of attempts at capture. Chaz could barely stand to look at the top bounty, with a reward of a record 1 million meseta. Chaz hadn't gone after this bounty for the money, especially as it came from an "undisclosed source". The mission description was simple; to defeat and capture, dead or alive, a nefarious creature of unknown origin known only as "the Dark One." Chaz brightened a little as he saw that the notice had been updated recently. He read aloud to himself, letting the information sink in.
"Last seen in Paseo, after possibly ravaging a tavern and murdering it's occupants. Possible sighting in the forests outside Tonoe; unsubstantiated. Suspect involved in destruction of the minor Motavian 'WhiteShadow' cult." Chaz groaned and shook his head at the thought that that WhiteShadow creature was now being mistaken for one of the most sought-after bounties on Motavia. Looking closer, he saw that the Paseo sighting was listed as reported by "Grimm Sharlak."
Now, that was odd, mused Chaz. That young hothead reminded Chaz of himself at that age, only a little more obnoxious. It wasn't like Grimm at all to share information about such a big bounty as this. Apart from that, his ego would never let Grimm admit to the fact that he had let one "get away".
The second bounty was for WhiteShadow, listing the big, albino Motavian as "A dangerous genetic mistake, pssobly with some biomonster heritage." Chaz scoffed at the thought. After meeting the "mistake" twice, and having his honour defended by Grandfather Dorin, Chaz had resolved to still bring WhiteShadow in; but alive, at least. Again, this bounty had been recently added to with fresh information. "Last seen outside Mile, heading north for the mountains." Chaz gasped as he saw who had reported this information.
"Kyra Tierney? She's on the planet?" He said aloud, in surprise.
"Thaaaaat's right!" Came a familiar voice from behind Chaz. Although it was barely audible, Chaz recognised the flamboyance of the tomboy's tone.
"Oh, no," He said jokingly, turning to recieve a big hug from his fellow Protector of Light.
"It's quite loud in here!" Kyra yelled through the smile on her face. "Let's talk outside!"
Stepping outside into the sunshine, Chaz and Kyra found a bench and sat down, both smiling with the joy of being reunited with old friends. "What are you doing here, Kyra? I thought you would be on Dezolis, with the rest of the espers."
"Yeah, well, there is still a lot of work to do up there with Lutz, or Rune, or whatever you want to call him still missing, but I got permission from the elder to come down here and catch up, as a sort of R & R session. I think I needed it, but I'm stunned to see that you got back into hunting so quickly, Chaz. How's Rika?" Kyra's voice bubbled like a brook, as she spoke rapidly to the man she once thought of as a little brother.
Chaz smiled, as Kyra's hurried speech finally slowed to a stop. "Rika's fine, Kyra, and much like yourself, she needed some rest after... Everything. I think she suffered most, being thrust into this new world and immeadiately taking part in a conflict for the planet... I don't know if I could've handled something like that for almost no reward..." He trailed off with a grin at his own mercenary lifestyle.
Kyra scoffed loudly, turning her big brown eyes toward Chaz's. "No reward? She found you, didn't she?" Realising what she had said, Kyra shut up almost instantly, a tense silence hanging between the two.
Chaz finally broke the silence, his smile gone for a moment. "Yeah, well... Although she and I have moved into Alys' house together, she said she needed some time away from the world, to rest, to heal. That includes me. That's why I hunt alone these days."
"A wise method of hunting if I've ever seen one." Said a harsh voice from behind them. Turning, Chaz and Kyra came face to face with Grimm Sharlak. His long brown hair nearly covered his eyes, which, from Chaz and Kyra's point of view, appeared almost violet. Rising to his feet, Chaz saw that he and Grimm were of similar height, and judging by the steel sword at the hunter's side, had similar taste in weapons as well.
Chaz was first to speak to the newcomer. "You're... Grimm Sharlak, aren't you?"
The younger hunter sneered as he looked straight into Chaz's eyes. "So, the great Chaz Ashley has heard of a small timer like me? I'm shocked."
Kyra looked at Grimm angrily. "Hey, what's with the attitude, you little punk? Speak with some respect to the Protectors of Light!"
"Hmph. What do you want, Grimm? I know you've got a reputation as a loner and a loose cannon. I see no reason for you to interrupt me and Kyra apart from wanting to give us a listen to your stellar humour." Chaz's sarcasm was tangible as he and Grimm continued to stare at each other, as if a silent war of wills was occuring alongside the verbal back and forth.
"I have good reason, Ashley. I hear you have had contact with both the Dark One, and the WhiteShadow, the two largest bounties ever seen." Grimm quieted for a moment, letting this sink in. Kyra, however had no such patience.
"Well?!?" She asked.
"I have had contact with these two creatures as well. Kyra here saw the aftermath of what those two vile creatures can do, at that tavern, in Paseo. I propose we pool our resources to bring these two in. I intend to see their heads staked at the gates of Aiedo."
CONTENTS    BACK     NEXT       HOME
1