Page 58 of The Huntsman's Heart
I make no answer. A monster got the best of me many years ago. Or perhaps I am the monster. I’ve never been able to decide. Head down I pass into the settlement, but it’s impossible to miss the signs that this has been a hard year. Many of the small cottages have no smoke rising from their thatched roof. I wonder how many days it’s been since these families have eaten if they have no fire burning.
Somewhere, a baby cries and a thin dog scratches in a pile of refuse, sniffing around for a feed. Yet I’m certain there was meat on the queen’s table every night this week.
Though I know the queen will be impatient when I arrive, I can’t resist checking the stables on my way past. It brings a smile to my face to see Tharrok in his stall. He stomps a hoof when he spots me, lifting his black nose and sniffing the air as if to say, “Where have you been?”
I hurry over and run my hand up his nose and scratch behind his ears and he actually lets me. “I am glad you made it back safely, my friend.”
He snorts and I leave him be, lest he takes out his frustration on the stable hand later. I will take him out with me when we make the return journey. If all goes to plan that is.
Melantha’s chamber is silent when I open the door, but I sense her presence. “You called me.”
She turns from her place in front of her mirror, thin brows lifting toward her hairline. “What took you so long?”
“I was attacked in the woods and lost my horse. I had to make my way back on foot.”
Her tight expression suggests she knows I’m omitting details, but she simply snaps her fingers. “Look at me. I’m starting to see wrinkles. Where is the blood?”
I hesitate. With everything that’s happened, I was not able to collect any monster blood for her. “I was attacked. I lost my supplies.”
She turns and glares at me. “Then what am I supposed to do?”
“I must return to the Gloamwald.”
She frowns. “Unacceptable. Do you have nothing for me?”
“Not yet.”
“Then go now and return this evening.”
“Impossible. The people are suffering. They need wood for kindling and fuel, and they need the watch to spare them extra men to guard the fields or none of us will eat next winter.”
Melantha scoffs. “Let them burn animal dung. There must be enough of that. And what do you mean they have no food? They have vegetables.”
I sigh. “All those must be given to the livestock since they cannot graze outside the walls without guards. And all of those end up on your table, Your Majesty.”
“They can wait. My blood is more important.”
I grit my teeth and bite back my retort. It will change nothing, since I can already feel the magic compelling me to obey. I should be glad this gives me an excuse to return to the woods immediately, but it also leaves me no chance to search again for my phylactery.
I give the queen a curt nod and retreat from her chamber before she can ask me more questions. As I gather a few suppliesfrom my own chamber, I call a footman. “Rouse the hunters. I need every man in the courtyard within the hour.”
“Yes, sir.”
When the men have assembled in the yard, I look around at the grim and scared faces. Even the newest recruit, Tomas, is looking worn, as if he’s aged ten years in the few months he has been a hunter.
I know I push them hard, but what else am I to do? Thornvale and its food supplies must be defended, and with the queen demanding more and more blood, I’m often unable to help with the watch or other duties. So the men must do the rest of the work of defending the town.
For the last week they’ve been covering all the tasks I would ordinarily do as well.
What will they do if my plan comes to fruition and I’m no longer here to lead them? I don’t allow myself to dwell on that thought. Surely with the queen dead and her demands removed, the people will feel less pressure. Perhaps with less extravagant food consumption, farmers will not need to go so far from the safety of the walls.
“I am going back into the deep woods,” I announce.
There’s a groan from the men.
“I am going alone.”
The muttering ceases.
