The longer they watched Kopii, the more they understood that he was low level. They could already smell easy money and praised fate for such a gift.
— Today we will attack him. Just make sure his face doesn't get damaged. Is that clear to everyone?
— Yes, father, — they all exclaimed in unison.
After hearing his sons' answer, a predatory smile appeared on Larsen's face. He knew this would be fun.
— Look, father, he's walked up to the cliff. He's looking for a way down. Maybe we should attack now?
— Yes, Elric, you're right. It's better to attack now. We've already wasted too much time. Is everyone ready? — Larsen swept his gaze over his sons, and his smile only widened.
— Yes, — said Torvin and Elric. Garvin remained silent. Larsen looked at his middle son with a questioning gaze.
— I said, does everyone understand? — he said, walking up to his son. — Or did you not hear me, Garvin? Are you going to start that conversation again?
— Yes, father, I wanted to talk about it again. He's strange somehow, why don't you want to understand me? — But before he could finish, his father slapped him.
— I'm tired of this. What are you so afraid of, Garvin? I'm tired of hearing it... You've greatly disappointed me. Even Torvin has calmed down.
— Father, you just don't understand. When he kills, he...
— Yes, I know, you talk about it every day. When you were silent today, I thought you had calmed down. But apparently not.
— He... — But his father interrupted him again.
— Do you want to say again why he always ran away when he encountered monsters? It's because he's a pathetic coward, that's all.
— But father! — Garvin exclaimed.
— Shut up. I don't want to hear it anymore. I didn't expect this from you. You've disappointed me too much on this hunt. — Clenching his fists, Garvin could say nothing more.
— Alright, father, I won't do it again. — Lowering his gaze, Garvin said, still clenching his fists. He felt the gazes of his brothers and father on him, full of disappointment. He had shown himself very poorly on this hunt. But Garvin did not care. He had seen it when the boy killed animals — his face changed for a moment, then quickly returned to normal, and it happened every time he killed. At first, Garvin thought it was a coincidence, but the longer he watched him, the more it frightened him.
He did not know what it was or how it happened. The unknown frightened him; he could not explain it. The boy was simply very strange, and the way he ran from monsters — it was not out of fear, but because of something else. He was definitely hiding something. But however hard Garvin tried to explain, no one believed him, not even Torvin, who had been against it from the very beginning, did not agree with his arguments.
— Alright, move out. The faster we finish, the faster we return. We'll get enough money from him to last half a year. Most importantly, make sure his face doesn't get damaged. Does everyone understand? – He repeated once more, to make sure everyone understood him.
— Yes.
– Yes.
Larsen looked at Garvin, and under his stern expression, Garvin had no choice but to say what he wanted to hear.
— Yes, father. – He said dejectedly, unable to look his father in the eyes.
But Garvin had other plans. He wanted to avoid their encounter, so he devised another plan. Whether he disappointed his father even more in his eyes did not matter to him; the main thing was safety. He began drawing his bow, aiming at Kopii's head, but suddenly Torvin shoved him. Because of this, he missed, hitting his palm.
— What are you doing?! — Torvin exclaimed, trying to take the bow from him.
— Get off me! I'm doing this for our safety! — Garvin pushed Torvin away and took up his bow again, drawing it and aiming at Kopii's head. But he was interrupted again, and because of this, he missed, hitting his leg. He saw the boy fall off the cliff. But before Garvin could rejoice, he received a blow from his father.
— What are you doing?! Have you completely lost your mind?! — Larsen continued furiously shouting and beating his son. — You have completely disappointed me! — Grabbing his son by the scruff, he continued: — Do you not understand how profitably he could be sold? If he died, I don't know what I'll do to you. Pray that he managed to survive. — Larsen threw him to the ground. But Garvin did not want to leave it at that.
He had expected such a reaction, so he was not greatly surprised. But he could no longer remain silent.
— It's you who doesn't understand! Father! He's not right, something's off about him. He's very strange, he's definitely hiding something! Do you think he ran from the kobolds because he was afraid?! I don't think so! So I decided to act and...— But before he could finish, a fist flew into his face.
— Shut up! I don't want to hear anything. Have you forgotten why we do this? — Blow. — If we didn't do this, do you think your sister would still be alive? — Blow. — Why are you silent? Do you think we would have been able to pay for the medicine? I don't care what he's hiding. It's just your paranoia and nothing more. — Blow.
Suddenly, someone grabbed his arm, and he raised his gaze. Elric.
— Father, enough...
But suddenly Garvin interrupted him, not letting him continue; everyone looked at him again.
– And do you think it will matter?! When one of us doesn't come back! What will Liza and mother feel then? Have you forgotten, father? – Even beaten, he stood up and continued to argue.
Larsen's eyes narrowed; he did not like such disrespectful behavior from his son. But he decided to act differently.
– If we retreat now... Do you want to watch Liza dying before your eyes? Her weak body, her weak breathing. Do you want to see that?
–...
Garvin bit his tongue. Unable to say anything. He perfectly understood that if they stopped doing this. Then... He did not want to think about it.
– Everyone, move. – He continued, turning away from Garvin. – We'll pray that he's still alive... And Garvin.– He turned back to him. – You'd better pray that he's alive.
– ...
Everyone walked to the cliff and, looking down, began preparing for the descent.
— Father, do you think we can catch him, if, of course, he survived? The descent will take time, which will give him a chance to get away.
Larsen looked at his youngest son, pondered his question, but a moment later answered:
— He survived, but he won't get far. Garvin hit him in the arm and leg; that will definitely slow him down. He won't be able to escape. Garvin, what were you shooting with?
– ... Arrows with drugs. – He said quietly.
— I see. But even if he comes to his senses, because of the drug's effect, we'll be able to find him by the blood trail. Today he is destined either to die or to be caught by us. Enough wasting time on talk. We begin the descent.
Garvin was ready; if something went wrong, he would not hesitate.
The descent proved difficult. Sheer cliffs and loose ground underfoot complicated the task. Larsen was the first to reach the base, followed by his sons. Torvin and Elric, despite their unease, maintained their composure, while Garvin seemed absorbed in his own thoughts, moving mechanically.
— There's the lake he fell into. Does anyone see any tracks?
— No, father. Perhaps he couldn't swim out and drowned.
— No, I think he still survived. Look more carefully, Torvin. You are still too inexperienced. So don't draw hasty conclusions. — Torvin nodded, accepting his father's guidance.
— Oh, look, father, here are traces of blood and footsteps. We're lucky he's alive! We need to find him faster!
— Good. Very good. – The predatory expression returned to his face.
«What a face you have.»
He could no longer wait to see the expression of despair and fear.
Having looked around, Larsen commanded them to spread out. The blood trail, though sparse, led deeper into the forest. Larsen, using his instincts, began tracking the prey, Elric carefully scanned the surroundings, and Garvin, albeit reluctantly, followed his father. The silence of the forest was broken only by their footsteps and heavy breathing.
Garvin was horrified. He had told his father the truth, but he had concealed that the dose of the drug exceeded the norm.
«How the hell can he still be moving.»
After such drugs, the boy should have been so weakened that he simply could not move. In theory, he should have simply drowned. But no, he had managed to swim out and leave, as if the drug had been completely useless.
This proves that the boy was definitely hiding something, and it terrified him.
«How? How can this be?» — Garvin thought. He decided to act; he could no longer hesitate. Running ahead, he stood before his father.
— Father! Stop! We need to leave right now, as fast as possible! I didn't tell you everything... I used a dose that exceeds the norm, but it shouldn't have killed him. Yet from such a dose, he shouldn't even be able to move; he should have simply drowned, and that's all! But look...
– So what? – His father's answer followed, not even letting him finish.
Of course, he was not foolish enough to ignore his son. Even if he was angry with him, he perfectly knew what this drug was capable of.