Free The Hunter's Apprentice by Mark Stentson Page A

Aerys looked around and saw that they the Oozes were just inches away from them now. In despair he tried one last time and this time the flames appeared and bite the oily twigs hungrily. The oozes backed away immediately with terrified noises.
    -Well done lad, barked the hunter taking the twigs cautiously from him. He took a bottle of wine from his bag and sent it crashing on the oozes. The burning twigs followed and the fire started. The flames grew bigger and bigger as it engulfed the oozes who tried to retreat desperately but in vain. The wind turned to be an ally as it fuelled the fire. The whole swarm lit. The hunter and Aerys rushed towards the walls of the inn and watched as the fire consumed the oozes. But they quickly saw that it was not a good idea for the walls of the inn started to burn too.
    As soon as there was an opening they ran through and soon they were at a safe distance from the inn. They watched it burn in silence. So many people had died. The image of the bandit being eaten alive kept coming in Aerys mind. He could still hear his cries. He broke in tears.
    The hunter said nothing. He did not console him. He gathered some wood and lit a small fire. Aerys sat around it silently. The trees around protected them from the wind.
    -I know that it’s hard, said the hunter after a while. But don’t expect me to console you or anything like that. Life is like this. Now at least you know that death can happen at any time. So you must always be on your guard.
    -You did not want to save the bandit, Aerys pointed out between his sobs.
    The hunter held his gaze.
    -Aye and I don’t even regret it. These kinds of people don’t deserve to be saved.
    -Even then, it is not a reason not to help him.
    The hunter sighed.
    -You have a noble mind lad but even if I wanted I would not have been able to help him.
    -Why did you not lit the fire in the room then?, he asked angrily.
    -I did not want to bring the rest upstairs. I wanted to wait silently in that room for them to leave or climb down through the window. But that clumsy innkeeper messed up.
    -So you let him die so that you could escape, Aerys said.
    He nodded unashamedly.
    Aerys shook his head disapprovingly. He did not know what to think about him anymore. Was he supposed to follow this kind of man who was ready to sacrifice others for his own safety?
    -Now look here lad, he said quickly. Don’t you get a bad opinion of me. I save people all the time but I am not going to risk my life for someone not worth it like that bandit.
    Aerys looked at him blankly.
    -I don’t care what you think above me but I just had to tell you how things are, he said opening the last bottle left in his bag. You will soon find out by yourself that in this world it is each man for himself. So if I have one advice for you it would be to be a little more selfish. You might live a little bit longer then.
    He did not know when his eyes closed or when he slept but he woke up the next day with a sore body. The hunter was already waiting for him as usual. He had probably not slept at all as usual. He looked more tired than ever. Aerys wondered how he could live like this. Igor was right. It was a terrible curse. Aerys was a little bit ashamed of himself. He slept while the remained awake.
    The memories of the past night then resurged and he looked towards the inn or what remained of it. The whole area was burnt and the carbonized debris that remained were scattered all over the place.
    -Come on, said the hunter going back on the road. We have a long road till Adington and I want to arrive there before dusk.
    The wind had not fallen but luckily it blew sideways now. It was still a bother but it was more bearable. They continued north and crossed the green plains.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 7
    They continued their route in the difficult weather. The wind was blowing as hard as ever and at a constant rate and the geography of the region did not help them