Page 69 of Daughter of the Darkened City

Enid put her bow and arrow away. “I was told not to come out here, and I didn’t want anyone to stop me.”

She stared at Onora, waiting for a lecture.

Onora only grunted and gave a nod. “Fair enough. What are you doing out here?”

Enid looked her over, wondering how much she could trust the woman. She decided to take a chance. “I saw something last night and I want to investigate.”

Onora’s face paled. “A shadow being with glowing eyes?”

Enid frowned. “Yes. Did you see it too?”

Onora nodded. “I thought I was going crazy.”

“Well, if so, you’re in good company.”

Onora nodded to the path, her hand ever on her sword hilt, eyes always watching every little movement Enid made. “Should we continue?”

“You can tag along, but try not to plot my murder the whole time,” Enid said.

Onora glowered at her. “I plotted that the moment I saw you; it’s already done.”

Enid laughed, and Onora gave her a curious look. “Good to know. I suppose you’ll at least wait until my portion of the ritual is done, so I should be safe on the walk.”

“As long as you don’t give me any reason to kill you, then yes. I’m honor bound.”

Enid began walking. “Honor bound in what way?”

“We have to work together on this mission, but we aren’t friends, Enid. No need for idle chitchat.”

Enid rolled her eyes. “It’s not idle chitchat, and we don’t have to be friends. I don’t know a lot about Hunters, even if I have my opinion of them. I’m not sure it’s correct. I’d like to hear from you.”

She glanced over her shoulder to see Onora regarding her with suspicion. Enid had taken the lead on the trail because she knew that Onora would be on edge with a demon behind her. Showing her back to the enemy was probably foolish, but it was also maybe the only step to mending any bridges. Enid had thought about that day, eleven years ago, many, many times. She used to want to go to the Hunters Guild and hold them all accountable.

“Hunters, if they pass the trials, take vows in accordance with our creed. We don’t start fights,;we don’t attack unprovoked. We can defend ourselves, but there is honor in dying to prevent violence. We must always protect those weaker, those oppressed. Our blade is forged for justice, defense, and honor. Not violence, aggression, or war.”

What a different world than Enid had expected for the Hunters.

“I suppose you have a different idea of who we are?” Onora’s voice held a bitter bite to it.

“I suppose I do,” Enid said, then flashed a grin at the snarling female behind her. “But I suppose my mind can always be changed.”

They walked in silence from then on. The forest path was steady, only rising or falling a little in elevation, the path well worn and cared for. Ivy ran along its edges, honeysuckle filling the air with its scent. Finally, in the distance, she saw a stone structure, square and coming to an ornate steeple at the top. She stopped and stared for a moment. Onora came up beside her, though far enough away that Enid couldn’t touch her. Careful as always. She wondered what kind of lies they had been told about demons all those years.

“Is this the temple where we’ll perform the ritual?” Enid asked.

Keening filled the air, then a familiar and sickening noise followed, a muted moaning, growling, screaming. They immediately fell into thesame defensive position that warriors always did, back to back, now no longer concerned about the other as a threat.

Rustling and running heralded the arrival of the creatures, enough time for Enid’s heart rate to pick up and soar to the sky. The beasts from before came bursting through the brush, only three of them this time. Enid slashed at one, taking a hit from the other on her shin. She barely noticed it though and slashed again, taking down the first one.

Onora also fought, but Enid had no time to look, for the second and third plunged at her. She blocked one from biting her with a bracer and slashed the underbelly of the other, its stomach splitting open, spraying dark blood all over the ground and its intestines piling outside of it. The second held onto her arm and she couldn’t move enough to hit it properly without hurting herself.

A slash came from the side, Onora’s sword, and the beast fell. Enid drew in a deep breath. Seven beasts lay on the ground. Most killed by Onora, who only had a cut across her cheek.

“You’re impressive,” Enid said.

Onora swiped the blood off her sword and onto her cloak. “I know.”

Enid went to the beast, giving it a good look over now. The face was stiff and hard, ridged like bark and coming up in an uneven patternover the base of its skull at the top. A crack ran along the front from being hit. She touched it. The bark split more, falling away, and Enid let out a cry, stumbling back in horror.

---