Eight 2: Chapter 42

On the day of the hunt, the lodge gathered about four miles southwest of Voorhei, at the spot Kesa’s team had identified as the best place to fight the King of the Forest. The weather was balmy, with patches of clouds in the sky, the kind that looked quilted. A light breeze blew, bringing relief to the sweating hunters preparing for the battle ahead. I worked alongside them, and planted another spear into the earth.

The open field in which we worked was covered with them, their hafts wrapped with wire. More protected the approaches to the ballistae atop the two hills overlooking the field of spears. The trees surrounding the area were similarly garlanded; wire coiled around the trunks and draped from their branches. The hope was that they’d interfere with the King’s lightning and draw it away.

While Voorhei’s hunters prepared, so did the dolbecs on Banan’s team. Agath and Moon placed weapons and extra shields in the field’s center. It’d be their responsibility to keep the King in place while the others attacked. Meanwhile, Banan and the other team leaders huddled at the border between forest and field to discuss last-minute details.

I pulled a figurine in the shape of an otter out from under my new mail and arming jacket. Aluali had carved it for me, and Billisha had made the beaded necklace from which it hung. I rubbed the figurine between my fingers for luck.

That wasn’t just superstition either.

The description underlying the children’s blessings was the same: “A blessing containing the love and gratitude of a child toward their zasha, their adopted father. Provides a small bonus to Luck in dangerous situations.”

Alas, there was also another new entry:

The description read: “An enmity born of frustration for your role in impeding his desires. Creates a small negative influence on Luck. Its effect is heightened when in the presence of other cursed individuals.”

I had learned of the curse the previous night when I’d checked my Status before heading out with the rest of the hunters. My reaction was grim and… honestly, I was just tired of the man. I’d brought his family’s bodies back to him, yet here he was wishing for my death on the eve of a dangerous hunt.

Unfortunately, mi abuela’s remedies didn’t work in this world, and the curse had remained stuck to me no matter what I tried. I promised myself, though, that I’d keep looking for a way to deal with it once the hunt was over. As for Ghitha himself, his fate was already sealed. It was only a matter of time.

There was also a new condition, although it was a temporary one:

The Alchemist Lodge’s potion had tasted chalky and bitter, but it provided what it promised: a measure of protection against the King’s lightning. Uncle Kila had come through, and I was able to buy potions for all my teammates and Inleio too.

Tegen caught me playing with the otter figurine. “Are you nervous, Eight?”

My stomach fluttered, an animalistic fear lurking within. “Yes.”

Tegen nodded. “A day like today is a true test of one’s path, as well as the path we share together as hunters. It’s reasonable to be afraid. And yet we must hunt our fear, so that we can do what we must.” He looked out at our preparations. “Trust in your brothers and sisters, and in the plan we’ve developed together. Trust in the spirits and gods who watch over us. And trust in yourself and your training, Eight. Follow the path, and it will lead you through.”

“I’ll do my best,” I said.

“We all will,” he said. “Now, only a few more spears and we can rest.”

The plan was to lure the kalihchi bear to this field—that was Otwei’s job—and surround him in concentric circles. Banan’s team, Borba, and Inleio would fight the bear directly in the center, while Kesa and Mumu’s teams would use hit-and-run tactics from the second circle. The remaining hunters and the ballistae were placed farther out and would fight from a distance.

There was also a first-aid station well away from where the fighting would take place. That was where the other apprentices would be, and it would also serve as the fallback for any hunters who needed to escape the fighting.

I had my own fallbacks as well. There was no way I’d fight the King of the Forest without a Plan B, C, and D. There was even a Plan E, but that one was a last resort; the Meadow of the Evil Death Mushrooms would likely result in mutually assured destruction.

I’d use it if I had to, though. For the kids, Ikfael, and my teammates too.

Bearbane lay on the ground beside me, ready to be taken up. The spear was beautiful; its ebony haft and silver-gray head glimmered in the light. It was a work of art—something that, under different circumstances, might be considered a national treasure and placed in a museum. Yet Ikfael had rented it to me for a single trout grilled over the fire. I had teared up at the time, and thought she’d tease me for it, but she hadn’t. All she’d said was: “You use it. You bring it back. Not anyone else. Just you.”

The last of the spears were planted, and then the hunters dispersed to the shade of the trees. There would be a couple of hours until the fighting began. More than a few of the hunters slept.

“I don’t know how they do it,” I said.

“Everything is practice,” Tegen said. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. His focus was on examining the wires stitched to his jacket. The cloth had been cut too, to create vents so that any vaporized water could easily escape. The jacket was ruined for any other uses, but it was a small price to pay to avoid severe burns.

“Right,” I said. “I guess I’ll try it too.”

But sleep eluded me. Anytime I was about to nod off, I startled awake. So I meditated instead, and rode the feelings welling up inside me: the gnawing fear and worry, the doubt and pointed apprehension. They came in waves, radiating up from my belly, but sitting with them helped me to see through them. I was still afraid—that didn’t change—but I eventually found a calm place and rested there.

“Eight.” Mumu’s voice roused me from my meditation. “It’s almost time.” I opened my eyes to find her crouched nearby. “Are you ready?”

Yuki?

We’re ready, and Sun-on-Snow is on standby.

Thank you. For this and everything else.

Thank you, Ollie/Eight. Also for everything.

A bit of a smile came to my lips. “I’m ready.”

“Good,” Mumu said. “Just remember to stay with the team.”

I nodded to show I understood.

“Let’s join the others, then.”

I dusted myself off and jogged over to my team’s hiding spot in the trees. Everyone was present except for Teila, who was at the first-aid station. We wished each other luck, but quickly fell silent. The same was true for the other teams. The forest became quiet as we waited for Otwei’s signal.

Yuki’s qi pinged—the portion of them inside Otwei let me know that she’d found the King and was preparing to lead him to us. It won’t be long now.

I felt calm-ready-anxious, so I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants. I licked my lips and touched the otter figurine. My jitters from earlier hadn’t disappeared, but my heart felt steady. Not my physical heart—it beat fast, the blood pumping—but my conviction, my dedication, and my desire to see this hunt through to successful completion.

So much depended on it. There’d be no more invaders of the Glen every time the sky thundered, and it would be a turning point for the village of Voorhei too. We had to succeed. Just had to.

Panic flared within Otwei. She’d been Camouflaged and quiet, making her preparations, when the King had sniffed her out. Now she ran, and the bear gave chase.

Otwei signaled to Banan using the necklace she wore, and he hooted like an owl to let Voorhei’s hunters know that the King approached. It proved unnecessary—we all heard the sound of trees falling in the distance.

I gripped Bearbane, and merged with Yuki.

Otwei ran for her life. No matter what tricks she used, how quickly she ran, or how well she weaved through the forest, the King wouldn’t let her go. Trees cracked and snapped. The ground trembled. His roar sent birds flying and animals fleeing. She left poison spikes in her wake, but the kalihchi bear was unaffected. The decoy trails she’d arranged overnight also proved ineffective. Nothing impeded his single-minded pursuit. Her only good fortune was that he’d not shot his lightning at her yet. Instead, he seemed intent on capturing her.

Otwei specialized in avoiding danger, but she was no stranger to it. This bear, though, felt like a force of nature, his will over the forest supreme. What he wanted, he inevitably got, and she felt small and incapable of harming him.

That feeling—she hated it. Her spite rose up and spurred her to run faster. She reached for the signaling stone around her neck and alerted her team a second time. The bear was likely to be a greater threat they’d anticipated. They needed to prepare to flee if necessary.

Our consciousnesses split, and I looked over at where Banan and Kuros hid. The bushes obscured their physical bodies, but I saw their spirits huddled together as they conferred.

“Banan’s team may run,” I whispered, “once they see the bear’s strength with their own eyes.”

My team looked at me in surprise. Mumu spoke for them: “What makes you say that?”

“They’ve cheated other hunters before,” I said. “They may do it again.”

“But their reputation—”

There wasn’t time for explanations. Otwei approached. Her blurred form shot from the forest and headed for where Agath and Moon stood ready.

The King of the Forest smashed through the trees. He was as big as a tank and just as imposing, every line and muscle weighted with menace. Spotting Agath and Moon, he stood on his hind legs and towered over the field. The dolbecs looked like children in comparison, and when he roared, all the spears in the ground trembled.

My mouth was dry, and my breathing ragged. My heart thundered in my ears. Inside me, Yuki suppressed the amount of adrenaline being pumped into my bloodstream, and I paired it with a calming breath.

I turned my attention to:

His Status read differently compared to the last time I’d examined him. Back then, he was described as a kalihchi bear, not the King of the Forest. Not that it was surprising—I’d already seen examples of names changing based on community perceptions. Also, the Gourmand talent was new.

Agath and Moon threw spears, but the King wasn’t even annoyed with how they pricked him. He just swept them away from his body, then leapt and soared over the dolbecs to land where Otwei hid in Camouflage. Somehow, he knew her location.

Moon charged, but his spear snapped against the bear’s body. He fell back to get another, while Agath took his place. Her strike must’ve hit something sensitive, because the King spun and swiped at her, crumpling her shield and sending her flying.

Moon thrust at his face to get his attention, and that was when the ballistae fired. The bolts whistled through the air and smashed into the bear, the force visibly rippling through his musculature.

That made the King angry. He stood and roared again, and Borba took that as his signal to attack. He screamed an incoherent cry and charged onto the field. He looked leaner than before, almost stick-like, but there was a ferocity to him. His hands and forearms were covered in red scales, and they glowed with a dim, rusty light.

Borba’s spear barely penetrated, but the rusty light spread to the bear’s body. The King didn’t like that—not one bit—and he slammed his paws down to crush Borba. The hunter rolled aside and struck with his spear again, the rusty light spreading.

From the opposite side, Inleio charged. The attack was without embellishments, every motion pure and enhanced with a Dog’s Agility and Bear’s Strength that had been trained over a lifetime. It was like watching a hummingbird’s wings, but the impact staggered the King.

Two more ballistae bolts struck the kalihchi bear, rocking him. Kesa’s team emerged from hiding to attack with their spears, and they ran back out. Then Mumu led us in for our pass.

Her Spiral Pierce was marginally useful in penetrating the King’s thick fur. The same was true for Tegen’s Bear’s Strength, so I scaled back my expectations for the impact of my own attacks. My aim was to distract more than to harm. If all went well, the real work would be done by the first circle of fighters.

Bearbane made a liar out of my expectations. The spear cut through the thick hide easily, parting it to expose the red muscle underneath. There was no time to examine the wound though, as I quickly dashed away.

The hunter teams in the outer circles released their arrows, but the bear ignored them. He even ignored Borba, Inleio, and the dolbecs. Instead, the King turned to follow me with his eyes. Just as Banan and Kuros finally stepped out of hiding to attack, the King released his lightning.