With her mare saddled, and her bow strapped across her back, Aloisia mounted her horse and followed the huntresses out of Littlewatch.
NINE
ThehuntressesmovedasonethroughtheGreatHawkForest,hoovesbeatingacrossthewidedirttrack.Eachmarehadbeentrainedtorespondtotheirhuntress,theslightesttouch,thefaintestturnofthereins.Justaseachhuntresshadbeentrainedtofollow,toobserveandrespond.Theywereofonemind,onepurpose.Ortheywouldhavebeen,hadAloisia’sthoughtsnotbeensopreoccupied.
Aloisia brought up the rear, as usual, with Kaja at her side. Dhara was at the lead of their pack, far out in front. The lead huntress turned into the forest, and they slowed as they traversed the trees. With the light waning, and the covering of the leaves above, the world around them darkened. Finally, they found the spot Dhara had been looking for – a clearing within the forest.
Dhara dismounted and signalled for the huntresses to gather. They left the mares to graze whilst they drew into a tight circle around the lead huntresses.
“We are heading to the meadow east of here,” Dhara said in hushed tones, “where the night deer roam.”
“Take care on the way,” Mavka said. “There may be some within the trees. We do not want to alert them to our presence.”
“We’ll split into two groups. Valda and Morgan with me.” She pointed to the two huntresses closest to her. It was no surprise to Aloisia, for this was how they divided most times. Dhara usually wanted to take the older, more experienced huntresses with her, leaving the younger ones for Mavka to tame. The previous day’s hunt had been a rare occasion where Aloisia and Kaja had joined Dhara.
“Aloisia, Kaja, and Neiris with me.” Mavka gestured for them to follow.
They split off into their groups and entered the trees. A piercing caw sounded above and Aloisia turned her gaze upwards. A hawk circled overhead. It cawed again, swooping lower.
Aloisia frowned. Hawks, she knew, were harbingers in some of the ancient legends of Teneria. However, it was never clear whether they were symbols of good or bad omens.
The hawk let out a final shrill shriek, vanishing beyond the canopy.
“Lis, come on,” Kaja said, breaking her from her trance. “The others have already gone ahead.”
With a last glance to the hawk, Aloisia ducked into the forest after Kaja.
The huntresses stalked silently and swiftly. It didn’t take long for Kaja and Aloisia to track and find their group. Aloisia kept to the back and remained alert. Thoughts of her brother and the blue flames still consumed her mind.
Aloisia shook her head. As intense as the past twenty-four hours had been, she needed to focus. It would not do her, nor any of her sisters, any favours if her concentration slipped. One distraction could be the difference between life and death. More than deer lingered within these woods.
They continued through the forest for several minutes, taking care not to disrupt the surrounding land. It was vital, as a huntress, to cause little disturbance to the animals within the forests. And, for those they did hunt, they ensured their sacrifice was honoured.
The forest darkened with each passing moment and, though her sight was adjusting, visibility was rapidly decreasing as the sun vanished from the sky.
“Vyö mäys,” Aloisia murmured. A familiar burn stung behind her left ear. The symbol tattooed there was part of her initiation as a huntress, and it allowed for heightened sight, particularly in the darkness.
The colour drained from the world as the symbol took effect. In its place, the world lightened in shades of black and white. What colour remained showed traces of heat, lighting the other huntresses in shades of soft gold. Footprints left faint glimmers behind upon the earth, far dimmer than an animal would leave.
They reached the vast meadow at the base of the mountains. A herd of night deer grazed there, each one glowing in that same soft gold.
“As mäys,” Aloisia whispered under her breath. Her sight returned to normal with the words, deactivating the symbol behind her ear.
In the emerging moonlight, the coats of the night deer shone silver, spots of black dotted across their backs. A couple stags strode through the herd, their bone white horns branching above their heads. Aloisia always loved seeing the night deer, though the reality of their purpose here tarnished her enjoyment.
The huntresses watched from the shadows of the trees, identifying targets within the herd. The deer did not gather as one, as extensive as the meadow was, splitting off into smaller groups. Aloisia spotted movement along the southern treeline but, with the flash of auburn hair, realised it was the other huntresses taking their place beside the spring where some deer were drinking.
Another cluster of deer stood closer to where Aloisia hid, grazing on the shorter grass to this side of the meadow. Whilst there were a couple of young ones, her attention fixed on the oldest. The doe’s coat lightened to a faint white around its muzzle, and the black spots on its back faded to grey. It moved slower than the others, its steps tentative.
Aloisia gestured to Mavka, indicating the doe. The lead huntress gave a curt nod and held up a hand in a warning to wait. She tilted her head, listening for Dhara’s signal. Aloisia took up her position, drawing her bow, as Kaja and Neiris set up further down the treeline for their own target – one of the healthier does amongst the group.
A high whistle sounded, mimicking a bird call. They waited for a count of three. Aloisia lined up her shot. Another whistle rang out. She loosed the arrow. It buried itself deep within the chest of the doe. Startled, it tried to run, only to stumble to its knees. The second doe had broken away, two arrows protruding from its side, as the rest of the cluster scattered northwards.
Kaja swore under her breath, taking aim again and catching the doe through the throat. Not the cleanest of deaths. Aloisia emerged from the trees, brandishing a blade. The old doe had collapsed to its side now, its eyes wild with fear. She knelt beside it, placing a hand upon its neck.
“In the light of the Huntress, I thank you for the sacrifice you have made this day,” Aloisia recited the words. “May your soul rest in the Celestial City, at the side of the Huntress herself, whilst your earthly body sustains those who endure poverty.” She sliced the doe’s throat, ending her suffering and fear.
Aloisia spotted her sisters bent over their prey across the meadow. Kaja and Neiris to the north, speaking the words with blade at the ready. And, to the south, Valda and Morgan each knelt beside their own kills. Four in total. It would be enough.
