The Hunter's Arrow

Stubbornly, he chosen to walk beside the princesses as Maddock rode Estelle. He figured if they really wanted to do, Clayhorn’s guards could just force their own steeds to run, leaving him behind with just his arrows and bows that he had chosen to wear on his person for the time being. Even the little black pony that kept nudging at his calf would be trotting her short legs after the dun mare. They all just needed Maddock. He was useful with his skills of being a doctor and they mush have needed one desperately if Charlie the Ax didn’t give his men the go ahead with the killing.

Callous tattooed fingers rubbed against the smooth neck of his beloved Caru, rubbing his cheek against the soft flesh . Just enjoying the feel of something alive to keep him calm. He remembered when he was young that he would lay against his ma’s chest, letting her bony fingers pick at his hair, breathing in her scent and hearing her heart beat under his ear. Her voice soft and beautiful as she sang out to him in their own language. Hymns to the Great Mother and to the Great Horned one as she added beads to his first braid.

Maddock was his first interaction to the world outside his mother’s protective circle. First interaction with a man to be exact. He knew that he would stay by this man’s side. Weylin had no patients or only will to try to trust another, man or woman. So he will follow Maddock to the ends of the Earth, provide his strength and everything else that was needed. It didn’t mean he trust his friend’s judgment on this matter. During the slow walk, he has been busy calculating the guards in steel armor and green and gold colors. Judging which will be easy to take down with an knife or a fist or even a heel. He believed that he could take down at least three before the prince could get stick his sword in his back.

As Dock would say, it would be a pointless try and Maddock will be still alone. No doubt, Clayhorn would swing his own ax into the scholar’s neck without much thought. So again for Maddock’s sake, the cruthin will play good boy till Maddock says otherwise.

“Be easier to ride then to walk, Wolf-pup.” The half-blood spoke with a soft smile in his voice. Leaf-green eyes looked up at his dark ones, behind his face among the reddish brown of his beloved’s mane.

“I rather walk, tank you. Someone has to keep pace with this little girl.” He reached over to curl his fingers in the dark mane of the little black pony. “She’s already skittish enough with all these big boys around her.”

He could see the cruthin blood within the warrior, more like sense it. His ma said that all though their people were divided into different tribes with their own traditions, they could still sense the blood that ran through their veins, that tied them to each other and to the Great Mother. In this dark man, he could faintly sense the blood that was cruthin. Even if the beads in the hair was wrong and his skin wasn’t inked in blue like his own was.

The only other cruthin he had even seen and he was the enemy. Oh well, when the time comes, he would use the man’s own dagger to make a swift clean slice across the neck. Then pray for the Great Mother to take his spirit into her arms and forgave him for ignoring traditions.

“But pup, I can tell that you’re having trouble keeping pace with the rest of us.” This time Maddock turned his head to watch this exchange between him and the half-blood. “If you want, I’ll keep pace with the little darling and let your legs rest.” He pulled his own steed, a light bay stallion, to a stop and already sliding to the ground.

Weylin stopped, Caru and Gem stopped as well as he watched in wonderment. Then back into the wall of horse as the taller man approached closer. Maddock gave a small smile through it all, knowing how other men still made the cruthin uneasy. Like a small mouse among grown rats. They may be of the same rodent family but the mouse knew enough to be wary of the rats.

Grayson just patted his shoulders and gently and even so slowly grabbed him by the waist to help him onto his own saddle then wrapped his reins around the saddle horn. “There, you have control of me boy so I have no choice to be nice to your little girl.”

The full-blooded cruthin nodded and gentle gave a soft tap of his heels against his princess’ side to get her going. The half-blood just walked behind the little black pony with his hand on Caru’s chestnut colored flank.

“What in the seven hells is Grayson doing? “ August looked back to see his man playing nice to the cur. Said cur was tensed and looked as tightly strung as a bow.

“Making nice with the new servant, I suppose, your highness.” The scholar happily answered before curling his hand against his mouth to shout out to his partner. “Loosen up, Wey. If he bites, you got sharper teeth.” He was received with a rude hand gestured by the younger man. Laughing he looked back the prince, then the laughter died a quick death at the heated look in the royal blue eyes.

The prince gave a ‘humph.’ and flipped the loose curl of red out of his eyes before looking straight out at the road before them. Maddock smiled behind his back and rolled his mismatched eyes. Children.

“I won‘t bite ya, pup. ” The warrior spoke softly, still smiling at the younger cruthin like he was trying to calm a skittish dog. “ Well unless you fancy that sort of thing.” He gave a wink and Weylin felt his eyes grow big at the innuendo.

He could feel his cheeks getting heated and then felt his leg acting on its own as it kicked right into the half-blood’s face. He didn’t feel it hitting anything though. Weylin looked over to see an amused look on the dark man’s face. Then saw the man’s hand reaching up to pat his leg down, putting the foot back into the stir up.

“Gotta be quicker then that to get me, Pup.” The large hand rubbed gently on the thigh. The younger man just snorted and looked away, forcing Caru to move up to where Maddock was, taking the light bay with him.

If it looked like a scared boy running to hide behind his ma’s apron, well Weylin wasn’t going to admit that. Maddock just shock his head when he saw his friend now riding beside him. He grabbed at his head and ruffled the rat nest of hair before wrapping his arm around it to keep close.

“Best to make some new friends, Weylin. We may need them at Clayhorn’s castle.” He whispered in the ear before letting the cruthin go.

“I just don’t like this. I still say we can make a clean getaway.” He spoke, hand laying on the hilt of a small dirk on his belt.

“You’re really stupid, aren’t you cur.” August didn’t look at the man, just got his head facing forward and nose tilted in the air. Just radiating that air of superiority around him.

The cruthin really hated the prince. He moved up to be at his side, ignoring the scholar’s gritted order of just ignoring the other man. “I suppose ya think that ya can best me in a fight don ya.” He forced Caru to stood in front of the dark horse, both horses whined and snorted at the action. August’s dark blue eyes glared like flames at the other man.

“I don’t think. I know. No one has ever truly bested me in a fight, skins or swords.” He spat out the words. Already accepting the unspoken challenge. Behind the two man, Maddock was just hanging his head low, covering his displeasure with his left hand.

“You sure it wasn‘t cause they were afraid to bloody up the King‘s Heir? Get off your beast and I‘ll give ya a good whipping.” Maddock groaned at this, just counting up how long it took for Weylin to start a fight with the prince since their first meeting. Not even four hours went by. By the time he looked up, the two fools were already off their respected horses and shedding their coats.

He was seriously thinking of just tying up the cruthin and gagging him for good measure when they were out in public. Or with men that can kill them. Whatever came first.

“Well this is interesting.” Grayson walked up with his arms folded against his chest as he and the rest of the party watched the two men fight. Wincing in sympathy when the prince had received a kick in the stomach. Then winced again when the cruthin gotten a fist in the nose. It caused him to stumble a bit but was able to dodge the next hit and block the one after that with his forearm and aimed his own fist low on the prince’s side.

“Trust me, Weylin Doy’s main goal in life is fighting every thing on Earth.” Maddock spoke as he blinked and pick at an eyelash. “The prince should have known better and just ignore him.” Or Weylin should have ignore the prince, but that really did go without speaking.

The russet-haired man in question, hopped on his feet, trying to avoid to getting hit as he tied his long hair back with a scrap of leather. Baiting the redhead prince with taunts, insulting his mother and his little legs. The prince growled and rushed at the man, grabbing him by the waist and picking him up in the air only to plow him back into the ground on his back. Weylin cried out in pain but lifted his legs up to wrap them around the prince’s neck to swing him to the ground beside him. He felt fingers digging into his thighs as he rolled up to deliver punches to the prince’s head. Then he jumped up, August doing the same but slower, rubbing his head and shaking the dizzy feeling out. Weylin gave a cocky laugh, biting his lips with his top front teeth, beckoning the prince to come after him with his fingers flapping at around his bare stomach.

“Going to stop them?” The scholar loomed over from his seat still aboard his mare’s back. The guards around them were cheering their prince on and heckling the cruthin. Grayson just barked out a laugh and shock his head.

“Naw, let the youngins tire themselves out. The ride back to Ledgeway Castle will be quieter then.” He looked up with a smile in his dark eyes and then he went on to cheer on the russet haired man. Giving him the only fan he had on his side.

August bowled into Weylin once more, his hands on the belt and Weylin’s hands grabbing a hold of his. Now they were grunting and pushing their toes into the Earth to try to knock the other off balance. The redhead yelped when he felt sharp teeth going into his shoulder and smack his head against the other’s temple to pry him loose.

Weylin groaned and removed his teeth from the firm flesh. He was soon over balanced as the prince landed on top on him, beating his fists into his sides. He curled up to protect himself, covering his head with his hands before throwing a fist out to knock into the prince’s nose, sending him back and cause blood to freely flow out the nostrils. He moved to a couching position, panting heavily with hands in the dirt and legs ready to spring. Royal blue met with leaf green as both man stopped to breath.

August smeared the blood out from under his nose with his sleeve before pulling his dark green open necked shirt off and fling it to the ground. Showing glistering muscles beneath taunt tan skin. Weylin removed his top layer dark red cropped shirt, leaving behind the black mesh shirt. Dark blue markings going from right shoulder, down his pectoral and going around the abdomen.

“Savage.”

“Brat.”
“To show you whose is your better, when you lose this fight. You shall be my servant from now on and first order of business is for you to wash my feet.” The prince smirked as the cruthin sneered in return.

Maddock sighed and popped his back, waiting for the fight to end. Again he was dealing with children. He slide off of Estelle’s back and landed with grunt as he stood beside Grayson as the two boys, not men but boys tried to over take the other again.

“It is getting dark, someone should step in to stop this fight.” He helpfully pointed out the setting sun, knowing that the fight has been going on for an hour now. Of course when he meant someone, he meant the more muscular man.

Weylin gave a shout when the prince with more strength on his side over-powered him once more, forcing him onto his back once more. Then the blue eyed man twisted him onto his front, grabbing his arms to fold and twist on his back sharply with one hand as the other hand was pushing the grunting face into the dirt. Legs kicking wildly as the cruthin tried to squirm free, crying out as the harder the twist on his arms went.

“YELD TO ME!” August crowed, lips widen with murderous glee. “Admit that I’m better and you’re now my slave!”

Maddock and Grayson, no longer could they just stand by, rushed to pull the prince off of the russet haired man. Grayson grabbed him by the waist and held him back as Maddock helped his partner up, rubbing his back as he coughed and spat out grass and spoil.

The green eyes glared at the smirking blue as Weylin rubbed the dirt from his mouth. “I won’t ever admit that you’re my better.” He spit out some phlegm at the prince’s feet. August growled and kicked and wiggled to try to get out of the stronger man’s hold. But the darker haired man just held him tighter.

“You’re mine now! I won this fight fair and even!” He growled, quieting down his movements. Eyes glowing like blue fire.

“Fine but I’ll make you wish that you never met me!” Maddock quickly wrapped him by the waist when he tried to jump up to attack the prince. The scholar held him tight against his chest and whispered calming words in his ear.

Soon, he was able to let go of his friend and grabbed for his medical kit from his pack from Estelle’s saddle and tended to the prince’s wounds first. Grayson kept a strong grip on Weylin’s shoulder, letting him drink from his water skin as he stayed on the ground. Both men glared at each other with irate fire in their eyes but kept silent.

A guard retrieved their cast away shirts and offered them back to their respected owners. When it was Weylin’s turn for the healing touch of the dark brunet’s hands, Maddock was a bit rougher as he rubbed ointment over his bruises and as he wrapped the bandage tight around his ribs.

“Next time, I’m going to let you two kill each other. I can just make Ole Charlie think his idiotic son died an hero’s death or something.” He muttered, ignoring the soft pained noises from the younger’s man.

“He started it. Ow!” He responded through gritted teeth, closing one eye as he winced from the hard treatment.

“And you could have ignored it. You’re almost twenty -three now, Weylin Doy, act like a man. Not like a stupid beast!” Maddock stood away and packing his kit back together harshly, ignoring the hurt look on his friend’s face.

Weylin kept his eyes away from everyone as he pulled his mesh shirt on first slowly then his dark red one. He pushed away Grayson’s helping hand and walked to grab his long coat from the ground. He kept his head hanging low as he walk beside Caru, leaning against her great side. The half-blood walked silently by his side, keeping quiet and to himself.

Maddock looked over his shoulder once the great castle of Ledgeway was in sight. He frown at the sad sight of his friend, with one arm wrapped around his chest and hair over his face and shoulders. Once things have settled, he will make up for his harsh words from before to the younger man. Maybe he could found some raspberry tarts for him.

The prince, looking more like a battered fighter then a man of royal blood, left the guards to show the new servants where they can put up their horses for the night and went on to his quarters. His body felt so sore and in pained that he just wanted to lay down and sleep for a long, a very long time. It just hurts to breath. He held a fierce and angry look on his young freckled face that caused the passing servants and nobles to step out of his way out of fear for their lives. He threw opened his doors and slammed them shut behind him. Once out of the eyes of others, he let out a painful groan as he leaned back against the study oak doors.

Damn it but that cur runt got him good in that fight. If it was between swords, he would have won hands down but in a match of brawn. They were almost equally matched. No matter now, the cur was now his slave and he was going to make him pay for every bruise and cut he had given him tenfold for as long as he was alive in Ledgeway.

He grinned at the dark thought before standing up to complete the journey to his bed. With a huff, he dropped on it face forward, not bothering with his dirty boots as he crawled up to rest his head on a soft pillow. Already off to dream about his revenge on the cruthin till the call to dinner with his father and sisters.

________________

The two men were taken to a lonely little shack just inside the gates of the Castle’s Fortress. Maddock tried to carry most of the packs with him but Weylin wasn’t having it and carried more then his share. Keeping the pain to himself as he walked silently behind the older man. The scholar sighed and gently pulled on Gem’s rope that was looped around her neck to keep her from going off on her own back to Estelle’s side.

Grayson rolled his eyes at the two men and kept quiet about it as he unlocked the door to the physician’s hut and opened the doors wide for the two. “We clean it out when the old one died Last Winter. It was a terrible illness.” He lean against the door as Weylin stumbled in, finally admitting to the pain as he dropped the packs and sat down on the old rickety table, falling back with a groan.

“And what was this great illness?” The new physician tried to keep the little black from entering the shack but she kept circling around away from his hands. He gave a huff and surrender, sitting on a bench as Gem trotted around, taking in the new environment. Maddock laid a hand on the cruthin’s forearm but removed it, letting him rest for the moment.

The half-blood just shrugged his shoulders. “It was just a terrible bout with a really bad cough and fever. The old physician tried hard to battle it but he ignored his own symptoms and it was too late to save him.” He walked over and couched down to play with the little black pony’s mane and shaggy coat.

Maddock nodded and took the words in. Not really but he tried to as he felt the day and the night before weighing down hard on his shoulders. Weylin just let out a soft snore and muttered in his sleep, one of his legs curling up under the other as it hanged off the edge of the long table. The warrior chuckled at the sight.
“Trust me, if we let him alone, he will be sucking his thumb soon.” Maddock yawned and rubbed over his buzzed dark hair.

“Then shouldn’t we get him into a bed.” No one moved though, letting Gem nudged at the physician’s leg, neighing and nipping at his fingers. Grayson laughed and clicked his tongue to led her out to wear a sad patch was growing at the outside wall of the door.

Maddock exhaled heavily and stood up, stretching and popped his back. Then looked around to see that whoever cleaned up after the old physician’s death, let behind just the basics. A few bowls and bottles, a old beat up cauldron in the fireplace. He knew if he was to keep himself and his friend alive, then he has to find a way to gain more items. There was an stain cot in the corner that has to burned and scary looking stairs that led up to that looked to be the physician’s sleeping quarters.

They would be fighting for the single bed, later on when it was time to go to bed. He should give it to the cruthin cause of his ribs but he was still upset about that fight with the prince. He would think on it more on whatever or not to punish for bed behavior or to keep bruised ribs on the healing path. Later. Right now, he was going to attempt to make a pot of tea.

He broken the wood from the un-usable cot and threw them into the fireplace and found a pail before going outside. Grayson was keeping a watch on the little pony and looked up when Maddock said that he was going to get some water and be right back. He waved him off and tried the rope around the door knob to keep Gem from going off. Then stopped himself from chuckling when the full-blood cruthin was indeed sucking on his thumb.

He gently pushed his arms under the legs and under the shoulders, softly whispering that the younger man was fine and just keep sleeping as he carried him gently up the stairs for the old straw bed. He gently placed him down, pulling the boots off and rubbing back the russet hair that spilled over the childlike face.

“Too innocent looking for someone that could kick like a mule.” Grayson smiled and pulled the tattered blanket over the lithe body and made his way down stairs. He took it upon himself to get the start the fire up and piled up the packs on the table. He picked through them for the kitchen ware and put them away in the empty cupboards . He left the pans filled of clothes and other things alone and stored away the full blood’s arrows and bow at the stairs and sat down on the bench.

The physician and his cruthin friend were already proving to be great entertainment then his fellow knights and other servants. He chuckled at the thought that Prince August and Pup will be aiming for a second match and he would love to see how the cruthin would deal being a servant to his enemy. He didn’t doubt the prince was going give him the most dirtiest and less dignifying chores just for that bite mark on his shoulder and the broken nose.

He just hoped that King wouldn’t be so quick in breaking the two new servant’s souls, like he has with all the others. And keep the pup from his bed. The King was known for taking a young person to his quarters and they never come out the same again.