On roared the thunder as rain came drizzling down and sometimes through the roof of the cottage. The dancing flames of the fire were slowly dying out as a huddled figure on a swinging chair sat watching them.
"What a pretty sight," said a deep voice from a dark corner. "Who would have thought long ago that a sight like that would be harmful to the touch?"
"Most likely those who got burnt in it...," said the huddled figure in an uninterested manner. "What are you doing here, Gustav? Shouldn't you be inside the city?"
"I came to warn you, they'll be patrolling the suburbs as soon as the sun rises. Had I known I'd be getting a haughty reception I might've saved myself the trouble."
"I find it rather challenging to receive guests after they let themselves in, especially when they don't use the front door."
"You must excuse my intrusion, Sir Lin, I thought it best not to openly visit an abandoned cottage in the middle of the night, seeing as we are all on the black list of this land. They are very determined to get their hands on the likes of us you know."
"I can't say it did not pass my notice," answered Lin. The silhouette of the huddled figure now sat up straight and the face of a man in his mid-30s could be seen through the light of the fire. "They did chase me throughout the whole city with their guns after all."
"Yes well, let's be fair, you haven't been an obedient citizen Lin. What with your rude display of their corruption, charging right through the guards. What were you thinking?"
"I'm guessing the same thing you were when you pulled down that guard's pants for mishandling that young woman?... such a rash act Gustav, did she tickle your fancy?"
Lin could vaguely make out a slight grin on Gustav's face. "Shall we call it even then?"
"Not yet, we have to get you out of here, and to be honest I might not have the energy or the luck to get away with another pant pulling stunt if they find you here. I'd rather avoid all that if I can help it. Pack your things, there's a hidden path from here to the woods we could take without being spotted. We must lea-"
A sudden sound of a knock came from the door. Lin stood up and froze with a look at Gustav.
"Unlike myself, this guest had the decency of using the front door, Lin," whispered Gustav.
"Indeed... but I do not feel like answering it."
Lin drew out a dull blade from his sheathe. The knock came again, this time slightly louder.
After a silent pause the unexpected knock was no longer heard. Silence filled the room apart from the crackling of the fire and the water drops from the ceiling. It was the next minute that brought a deafening explosion. The hinges of the door blew apart with a flash and part of the cottage itself suffered destructive damage. The slow entering footsteps however... found an empty room.
They ran as fast as their legs could take them.
"You are a queer one, Lin," laughed Gustav as they passed through a few winding paths in the dark. "You accept guests who break in uninvited and thwart those who actually follow the respectful procedures."
"And you, my friend, have a queer understanding of what's respectful" replied Lin looking behind his shoulders as he ran. The cottage they managed to slip out of in the nick of time was now burning.
"Speaking of which," said Gustav with sudden earnestness in his voice. "Who and what could that have been?"
"You must have been followed," said Lin thoughtfully.
"Yes of course, and my tracker decided thereafter, after figuring out how I entered your cottage that is, to take the front door nonetheless and create a ceremonious entry. And that is after a couple of knocks on the door, since he didn't want to forget his manners."
"Did I ever mention how annoying I find you sometimes?" mumbled Lin brushing aside a number of twigs as they found their way through narrower roads. As dark as it was they did not dare to stop. It was vital to get as far away from the cottage as possible and out of reach.
"You should be thankful. If I wasn't there I daresay you would have been caught in the middle of that burning furnace right now Mr. Lindsay Sythe. It may have done your useless blade well though... why do you even carry that thing around?"
"It was a gift..."
"Well your donor didn't like you much did they? Under what circumstances did they believe that thing would serve you?"
Lin gave a long sigh and made no reply. They strode on for a long time with no regard for where they were heading. As they walked for what seemed to be 1-2 hours something stopped them dead in their tracks.
Slow approaching footsteps were heard from a distance. Lin and Gustav made to get off the road only the steps did not seize no matter how fast they ran.
"It's him!" whispered Gustav in awe. Lin could see his eyes widen with unmistakable fear.
"Gustav!" snapped Lin. "What's the matter?"
"There were rumours of a feared hunter outside the city. He's a freelancer who gets paid by the aristocrats sometimes to do their dirty work for them. It seems like you've really angered them this time Lin, this guy's impossible to escape from! He's caught so many criminals before now!"
"Good thing we're not criminals then, innit?"
"Defying the big shots? We're as good as. There's no time to discuss our case, he's been paid for this and I doubt he'll be interested in anything we have to say!"
"Gustav-"
"Stop arguing Sythe, don't you get it?!"
"Gusta-"
"There's no way out of this now..."
"Shut up and listen!"
Truly enough, the footsteps seized. They were not able to see anyone in the darkness. An eerie feeling crept up their spines at the sudden silence.
Gustav stood slightly shaking. Beads of sweat trickled down his face.
"Stop panicking," said Lin.
"Who me? I'm not panicking... Why would you say I'm panicking?"
"Even the fish can feel you shaking from here, you're creating an air tremor, pull yourself together!"
"I'm not shaking! I'm just a little cold, that's all!"
Lin realized that Gustav's current fashion was indeed useless for warming and as it stopped raining it had become chilling under the trees.
"Where's your cloak?" he asked.
"I left it back in the cottage."
Lin rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Is he really that frightening?"
"Did you not hear what I said about him?"
"Have you ever seen him, Gustav?" asked Lin.
"No."
"Did you see these rumours happening with your own eyes?"
"No, but-"
"Then perhaps it would be wise not to completely believe everything you're told."
"Yes, but you can't completely ignore it, those villagers do not get scared for nothing you know."
"Believe me, if they were anything like you. Just pull the right strings and convincing them will be no problem."
Lin felt a block of wood slam on his head.
"You would not believe something obvious even if it was proven under your very nose!" retorted Gustav. "It's almost as if you've forgotten the explosion that took place not 3 hours ago! Do you still think this guy's overestimated?"
"That was no ordinary fire, I'll give you that," answered Lin thoughtfully, nursing the striking pain from his head down to his back..
"There! Isn't that proof enough that something's not right?"
"Something's definitely not right here," a voice agreed.
"Thank you!" stressed Gustav with final triumph before he realized what happened and opened his mouth dumbstruck.
Lin's posture stiffened. "Who's there-?"
"Here I am," cut in the voice again. "Having a good night's sleep and minding my own business, " Gustav and Lin were not able to see the speaker but they felt his voice travel from side to side as he spoke. "Only to receive an urgent message for some hunting job. As I heard the culprits this time were well known troublemakers, I was rather hoping I'd get a bit of a challenge in the chase. Yet here you are, not only choosing an obvious hideout, but stopping dead in the middle of the road as you heard me approaching, in order to discuss the reality of my existence. Which you then completely forget about after I stop moving." A sudden light from a small lantern shined behind them and the speaker instantly placed himself in between the two (whom curiously, neither of dared or bothered to turn around) all the better to see them. "And those are the rascals I am meant to capture? I feel quite insulted"
The face of the man who appeared behind the light was unlike anything they expected.
"What a pretty sight," said a deep voice from a dark corner. "Who would have thought long ago that a sight like that would be harmful to the touch?"
"Most likely those who got burnt in it...," said the huddled figure in an uninterested manner. "What are you doing here, Gustav? Shouldn't you be inside the city?"
"I came to warn you, they'll be patrolling the suburbs as soon as the sun rises. Had I known I'd be getting a haughty reception I might've saved myself the trouble."
"I find it rather challenging to receive guests after they let themselves in, especially when they don't use the front door."
"You must excuse my intrusion, Sir Lin, I thought it best not to openly visit an abandoned cottage in the middle of the night, seeing as we are all on the black list of this land. They are very determined to get their hands on the likes of us you know."
"I can't say it did not pass my notice," answered Lin. The silhouette of the huddled figure now sat up straight and the face of a man in his mid-30s could be seen through the light of the fire. "They did chase me throughout the whole city with their guns after all."
"Yes well, let's be fair, you haven't been an obedient citizen Lin. What with your rude display of their corruption, charging right through the guards. What were you thinking?"
"I'm guessing the same thing you were when you pulled down that guard's pants for mishandling that young woman?... such a rash act Gustav, did she tickle your fancy?"
Lin could vaguely make out a slight grin on Gustav's face. "Shall we call it even then?"
"Not yet, we have to get you out of here, and to be honest I might not have the energy or the luck to get away with another pant pulling stunt if they find you here. I'd rather avoid all that if I can help it. Pack your things, there's a hidden path from here to the woods we could take without being spotted. We must lea-"
A sudden sound of a knock came from the door. Lin stood up and froze with a look at Gustav.
"Unlike myself, this guest had the decency of using the front door, Lin," whispered Gustav.
"Indeed... but I do not feel like answering it."
Lin drew out a dull blade from his sheathe. The knock came again, this time slightly louder.
After a silent pause the unexpected knock was no longer heard. Silence filled the room apart from the crackling of the fire and the water drops from the ceiling. It was the next minute that brought a deafening explosion. The hinges of the door blew apart with a flash and part of the cottage itself suffered destructive damage. The slow entering footsteps however... found an empty room.
They ran as fast as their legs could take them.
"You are a queer one, Lin," laughed Gustav as they passed through a few winding paths in the dark. "You accept guests who break in uninvited and thwart those who actually follow the respectful procedures."
"And you, my friend, have a queer understanding of what's respectful" replied Lin looking behind his shoulders as he ran. The cottage they managed to slip out of in the nick of time was now burning.
"Speaking of which," said Gustav with sudden earnestness in his voice. "Who and what could that have been?"
"You must have been followed," said Lin thoughtfully.
"Yes of course, and my tracker decided thereafter, after figuring out how I entered your cottage that is, to take the front door nonetheless and create a ceremonious entry. And that is after a couple of knocks on the door, since he didn't want to forget his manners."
"Did I ever mention how annoying I find you sometimes?" mumbled Lin brushing aside a number of twigs as they found their way through narrower roads. As dark as it was they did not dare to stop. It was vital to get as far away from the cottage as possible and out of reach.
"You should be thankful. If I wasn't there I daresay you would have been caught in the middle of that burning furnace right now Mr. Lindsay Sythe. It may have done your useless blade well though... why do you even carry that thing around?"
"It was a gift..."
"Well your donor didn't like you much did they? Under what circumstances did they believe that thing would serve you?"
Lin gave a long sigh and made no reply. They strode on for a long time with no regard for where they were heading. As they walked for what seemed to be 1-2 hours something stopped them dead in their tracks.
Slow approaching footsteps were heard from a distance. Lin and Gustav made to get off the road only the steps did not seize no matter how fast they ran.
"It's him!" whispered Gustav in awe. Lin could see his eyes widen with unmistakable fear.
"Gustav!" snapped Lin. "What's the matter?"
"There were rumours of a feared hunter outside the city. He's a freelancer who gets paid by the aristocrats sometimes to do their dirty work for them. It seems like you've really angered them this time Lin, this guy's impossible to escape from! He's caught so many criminals before now!"
"Good thing we're not criminals then, innit?"
"Defying the big shots? We're as good as. There's no time to discuss our case, he's been paid for this and I doubt he'll be interested in anything we have to say!"
"Gustav-"
"Stop arguing Sythe, don't you get it?!"
"Gusta-"
"There's no way out of this now..."
"Shut up and listen!"
Truly enough, the footsteps seized. They were not able to see anyone in the darkness. An eerie feeling crept up their spines at the sudden silence.
Gustav stood slightly shaking. Beads of sweat trickled down his face.
"Stop panicking," said Lin.
"Who me? I'm not panicking... Why would you say I'm panicking?"
"Even the fish can feel you shaking from here, you're creating an air tremor, pull yourself together!"
"I'm not shaking! I'm just a little cold, that's all!"
Lin realized that Gustav's current fashion was indeed useless for warming and as it stopped raining it had become chilling under the trees.
"Where's your cloak?" he asked.
"I left it back in the cottage."
Lin rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Is he really that frightening?"
"Did you not hear what I said about him?"
"Have you ever seen him, Gustav?" asked Lin.
"No."
"Did you see these rumours happening with your own eyes?"
"No, but-"
"Then perhaps it would be wise not to completely believe everything you're told."
"Yes, but you can't completely ignore it, those villagers do not get scared for nothing you know."
"Believe me, if they were anything like you. Just pull the right strings and convincing them will be no problem."
Lin felt a block of wood slam on his head.
"You would not believe something obvious even if it was proven under your very nose!" retorted Gustav. "It's almost as if you've forgotten the explosion that took place not 3 hours ago! Do you still think this guy's overestimated?"
"That was no ordinary fire, I'll give you that," answered Lin thoughtfully, nursing the striking pain from his head down to his back..
"There! Isn't that proof enough that something's not right?"
"Something's definitely not right here," a voice agreed.
"Thank you!" stressed Gustav with final triumph before he realized what happened and opened his mouth dumbstruck.
Lin's posture stiffened. "Who's there-?"
"Here I am," cut in the voice again. "Having a good night's sleep and minding my own business, " Gustav and Lin were not able to see the speaker but they felt his voice travel from side to side as he spoke. "Only to receive an urgent message for some hunting job. As I heard the culprits this time were well known troublemakers, I was rather hoping I'd get a bit of a challenge in the chase. Yet here you are, not only choosing an obvious hideout, but stopping dead in the middle of the road as you heard me approaching, in order to discuss the reality of my existence. Which you then completely forget about after I stop moving." A sudden light from a small lantern shined behind them and the speaker instantly placed himself in between the two (whom curiously, neither of dared or bothered to turn around) all the better to see them. "And those are the rascals I am meant to capture? I feel quite insulted"
The face of the man who appeared behind the light was unlike anything they expected.
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