Chapter 6 Part 8

Earlrich was the master of assassins for House Blackheart. He enjoyed his work. To hunt a mark and kill it was one of the greatest joys in life. Every huntsman enjoys the sport. But to hunt something intelligent only increases the challenge and thrill.

Earlrich had seen many operations go off without a hitch. But every now and then a botched job or just plain dumb luck throws even the best assassin for a curve. Such was the case a week ago.

He had lost two good operatives due to rotten timing and bad luck. The first operative would easily have taken the woman out had that damned mage not stumbled onto the scene. The backup man should have prevented the interference, but something had held him back. Probably greed. If the primary operative fails then the backup man gets both commissions. Whatever, the backup almost took out the mage and got away. But who could have known that the female was skilled with throwing daggers. The second operative never got his commission and the woman's powers had returned enough for her to save the mage's life.

Now, being without two operatives, Blackheart had commanded him to personally take charge of this operation. For, it seems that the head of the royal guard also had made a major blunder and was now a sergeant in charge of Aspberg's sewer patrol. So, Earlrich had been directed to hunt the refugees down at all costs and destroy them utterly.

The traitor Tyson had been quite handy in that part. He had rejoined his former allies, while keeping Earlrich informed of their movements and plans. They had followed at a safe distance for days until they had their prey trapped. With the mountains on one side and Gly-ou-vogue to their backs, Earlrich's forces completed the box and would soon accomplish their mission. The ultimate fate of his prey was their deaths, but he might be able to extract some information from them first.

Tyson rode a light war-horse to the right of Earlrich. He had left the camp not long after relieving Armegon from watch. Then, he had led Earlrich and his agents to the campsite only to find it abandoned. It did not take a sage to see that the prey had fled on foot as only the bare necessities were missing. Their tracks were easily followed as their prey was unskilled in stealth.

Following at a good pace, the hunters were certain that they would catch up with the fleeing mage and druid within the next hour when the trail ended in a herd of wild pigs. "We've been tricked!" Earlrich's anger could be heard with every syllable.

"We are in Marlena's element," Tyson informed him. "There is very little that you can do that she will not be aware of."

Earlrich turned his mount. "Back to the camp," he ordered. "There must be a trail that we can pick up there." The troop turned and galloped back towards the camp leaving the pigs, who were oblivious to the whole conversation, to their own devices.