49

The next morning they all woke before the sunrise. Their routine from the academy was too ingrained in them to allow them to sleep in. All except for Marcus, who snored loudly enough to fill the entire barn with the sound of it until Davi chucked a boot at him. A little over an hour later, when the sun was rising, Durn appeared along with several other villagers with fresh food prepared in a basket. There was bread, cooked eggs, bacon, and some kind of fried greens. They all tucked into them eagerly, finding the taste to be far better than what they’d been used to for the last year. Even Tain and Jakub tore into their food with fury.

Once they were done, they all started getting armored.

“Leave your packs here. We don’t want to be dealing with the extra weight,” said Tain, already wearing his armor. “Spears and shields for this one—the sword won’t be much use for a hunt.”

“It’s a titled hunt. Swords may work better,” said Jakub.

“Not in a group. We all need to be able to strike it at once and avoid getting too close.”

Jakub shrugged. “Fair enough.”

Michael felt odd leaving the weight he’d grown used to the last several days behind but complied anyway, grabbing his spear but choosing to keep his sword on his belt. If Tain cared, he didn’t say anything.

Marcus didn’t have a spear, but he mounted a fearsome-looking bayonet on the end of his rifle.

As they exited the barn, they saw Jon, the hunter, waiting for them. His color had returned, and he wore a grim expression on his face. His eyes centered on Michael.

“Penitent. Thank you for healing me.” He gave a salute, which Michael reflexively returned. It made sense he was a veteran, all of the men in Stent were obligated to serve in some capacity.

He turned to Tain and Jakub. “I am to guide you all to the titled stag that has been in the woods.”

Tain and Jakub saluted him.

“Yes, thank you, huntsman,” said Tain, taking the lead.

He looked at them and shook his head. “Yesterday I would’ve told you not to wear all that damned armor, but given what happened to me, all I can say now is that I wish I had some too.”

“We’ll make sure you don’t come to harm,” said Jakub.

“Forgive me, Knights, but I do my best not to rely on fresh-faced recruits. Still, it’ll be good to have the help.” He looked up at the sun, holding up fingers to gauge the time. “We should get moving. You shouldn’t have to Muffle your movements until we’re in the deep forest, but watch your steps. The hunting trails aren’t well made for men in armor.”

Tain nodded, and they all fell in behind Jon as they started up the path through the village. The path changed slowly from the wide concrete they’d been used to, to clay, and finally to dirt as they wound their way into the forest. Jon moved easily, without needing to watch his footing, his experience with the trail making it all second nature to him, but the rest of them struggled. Davi’s wide frame had him brushing against every other branch and twig on the side of the path, and Ollie had to stay constantly hunched forward to avoid hitting every twig and leaf with his head thanks to his new height.

Michael stayed focused on the ground, trying to avoid tripping, but was fascinated by the brief sights of native flora and fauna that he managed while he did so. He saw pill bugs with iridescent shells the size of his fist crawling across the ground, heard bird songs that sounded almost like they were made with human voices, and watched as a snake with wings glided from one tree to another above him, nearly losing his footing while he watched it.

As they got deeper into the forest, the foliage got thicker, and very suddenly everyone stopped. Jon looked back at them and held a finger to his lips and muttered a word softly. Everyone cast Muffle on themselves, with Michael near the back of the line whispering, “silencio.” Marcus didn’t have any magic, but his own footsteps had barely made a sound anyway. They started moving forward even more cautiously. After an hour, Michael was wondering why they had muffled so soon when suddenly they all came to another stop.

Jon held up a hand and gestured it forward slowly, pointing ahead. They all moved to stand next to one another and look. Ahead was a clearing with a small creek running through it. Drinking from that creek was the stag. It was the size of a large horse with rich black fur and antlers of silver. Michael didn’t even try to count the number of points on them, estimating at least thirty. There was still some dried blood on the tips of them, likely from Jon, at least partially.

He focused for a moment, seeing little words of gold floating around it.

Titles:

Lord of the Forest

The Midnight Stag

Deeds:

Slayer of Huntsman

Gorer of Lions

Trampler of Wolves

Michael was starting to feel very worried about what they were attempting.

Tain whispered. “Jon, take Marcus around the back and ready your bow and gun. Davi, Pyotr, and Michael approach it from the front. Jakub and I will approach it from the side. Ollie… do you have any way to restrict its movements with your magic?”

Ollie looked at the nearby creek and frowned. “Maybe, but wouldn’t it make more sense for me to just blow it the fuck up?”

Tain scowled. “Absolutely not. We don’t want the body to be destroyed. The materials of a titled beast are too valuable.” He shook his head. “We’ll try to weaken it and keep it in place while you prepare your spell.”

“Its hide is probably far tougher than you think,” said Jakub. “I don’t think an opening salvo of a Fireball is a bad idea.”

“I’m in charge, Jakub. You’re just the backup. I want that creature as intact as we can make it.”

Michael couldn’t help but notice how Tain’s orders put the Penitents in the most danger, but he wasn’t exactly surprised. This was their entire purpose.

They all waited while Jon and Marcus got into place, and once they received the signal, Tain pushed Michael and Davi forward. “Go.”

The movement drew the attention of the stag, and it looked down at Pyotr, Davi, and Michael. For a moment, he thought they’d spooked it, then it reared up its head, its silver antlers catching the light, and it let out a strange yodeling noise before charging at them.

Michael and Pyotr were able to divert the antlers a bit as they slammed into them, but Davi took the full force of it, and his feet briefly left the ground before he was pushed back and landed on one knee.

Michael stabbed out with his spear, managing a shallow wound on the great beast’s shoulder; its hide was incredibly tough. It slammed its head toward him, knocking him and his shield back. Pyotr managed to drive his own spear into the stag’s leg. Causing it to cry out and rear up, its front hoof landing a glancing blow on Pyotr and knocking him back.

Davi lunged forward to cover the Russian with his spear before the beast could stomp on it, and Michael tried to draw its attention by stabbing at its head. His spear got tangled in the beast’s antlers, and he was forced to release his grip on it. He blocked another blow that knocked him back, causing pain to shoot from his elbow up to his shoulder.

A bullet fired, and Michael saw a spray of blood fly from the beast’s neck, then start to flow freely, but it didn’t go down. The bullet was followed by a number of arrows, two of which managed to bury themselves in the creature’s haunches.

The stag whipped around, throwing a blind kick at Michael and Davi that they were forced to duck as it looked for the source of this new attack.

Its back turned, Jakub and Tain finally made their entrance. They both ran out from the treeline and slammed their spears into the beast’s side, driving them as deep as they could, blood spurting from the wounds.

The stag made another angry yodel and tried to turn, but it couldn’t. Its hooves were sinking in mud, far more quickly than they should’ve been. Ollie stepped out from behind the treeline with his staff held aloft, muttering under his breath as wisps of magicka made themselves visible from the force of his spell.

It started to jerk around, and Jakub and Tain stepped back several paces. A recovered Pyotr and Davi moved toward it with spears ready, and Michael followed them close behind, raising his sword.

The stag was soon sunk up nearly to its neck and was losing mobility. It was time to finish it off. They approached it, and very suddenly, all of the Penitents doubled over in pain.