The Endless Hunt, Season 3: "Snakes! Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?"

[Legendary Sidekick]

Silver sees Jade's eyes welling with tears.

"Your father..."

Silver hesitates to respond. Jade breaks the silence by scolding herself.

"I am selfish. I heard you and started thinking..."

Jade brushes her tears aside, wishing she could brush aside her thoughts as easily.

"Tell me more about your father."

[Reaver]

Damn that fool gladiator to the deepest pit of Sheol!

Because of his "romantic interludes" with "a bunch of hot babes", we'd missed the ship that was leaving Roku-Roku with the others on board and therefore had to wait another day for the next. By the time we reached our destination and the correct pier, the others had already boarded.

My numb-skulled companion and I climbed aboard the tall-masted vessel called the Sea Hind just as the deckhands were casting off the mooring lines. We were greeted by two porters who took my rucksack and all six of Manimus' large cases to our cabins.

After getting settled in, I decided to take a quick stroll around the ship to gain situational awareness. I spotted my massive barbarian friend Bouldergut first. He was standing near the bow of the ship, talking to a young man. Their conversation was occasionally broken by bits of raucous laughter.

To the port side aft section, I saw Bouldergut's lovely wife, Jade. She was speaking quietly to a lovely raven-haired maiden with whom I felt an overwhelming desire to meet. I began to head in their direction but then paused, realizing how rude it would be of me to interrupt them.

I turned and walked over to where Bouldergut and his young companion stood. My meeting the beauty with the ebony tresses was going to have to wait.

[Reaver]

Okay. So like, Reaver was all pissed at me and stuff because I like, stuck around and like, had lots of great sex with all these like, super hot maidens and stuff. And like, you know, like, it's not my fault if like, he didn't hook up with any of those chicks, because like, he totally could've, you know?

So like, when I was done, Reaver was all whiny and stuff and saying stuff like: "C'mon Manimus! We gotta get to the rondy...rondy something and like meet Bouldernuts and like his hot-ass wife and stuff."

I was all like: "Whatever dude, you know? I mean like, seriously. Okay? Like, you know, relax. We're like, on a island paradise with like all these hot babes who wanna do us, because we like, saved their homes and junk. You know? So like chill out man. Seriously. Okay?"

But Reaver was all like stomping his feet on the ground and like, throwing stuff. And he was like: "We gotta go-ohh-oh! Bouldernuts will be mad at us and stuff and I'm like, totally scared of him."

So like, I was like: "Fine. Okay? Like, we'll leave tomorrow morning, okay? Seriously. Okay? Damn dude."

And so like, we left and caught up to everyone else on this ship. I was totally pissed though. We left my entourage on Roku Roku, because Reaver is a whiny little bitch.

[Sheilawisz]

Silver Whitestar

Silver showed a little smile for Jade, they looked into each other's eyes for seven seconds and then, after discovering that Jade's interest in her past was sincere, Silver decided to tell the story of her father:

"Jade, my father was the only person of my family that really loved me" she said, her voice a little broken- "My mother was not right in the head, really, and my older brother and sister... well, they always said that if I got devoured by something in the forest, they would have more food for themselves everyday."

Jade could now imagine how difficult Silver's life had always been, she wanted to say something but then Silver, staring at the sea once again, continued with her story:

"Dad taught me everything about working in the forest, sometimes he would take me to work and learn with him and he always told his friends how proud he was of his little woodcutter girl" Silver said- "When I stayed home, I loved to hear his steps drawing closer to our cottage. He would always tell me stories before I fell asleep."

"What happened then?" Jade asked- "You said that everyone abandoned you."

The wind was very strong and the ships were sailing fast, the sun shining strong so high up in the sky.

"One day, there was a wildfire somewhere in the forest" Silver's voice was weaker now- "Dad and his friends were trapped by the fires far from our home, we never found anything of them, everything was ashes..."

Jade hugged Silver as she realized that her friend's voice was breaking apart, but then Silver recovered control of her emotions and decided to tell the rest of the story in just a few words:

"My mother blamed me for the fact that Dad was that day at that particular part of the forest, since the night before I asked him to hunt a rabbit for dinner and the best rabbits lived there- My siblings hated me too, they had always hated me anyway and so I have been on my own since then... My father's old Longsword is the only keepsake that I have of him."

"Silver, I am so sorry..."

"No problem, I have survived all these years just fine, have not I?" Silver replied, smiling at her- "What about your life, Jade?"

[Ravana]

On the Waves and on the Road

The biggest excitement of the first day at sea—apart from being at sea, for those who never had—is when Prince Heverik strides on deck wearing his brand-new "Honorary Commodore" outfit, which is composed of an amazing assortment of vertical green and blue satin elements, all cut along undulating patterns, presumably someone's idea of representing waves, puffed out by a pearl-grey undertunic, to signify billows; every exposed edge is trimmed in narrow bands of white lace, to indicate sea foam. What's astonishing is that it actually all works: from more than a few feet away, it really does resemble what it's supposed to—that is to say, something formless, ever-changing and difficult to focus on for long periods of time. Like the sea, too, it glitters in the sun… this last effect courtesy of perhaps a hundred fine silver chains with tiny anchors on them. Which is why doesn't work all that well close up. Still, it's the most coherent, coordinated outfit nearly anyone on the ship has ever seen him in.

He's also wearing a codpiece that appears to be made from a genuine cod, and a three-cornered hat with two extra corners… which prevents anyone from suspecting he's an imposter.

Especially after someone confirms that, yes, he really does have a stuffed fish between his legs.

The crew humor him, taking it in turns to complement his outfit, ask him questions or provide answers to his own. More observant passengers begin to notice this invariably manages to keep him well away from any vital part of the ship, and most especially out of the rigging.

Days two and three pass in much the same way, apart from the inevitable variations that mark the prince's wardrobe from one day to the next: day two features a striped bass piece, day three a white grouper piece.

Upon comparing notes, the rest of the party realizes Sigrelyn and the young lady who resembles her are never on deck at the same time, though sometimes they occur in sufficiently close proximity that it's unlikely the baroness is simply changing costume. Not that she's the type to. Also, the other lady's hair is shorter and not braided.

At evening of the third day, the ships arrive at the mouth of the Thanding River, up which they proceed the following two days, finally reaching a decent-sized town from which mountains can be seen to the west. The rest of that day and all the next is devoted to unloading, a task complicated by the fact that the town's docks aren't really designed to handle large seagoing vessels, so only two can be worked at a time. Even this requires substantial extra pay for the longshoremen, as well as the recruiting of several dozen additional hands from amongst the local peasantry and the rapid construction of an extra crane.

It becomes evident that most of the hunters arrived after the embarkation was already well in progress, as, so their amazement, the expedition has been provided with no fewer than eight wagons, four of which have wooden sides and roofs, plus teams to pull them, along with riding horses and remounts for twenty more people, plus around two dozen hunting dogs of fine pedigree and dubious training, and at least twelve raptors of various sizes. There is also one 20'x10' pavilion, twelve four-person tents, and more than enough sleeping rolls, all-weather cloaks and packs for the entire expedition.

Which doesn't even begin to touch on the gloves, boots, leashes, collars, cages, sacks, snares, jaw traps, cage traps, snake sticks, snake hooks, long-handled nets, fishing nets, butterfly nets, butterfly knives (you suspect someone may have been the victim of a misunderstanding here), butter knives, boning knives, skinning knives, scaling knives, bows, arrows, axes, boar spears, fish spears, people spears, a harpoon, fishing rods, lines, hooks, sinkers, lures, torches, lanterns, oil (illumination, lubrication, honing, and cooking), food, wine, kettles, skillets, a hibachi, fire tongs, fire irons, shovels, tableware, water skins, drinking mugs, drinking horns, hunting horns, fodder, medicine, bandages, and taxidermy supplies. Along with spares of everything—it turns out that the eighth wagon is itself a spare, and is loaded mainly with wagon wheels and axles, leaf springs, rope, saddles, harness leather, yokes, tongues, traces, hammers, nails, saws, planes, screwdrivers and mojitos.

In addition to the wagon-drivers, there are eighteen other support personnel, most of whom ride in the wagons; they include two cooks, a blacksmith, a fletcher, a wainwright, a clerk, a kennel-master, a hawk-master, four grooms, two taxidermists, two assistant taxidermists, and two tailors.

The two large, ornate boxes on small wheels turn out to be wardrobes.

Around noon of the day after the arrival, a small stir is created when the local baron arrives with his household guard. He, the prince and the baroness converse together for perhaps half an hour, before he heads off again, leaving four of his riders behind. Afterwards, Sigrelyn can be heard mentioning the man's wisdom. When asked why, she says: "He doesn't believe everything he hears. So when he heard about us, he decided to come see for himself."

After a pause, as if in afterthought, she adds: "And he still doesn't believe it. That's the part I was commending him on."

The four men the baron leaves behind turn out to be an escort. Not to watch the caravan, but to reassure the locals.

Early next morning, the troupe sets off. Prince Heverik takes the lead: no longer aboard ship, he once again wears his particolored skull cap with the two snake heads for a crest. You now observe the function of the small spike they rest on, which allows them to rotate slowly in the breeze.

By day's end, the elevation has increased to where the expedition can look back across fertile, well-maintained plains, dotted with farms and the occasional "hamlet" where three or four such come together at their corners. Off to the left, on a considerably higher outcropping, is a watchtower that must command a splendid view of as much as two-thirds of the barony. Away to the right, the land rises more gradually, eventually meeting the mountains as they curve around from the west to the north. Ahead, the shallow valley narrows, then vanishes altogether into the looming, sunset-limned slopes.

"We should spot the pass tomorrow?" one of the functionaries inquires, examining the land rising before them.

'You're in the pass" replies one of the escort.

"Oh." Pause. "I guess that explains why it's seldom crossed."

"No lie."

Night falls.

•

[Tomorrow: the Pass of Three Rigors]

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Sorry... Heverik's outfit caused quite a bit of commotion. You wish to know of my past?"

Silver's reply suggests she's curious, and mildly annoyed at the interruption.

"Your story reminds me of my father. A good man, and yes, he is... no longer with us. I believe he still watches over me. But when he was alive...

"He was proud of me as well. I could not cut wood or do much of anything. I was the Jade Princess, daughter of the High Chieftain who ruled the largest corner of Roku-Roku Island. I was not supposed to do anything but wear green and purple stones.

"To briefly explain how my island was ruled until ten years ago, there were five High Chieftains--one to preside over each corner, and a fifth to preside over the volcanic area in the center. The southeast--my motherland--was the most populated corner, and is where most of the common people live to this day.

"Forgive me if this topic seems too personal to mention, but my father was proud of me because I was a true maiden. In my generation this was uncommon, as seven maidens were to be sacrificed in the year that I would turn twenty. Girls my age or slightly younger would give their bodies to several men up to three times their age just to earn a reputation of promiscuity so they could not be chosen.

"The age of a sacrificial maiden was sixteen to nineteen. When my father found out I would still be nineteen on the chosen day, he met with the other Chieftans. He boasted of my purity and said a girl should not be punished for making her father proud. The tradition in our corner was to offer one maiden from the royal family and two common girls. I was the only maiden of age in my family. My father was happy about this as my position would help him to change the law, or so he hoped.

"However, the other Chieftains did not have daughters. They feared the Lava Demon and would gladly sacrifice other people's daughters to save the island. Ultimately, my father was killed by my uncle and I was donned in an outfit made of white flowers. I was chosen to be the symbol of purity, and I was to watch a girl from my village die before jumping into the volcano myself.

"It was Bouldergut who rescued me. He was second in command of an army that was to take over my island. When his commander gave the order to allow the sacrifice to go on then attack while the Roku-Roku men were distracted, Bouldergut looked into my eyes. He saw the girl in front of me leap into the volcano, then he shouted--too loud for the protests of his commander to be heard--'Spare the women and children!' His commander fell without a head, but only I saw Bouldergut's traitorous act. His men followed him up the peak. Several blow darts struck Bouldergut's entire army, but the poison was too slow. The mainlanders quickly overpowered the Roku-Roku men. And... you've seen my husband. Perhaps it is not a surprise that only he was able to survive the poison."

Silver asks about the girl who died in the volcano.

"Oh! I should not have skipped that part. Forgive me.

"Heather is still alive to this day. It turns out that we girls had a plan of our own. Heather was to find a safe place to land so we could push some of the men in the volcano after they climbed down to push her in. We wanted to make the sacrifice impure so future generations would see that the Lava Demon is a hoax, and this horrible tradition would come to an end. Our intention was to save girls one hundred years our junior--we had no expectations regarding our own survival. If you come to my island someday, you may meet the other six maidens.

"They rule the island now--as Huntresses, not Princesses. As they do not wish to take husbands..." Jade lightly pats her belly. "...my daughter shall be the next Huntress in charge."

Silver wonders how Jade knows she's having a girl.

"All the superstitious people say I shall bear a son. My daughter shall prove them wrong."

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Reaver! Welcome aboard!"

Reaver begins to apologize for missing Bouldergut's ship, but Bouldergut cuts him off.

"No worries, friend! To make up for lost time, I have already asked the waitress to bring you a proper drink. Come join me at my table so I can find better things to do than count the squares on this patchwork cloak."

Reaver sees that the man next to Bouldergut is slumped over on the table.

"Omar?" Bouldergut lightly shakes the man. "Are you still with us, Omar?"

[Phil the Drill]

Omar Metzger

"What happened?" Omar blinked. "Did I miss something?"

I hope no one noticed that I just black out randomly. Damn boar attack.

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Not at all," Bouldergut replies. To Reaver, he says, "You should have seen this guy in action. Some creeps attacked my wife in an attempt to lure me into a trap. Omar here lunged right at them. He seemed hopelessly outnumbered! But... he's a one-man army."

Bouldergut pauses, and turns to Omar. His tone is almost apologetic.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Omar. You do not seem to have any particular skill or strength that would lead one to believe you can take on four killers and survive, much less defeat them singlehandedly."

Bouldergut announces his conclusion to no one in particular:

"The man does not fear death."

[Phil the Drill]

Omar Metzger

Omar frowned. "I killed someone? When did this happen?"

Omar stared off into space, his eyes going in and out of focus.