Book 1: Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Vale, the Mighty Hunter

“Distrus,” Lord Goan commented as the dessert was served at dinner, “is only a small town Lady Genish. If you were to move to Lacertus, you could experience real high society.”
“Why not move to the capitol?” Minister Tane said. “They live in true nobility there.”
“Traitor,” Goan mocked.
“You should move to Monachus,” Lady Jez, wife of one of Lacertus’s richest men remarked. “I’m sure you could meet a nice, secure General. The military is where boys become men.” She glared at Aarden as she heard him snort. “Do you have a problem with authority young man?”
Aarden glanced at Casia, Master Jez’s daughter. She was staring adoringly at her father who was watching the others, bored. Aarden returned his gaze to Lady Jez.
“The Wall protects us, not the military,” Aarden said flatly. He was now the focus of everyone at the table.
“What do you know about the wall young man?” Sir Kaltz, the oldest member at the table. He was an old, retired knight, one of only a handful from the military who had actually seen battle. His daughter, hunched at the end of the table, was quickly becoming an old spinster.
“I know that the wall has protected us for a thousand of years; we haven’t fought a battle in at least that long.”
“My great-great-grandfather helped to build that wall. Before that time, we were constantly in battle. One war lasted hundreds of years. That wall has saved hundreds of young men from war.”
“It also keeps us in,” Vale said loudly, bounding into the room.
“Vale!” Aarden jumped up, directing him to the chair next to him. Vale paused to say a few gentle words in Weeley, the daughter or Minister Tane. She giggled then sighed as she saw Aarden watching them.
Vale was dressed in an old borrowed tunic that Aarden had given him. His shoes were worn as were the rest of his clothes. Vale bounded boldly over to Aarden and shook his friend’s hand. Aarden showed him to his chair and the two sat at the table.
“My guests, this is Vale Drumond, son of Seth and Chaylie Pesth,” Genish said, pointing.
“Ah, the orphan,” Master Jez said, dismissively.
“Yes, the orphan,” Vale responded. “Lady Pesth has been very kind to me, more than I deserve I’m sure.”
“At least you’re not on the street,” Goan quipped.
“Vale has been hunting for the butcher Carmine.” Vale glared at Aarden. He always hated it when Aarden defended him. “He’s one of the best hunter’s in the five cities-.”
“Merely a hobby,” Vale added. He looked shamefaced towards the young women who were looking enthralled at him.
The rest of the table turned away from Vale and Aarden. Conversations sprung up all around the table. Aarden apologized to Vale in a whisper. Vale brushed it off, but continued watching the young ladies silently.
Aarden drowsily listened to the bits of conversation he overheard. Lord and Lady Goan were talking with his mother about Prime Minister Tomal and his daughter. She had been caught walking and holding hands with a common painter in Lacertus. Aarden knew his mother still held out hope that he would end up with the young debutante. Vale was thoroughly enjoying a heated debate against Sir Kaltz over the true purpose of the wall. Vale would have left Durvy long ago if it hadn’t been for that wall. The Jezes and Minister Tane were discussing the roles of servants and the possibility of slaves. The question had long been debated by the Durvies, but never seriously considered. The upper-class always enjoyed discussing it however. All the young women looked the same, trying to sit with the proper posture, trying to listen and understand the various conversations, and really trying to stay awake.
“Murder?” Mistress Tane suddenly let out. Everyone stopped their conversations and looked at her in shock. She blushed and hid her eyes.
“What was that?” Genish asked.
“Last night, Tor Sambo was murdered,” Lady Jez filled in. “He lived in a small manor on the edge of Rota.”
“Yes, I know Tor quite well.” Aarden’s mother whispered, visibly shaken. “He and my husband were like brothers.”
“Who would kill Master Sambo?” Vale asked, equally shocked.
“It’s a mystery,” Kan, the daughter Lord and Lady Jez supplied.
“There were no clues, no sign of entry. It was as if someone flew in through the window.” Lady Jez shuddered. “He was up in a tower watching the birds or something.”
“In the middle of the day even,” Kan finished. She seemed to have a morbid fascination with this.
“Who would be so bold?” Lord Goan asked, standing and thumping his fist on the table. He sensed a lively debate coming. “Surely the man must have been a brilliant criminal. No Durvy has that kind of talent.”
“It was really brutal,” Kan chirped. “Tor had scratches all over his chest and neck. His blood had almost completely drained out-.”
And with that, Genish, the renowned social woman, fainted and landed face first in a piece of chocolate cake.

* * *

“I’ll be fine,” Genish reassured her guests as she shuffled them out the door.
“Are you sure Genish?” Lady Jez asked. “We are happy to stay and help.”
“No, please. I was just a little overwhelmed.” Genish ushered the others out and shut the door quickly once they were gone.
Genish aroused almost immediately after fainting in her cake. She mumbled apologeties as she left, embarrassed. The group sat in tense silence, no one looking at each other. Vale kept nudging Aarden, trying to get him to become host, but Aarden remained comatose.
Finally, Genish returned in a flurry. She had put on another extravagant dress and redone her face. Her guests fawned over her, but she quickly deflected the apologies and rushed them out the door; only Aarden and Vale were left.
Vale began to excuse himself when Genish stopped him. “I need your help, both of you.” She suddenly became conscious of her overdone dress and makeup. She began removing a lot of her fluff. “You must go see Tor immediately.”
“Mother-.”
“He was your father’s closest friend. He was as much a father to you as that pedant.”
“Mother-.”
“I’m sorry Aarden. I’m very flustered right now.”
“Is something going on Mother?”
“No, but something must be done. There was no inheritance from your Grandparents-.”
Vale suddenly interrupted, dragging Aarden into the other room. Genish gave a fleeting smile to Vale as she waved and started up the stairs. Aarden stopped and pulled away from Vale.
“What’s going on?”
“We’re going on a trip. We’re headed to Rota. You need to pay your respects to Tor.”
“Rota is on the other side of Durvy though. It’ll take us four days to get there.”
Vale dragged Aarden into the pantry. He grabbed a knapsack and began filling it.
“If we leave tonight, we can stay with my friend Booruck and be in Rota a day and a half after that.”
“But why?”
“You will someday. Just know that your mother needs you to go. Get the rest of your gear together and meet me on the east edge before night fall.”
Vale hurried out the back door. Aarden stared dumbfounded after him.