The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)(18)

Killing the great beast would turn a regular man—a mere hunter, a commoner—into royalty. He would marry a princess, thereby earning himself the most gorgeous of waterway lands with abundant crops, enclosed within the safety of the legendary stone wall. Their family would be comfortable for generations. Beyond comfortable.

“Get it out of your minds. It’s too dangerous,” Mrs. Seabolt whispered, panicked. “Even soldiers cannot kill it!”

“The boys are smart,” their father said. “The king’s soldiers have become lazy due to our blessed lack of war, and they train primarily for sea battles and defensive attacks, not tracking. Our boys know the forests. They have common sense and a world of skill. I think they should both enter. Someone has to kill this beast. It may as well be them. They’d be heroes, and think of the prize!”

Mrs. Seabolt pursed her lips at him.

“I’d be out hunting the beast anyhow if it weren’t for the bloody curfew threatening to arrest everyone,” Paxton said.

His mother propped a hand on her hip. “Pfft! I don’t think so, young man!” But they all knew she wouldn’t have been able to stop him.

Tiern and his brother became lost in visions of the ultimate hunt.

Their mother absently fiddled with her apron, twisting it and then smoothing it, a nervous habit. “This is absurd. I think . . .”

Their father’s eyebrows drew together. “What, dear?”

“It’s just that . . .” Her eyes slid to Tiern with worry and he sat up straighter.

“He can rival any hunter, Mother,” Paxton told her.

“Aye, but he’s young still.” She swallowed and shook her head.

Tiern ground his teeth. When would she stop viewing him as a wee lad? He knew how children were valued in their society, but he hated to be coddled and sheltered. He shot her a pleading expression.

“I’m seventeen, Mother. Not a child.”

Her eyes scanned his lean frame as if he were still five. “I know, dear.” She barely got the words out before tears were escaping. “But this beast . . .”

“Now, now.” Mr. Seabolt sighed and reached for his wife’s hand. “Fear not. The boys will look out for each other—”

“You’re not frightened at all?” she asked, louder now. “I don’t care about the riches! I care about my boys. You can stop them! Forbid them.”

Both boys turned to their father. Indeed, Tiern could see there was reluctance, and something darker, in the man’s face. Maybe fear. But he knew their father could see the hunt for what it was: an honor and the opportunity of a lifetime.

“The boys do not have to go, Maryn, but if they choose to participate, I will not stop them.”

“Mother.” Paxton’s voice was firm, his eyes like strong mahogany as he held her gaze. He spoke with absolute conviction, and Tiern wondered if he’d ever be able to talk like that and be taken as seriously as his older brother. “I vow not to let harm come to Tiern. One of us will kill this beast and we will both return home safely. We will make you proud. Please, let us go with your blessing.”

Their mother covered her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut. After a long pause, she finally nodded, letting out a whimper. Their father patted her knee, beaming at his boys.

Tiern and Paxton met gazes, the older brother giving him a nod, solidifying their partnership in this adventure. Tiern’s chest swelled with pride and excitement. The ultimate hunt. The hand of a princess. What could be better?











Chapter


8


Princess Aerity held her skirts in her fists as she ran down the stone hall of the royal quarters and burst into Lady Wyneth’s bedroom. She knew she could not face what was happening in the royal streets of castle Lochlanach without her cousin.

Lads. Men. Over a hundred of them. All potential husbands.

Aerity found her sitting in a chair in another gray gown, staring at the wall. Wyneth was fully dressed and her hair had been brushed.

“Wyn?”

Her cousin startled at the sound of her name. It broke Aerity’s heart all over again to see her vibrant friend so washed out. Aerity slid into a crouch beside her.

“How do you feel?” Aerity asked.

Wyneth gave a weak shrug, and Aerity suddenly felt bad for bothering her. The princess dropped her eyes, fidgeting with nerves.

Wyneth sat up straighter. “They’re not here already, are they? The proclamation just went out.”

“It’s been a week. . . .” She swallowed.

“A week already?” Wyneth’s eyes cleared as they looked at each other. “Oh, Aer. Are there many?”

Aerity tried to stay calm, but all the fear and nervousness tangled together to make her voice shaky and high. “There are hundreds of them.”

“Where are they? Can we spy?” These words from Wyneth filled Aerity with relief. They’d always faced things together, practically joined at the hip.

“Aye, Cousin. I don’t think I can do this without you.”

Wyneth stood and took both Aerity’s hands in hers. “We go together.”

A grateful smile graced Aerity’s lips, the first real one since she’d agreed to this madness.

“Well, let’s go scout the lads then,” Wyneth said. Her grip on Aerity’s hand tightened. “Don’t be afraid. I’m certain one of them will be perfect for you.”