Chapter 12 The Hunt Begins

The courtyard erupted. Thousands of voices rose together as King Aldros's announcement echoed across the Hunting Festival grounds.

"My firstborn son."

Leif stood beneath the royal banners, completely still. Cameras turned toward him from every direction. Huge screens displayed his face across the capital. For the first time in fifteen years, the kingdom was seeing the King's eldest son standing before them.

The reaction wasn't what Leif expected. But he already anticipated it. Whispers spread through the crowd.

"That's him."

"The Mad Dog."

"Is that really Commander Morvain?"

"I heard he nearly killed Lady Ravynne."

"He looks nothing like a prince."

Leif heard all of it. His expression didn't change. He had spent fifteen years hunting monsters beyond the palace walls. A few thousand strangers calling him a mad dog meant nothing.

Onyx stamped impatiently beneath him.

Leif rested one hand against the stallion's neck. "Easy."

The horse settled. Across the courtyard, Ravynne watched him. For a moment, their eyes met. Leif looked away first.

King Aldros stepped forward again. "The Hunting Festival has always been a celebration of courage, skill, and service to the kingdom."

The enormous screens behind him changed. The festival rules appeared.

"Every registered hunter will receive points according to the danger of their quarry. Small game will earn the lowest score. Predators and magical beasts will earn more. The most dangerous creatures will carry the highest points."

A murmur of excitement passed through the crowd.

"The hunter with the highest score at sunset will receive the Crown's Golden Arrow."

Cheers erupted. Leander smiled faintly beside Seraphina.  Ravynne glanced toward Leif.

He wasn't listening to the announcement. He was studying the forest beyond the festival grounds. His eyes had already shifted into the mindset of a hunter.

Aldros raised one hand. "Let the hunt begin."

A horn sounded. The gates opened. Thousands of hunters moved toward the forest. The Hunting Festival had officially begun.

The royal hunting party entered the forest through the eastern route. Leander rode beside Seraphina. Ravynne followed with several royal guards behind them.

Seraphina handled her horse with effortless confidence. She pointed toward a trail disappearing between the trees. "There."

Leander followed her gaze. A large stag had disappeared behind the bushes.

He smiled. "You saw it first."

"I usually do."

Leander laughed quietly. Ravynne watched them from behind. They worked well together.

Leander understood when Seraphina wanted to move left. Seraphina knew when he intended to circle around. Neither needed to explain much.

Another stag appeared between the trees. Seraphina raised her bow. Leander stopped his horse. She released the arrow. It struck cleanly.

The guards congratulated her. Leander smiled proudly. "Beautiful shot."

"Thank you."

Ravynne smiled. They really did look perfect together. She looked down at her own bow.

"I'll check the eastern stream."

Leander turned toward her. "Alone?"

"The guards can stay with you."

He frowned. "Ravynne—"

"There should be smaller game near the water." She smiled lightly. "I'll only be a short distance away."

Leander hesitated. Then he nodded. "Don't go too far."

"I won't."

Ravynne turned her horse away. She didn't notice the shadow moving between the trees ahead.

Leif had already disappeared deep into the northern forest. Onyx moved effortlessly beneath him. Leif barely needed to guide the stallion. His eyes moved constantly. Tracks, broken branches, movement, sound. He spotted a large wolf near a rocky slope.

Onyx stopped. Leif dismounted. The hunt lasted less than a minute. When he returned to Onyx, the beast was secured.  One of the festival tracking devices attached to his saddle automatically recorded the kill.

Leif glanced at the score displayed on his wrist device. He barely cared. He mounted again.

Something had caught his attention. A strange movement between the trees. He turned around, nothing there.

Leif narrowed his eyes. Then— A distant gunshot cracked through the forest.

Leif's head snapped toward the sound. Another followed. Then another. His expression hardened. That wasn't hunting. He turned Onyx immediately.

Leander heard the first shot. He barely had time to react. "Down!"

An arrow slammed into the tree beside him. The royal guards immediately surrounded him and Seraphina.

"Protect His Highness!"

Another arrow flew. A guard raised his shield. The arrow struck him hard enough to knock him backward.

"Guard!"

Leander drew his sword. "Where are they?"

The forest erupted. Three figures emerged between the trees. One fired toward the royal party. Another rushed from the left. The guards attacked mercilessly.

Steel collided. Seraphina's horse panicked. Leander grabbed her reins. "Stay behind me!"

"I am!"

A blade struck one of the guards across the shoulder. Blood splattered across the leaves. Another guard fell.

"Your Highness, move!"

Leander refused. "Hold the line!"

An attacker suddenly appeared behind him. A guard intercepted the strike. The blade drove through his armor. He collapsed and fell to the ground.

Seraphina's face went pale. "Leander!"

"I'm fine."

Another arrow struck the ground beside them. Leander looked around. There were too many. His guards were falling one after another.

"Call reinforcements!"

"We've already sent the signal!"

"Again!"

One assassin suddenly charged directly toward Leander. Leander raised his sword. Their blades collided. The force drove him backward.

For one terrifying second, the assassin's blade hovered inches from his throat. Seraphina screamed. Leander twisted. The assassin's blade scraped across his shoulder. Before the attacker could strike again— A royal guard slammed into him.

The assassin stumbled backward. Then whistles sounded through the trees. More guards joined in. The attackers immediately retreated.

"Don't let them escape!"

The remaining royal guards chased them. But the forest swallowed the attackers almost instantly.

Silence returned. Leander looked around. Blood covered the ground. Several guards were down. Seraphina was still beside him.

She stared at the blood on his shoulder. "You're hurt."

Leander looked down. It was barely a scratch. "I'm fine."

He looked at the fallen guards. "Get them medical attention."

A captain rushed forward. "Your Highness, we need to move."

"Not until they're secured."

"More guards are coming."

Leander finally nodded. Then he looked toward the forest. "How many escaped?"

"At least three."

"Find them." 

His eyes followed the path where Ravynne left moments ago. "Follow Ravynne trace and tell her to return to the group"

The captain turned. "Yes, Your Highness."

Seraphina remained beside Leander. Her fingers trembled slightly. Leander noticed.

He reached for her hand. "I'm here."

She nodded. "I'm glad."

Neither of them noticed the figure disappearing deeper into the forest.

On the other side of the forest, Leif heard the commotion growing louder. He pushed Onyx faster. Another shot echoed. Then silence.

He emerged onto a narrow trail. A man suddenly crossed between the trees. Blood stained his sleeve.

Leif immediately recognized him. One of the attackers. The man looked back. Their eyes met. Then he ran.

Leif's expression hardened. "Onyx."

The stallion surged forward. The assassin disappeared between the trees. Leif followed. Branches whipped past his face.

The man stumbled deliberately. A few drops of blood fell onto the leaves. Leif saw them. He followed the trail. The assassin glanced back again.

Leif was gaining. "Stop!"

The man ran harder. Leif dismounted. He continued on foot, sword drawn. The trail became narrower.

The trees became denser. The sounds of the festival disappeared behind him. Leif slowed. Something felt wrong.

It was too quiet there. He looked behind him. Nothing.

He looked toward the trail. A single drop of blood rested on a leaf. He crouched and touched it.

It was still fresh. He stood tall.

His eyes narrowed. "You're not wounded."

A voice answered from somewhere ahead. "You're faster than we expected."

Leif's hand tightened around his sword. He turned slowly.

A figure stepped from behind a tree. Then another. Then another. Four men emerged from the shadows.

Leif looked around. No guards were stationed this far into the forest. No hunters would come this way. The sounds of the festival had disappeared, replaced by wind and rustling leaves. His expression turned cold.

The first assassin smiled. The fight erupted.

Leif moved fast, brutal and precise. One assassin went down. Another staggered back with a broken arm.

A blade cut across Leif's side. Another struck his shoulder. He kept fighting.

Three attackers came at him together. Leif blocked one and struck another, but the third drove a blade into his back.

He dropped to one knee. Blood dripped onto the leaves.

A branch cracked behind him. Leif turned. One assassin stepped from the trees. Then another. More shadows appeared behind them. Five... Ten in total. Leif's eyes swept across the surrounding trees.

"We needed you away from the others."

Leif's eyes narrowed. So that was the point. His grip tightened around his sword. There was nowhere to run.

He had walked straight into the trap.