Hunter's Beginning (Veller) (51 page)

“I heard a story from the cadet, but not one that I am willing to take as truth. He has not told us why she was in the stables or what he was doing in the stables for that matter. Perhaps that is where your illusion was and not here, and what of Sir Oblum’s
dogs?”

“What about it?”

“It has always been my belief that animals are a good judge of character. The fact that Oblum’s dog attacked cadet Rimes without provocation would have me doubt the validity of his honesty.”

Boraro turned to the Headmaster who stood in the doorway. “Are you going to believe this Oblum?” He asked him.

Oblum looked at Kile for a few moments, as if studying her for the very first time.

“There is a lot in what Folkstaff says.” Oblum replied softly. “But I do not believe it should be discussed here.”

“You’re going to side with him on this?”

“I don’t side with anyone Master Boraro, I
weigh the evidence as I see it, and clearly this accusation toward the girl is unfounded. I would advise you not to say anything more on the subject, at least until the Guild members arrive.”

Oblum stepped aside, a clear sign that the conversation was over and that Boraro was to leave the room. The Weapon’s Master gave one last look at Kile, probably hoping she would disappear or fade from existence so
that he would be vindicated, but she remained solid.

“I do apologize for this child.” Folkstaff replied with a faint smile. “I hope to be seeing you soon.”

“Sir.” She called out to him. She wasn’t sure what she was going to ask. She wanted to thank him for defending her, she wanted to really thank him for lying for her, assuming that he did lie for her, of course if he didn’t that would be rather embarrassing. Now that he was standing there waiting for her to say something, and she had nothing to say, that was rather embarrassing too.

“Certified level one
Hunter Robert Folkstaff at your service.” He replied, then tipped the brim of his hat to her and walked passed Oblum back into the hall.

“As you no doubt know, members of the guild will be convening tomorrow evening to discuss your case,” Oblum said once both of the men
were gone. “If they feel there is enough evidence, it could go to trial. Is there someone you wish for me to get in contact with, a family member maybe?” He asked her.

“No sir.” She replied.

“Nobody, You should have somebody here for you.”

She
just shook her head.

“As you wish.” Oblum replied as he pulled the door closed.

Was that actually a look of concern on the big man’s face? Did he actually regret the direction that this was taking? She almost felt sorry for him.

***~~~***

18

Kile wasn’t aware of how tired she was. After Oblum and the others left and the room was once again her lonely cell, she laid on her bed to think about the events of the day, and to plan her future if things didn’t go the way she had hoped. Somewhere between thinking and planning, she fell asleep. She wasn’t sure when Vesper had returned, but when she woke up, he was in his usual spot, curled up beside her on the pillow. She vaguely recalled the guard looking in on her once or twice during the night, probably making sure that she hadn’t disappeared while he was on duty. It was a good thing he never came into the room to take a closer look, there was no telling what he would have done had he seen the yarrow on her pillow.

It was well past dawn by the time she got up, and she stared at the light that was now streaming through her window. She had slept the night and most of the morning away, and even though she had nothing to eat since yesterday afternoon, she still wasn’t very hungry, if anything she was worried. She should have heard something by now, unless the plan went horribly wrong. What if Charles hadn’t confessed? What if Master Adams didn’t believe them? What if Hunar ate Charles? Actually, she wouldn’t have been all that upset about the last part.

She crawled to the end of her bed to look out the window, her only means of seeing what was going on, but the compound appeared dead. There was no activity, nobody in the field, maybe they all went home on leave and forgot to tell her she thought as she leaned back against the wall.

There was a soft knock on the door, which was rather odd since everyone else just came barging in, except for one person. She quickly leapt out of bed. The door should have been locked from the outside, but it wasn’t as she pulled it open. No
lock, no guard, only Master Adams standing alone in the hallway.

“May I come in?” He asked. He didn’t appear to be as solemn as he had the last time she had seen him and that could only mean good news.

“Of course sir.” She said as she stepped aside.

“I’ve come to tell you that the charges have been dropped, and you are free to leave your room whenever you want.”

That was it, it was all over. One statement and the matter was forgotten. How long had she been free anyhow?

“What happen
ed sir?” She asked.

Master Adams gave her that curious look, the one that said, I’ll tell you, but I’m sure you know more than I do.

“Don’t you know?” He asked.

“No sir.” She replied, which really wasn’t a lie. She only knew up to the part where Charles was
supposed to confess, beyond that she had no idea what had happened.

“It would appear that a young cadet by the name of Charles Banes confessed. He took responsibility for the incident. Are you familiar with him?”

“I know of him sir, I don’t really know him.”

“He came to me yesterday with an outrageous story and claimed he had to confess because he didn’t want to be eaten by a dog, I had half a mind not to believe him and send him to the healers for a psychiatric evaluation that was until he told me about the crossbow. I then took him to the council and he
revealed everything. It would appear that you were the unwitting target of a practical joke. The fact that Master West was injured was never his intent.”

“What now sir?”

“For you… nothing. Once Guild Master Latherby heard the confession he convinced the council that they would appear foolish if they pursued the matter any further.”

“Guild Master
Latherby is here?”

“He was. He appeared sometime yesterday afternoon. As I’ve said, he often does appear without warning.”

“What's going to happen to Charles?” She asked. In spite of the boy playing tricks on her that nearly got her expelled, she didn’t really wish to see anything bad happen to him, he was, after all, just an unwilling pawn in Eric’s game.

“Cadet Banes has been expelled from the academy, whether or not the council will wish to follow up on charges is entirely up to them.”

“Charges?”

She couldn’t help but feel responsible for the consequences that Charles now faced. She knew he was in the wrong, and she would have done anything to prove her innocence, but she wasn’t going to lie to herself either. By forcing him to confess she was putting his neck on the chopping block, but she figured that once they heard the entire story, once the council realized that there was no true malice involved, he would just receive punishment. Expulsion
seemed a bit over dramatic, even if that was what they wanted to do to her, and the thought that he could face further charges was just too much.

“It’s not your fault.” Master Adams said as if interpreting her prolonged silence.

“Isn’t it?” She replied. “I’m not so sure. If I wasn’t here, it would never have happened in the first place.”

“If you want to use that logic then nobody would take
responsibility for anything. You could just keep passing the blame down the line. You might as well say if Master West’s ass hadn’t gotten in the way of the bolt, then this situation wouldn’t have gone as far as it did. Cadet Banes chose the action and therefore he must accept the consequences.”

“What about Eric, doesn’t he take any responsibility for it?”

“Why should he?”

“It was his idea, he was the one that told Charles to do it, shouldn’t he be held responsible for something?”

“What proof do you have, where is your evidence?” Master Adams asked. She knew he wasn’t trying to defend Eric, or make him out to be an innocent bystander in the incident. He was only trying to show her the reality of the situation. It was the evidence that freed her from blame and it was the lack of evidence that freed Eric.

“Charles didn’t give him up.” She realized. It was a bit too much to hope for. He told just enough to take the blame from Kile, but not enough to implicate Eric.

“The council did feel that Cadet Banes didn’t act alone, let's face it, he wasn’t exactly the sharpest knife in the draw, but when pressured he refused to give any names. The council had no choice.”

“But if the council knew?”

“Knew what? They gave him the option, he chose expulsion.”

“As opposed to ratting out his so called friend
s.”

“It was his choice to make.”

“I suppose. Will the council go easy on him? I know he was a jerk and all, but still, he really didn’t mean to hurt anyone and he was only doing what Eric told him to do.”

“He withheld evidence, an act that could have gotten you expelled, or worse, you could have been facing charges if the council saw things another way.”

“But he confessed in the end, surely that means something.”

“Maybe, but only because he was scared he was gong to be… eaten by a dog, although I’m not really sure where that falls into his confession. The fact of the matter is, if he was so easily persuaded to commit a crime in the first place, what kind of a
Hunter would he be?”

“Well, I guess there’s that, and I can see their point, but still… What if I spoke
to the council, would it do any good?” She asked.

Adams
stopped and gave Kile a curious look.

“You want to talk on his behalf, after what he did to you.” He asked her. Clearly this was not what he had expected.

“If you think it will help.”

“I don’t think it will be necessary, the council has already reached
its decision and I don’t really think they’ll pursue it any further, but I’ll let them know. The fact that you would be willing to talk on his behalf, may be enough.” Master Adams replied “If that is all then, I should be going, there is still much to be done in preparation for the gathering and you still have your own preparation if you are planning to depart this evening. The caravan shall be leaving for Littenbeck after the supper hour.”

“I’m not going sir.”
She replied.

“Don’t you wish to return home, at least for a couple of weeks?”

“There’s really no need sir.”

“
Surely you want to see your family? Your friends?”

She
just shook her head and Master Adams looked at her with that same look of curiosity.

“I don’t understand.” He said. “Most cadets, especially the first years, are so eager to return home, if just for a little while.”

“I really have no reason to sir.” She replied, although it wasn’t exactly true. It wasn’t so much as having a reason as it was to the fact that she wouldn’t be welcome. Leaving home the way she did, and her father’s parting words made sure of that.

“I see.” Master Adams finally said, and there was a tone of pity in his voice, a tone that made
her cringe when she heard it. The last thing she wanted was to be pitied.

“If you require something to occupy
your time I have a few books that you may be interested in.”

“Thank you sir.”

“If there is nothing else, then I should be going, you will at least want to see your friends off.”

He was just about to step out into the hall when Kile stopped him.

“Sir, there is one thing.”

“What would that be?” He asked.

“Well… it just… Lately I’ve heard something but I don’t know what it means.” She said, fumbling over the words. She wasn’t exactly sure what it was she wanted to ask him, or maybe it was the fact that she didn’t want to know the answer.

“And what is it that you’ve heard?” Master Adams asked.

“What is an Orseen?”

The young
Hunter’s face was unreadable as he starred at Kile. After a moment he forced a smile and shook his head.

“It’s nothing important.”

That wasn’t good enough.

“Sir, in the last couple of
days, and on more than one occasion, I have been referred to as being Orseen, or having Orseen blood. I would like to know if I am being insulted or not.”

His forced
smile turned into a real one as he laughed.

“I see what you mean.” He said. “Then you’ve heard Master Boraro make reference to it.”

“It was difficult not to sir.” She replied. “He doesn’t seem to… like the Orseen very much.”