And suddenly, all fell down.
I didn't know that, in my 22 years old, my life would fall out like nothing.
Me and my wife are running away from the estate for 3 days, eating waht we could find in the nature and sleeping under trees, hiding away from the citizens of our estate that would still hunting us down, our faces and names now around all the estate, and a big price for who could find us.
My hands clasped with my wife one, holding her close a we walk on the rain, exhausted, hungry, with no place to stay.
"I don't know if i can continue walking anymore." My says, her voice tremble of weakness, for not eating in a while.
"Don't worry, my love, i will be here to help you keep going." I reassure, bringing her even closer to me, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
we could hear footsteps coming from the main road, lights of torches approaching, conversation and laughter about us. We knew who they are.
We enter in panic, and started to run, gathering all our strength to continue running towards an ambush nearby, when we suddenly... Stumble onto something.
We fell on the grass, i hold my wife to make sure the impact goes more on me than her. Opening my eyes, i see boots... And my eyes widen as i slowly looked up.
The figure looked down at us, with a deer skull mask with big horns being the only non-black piece on it. The figure was the most tall figure i ever saw in my life, with 2 meters tall i presume?
He is a hunter, i am sure of it, but not the type of hunter you can find in my estate, so i guess he's not in the line of people who are looking for us.
He turned to our direction and crouched. We backed away in fear, our eyes never leaving him.
"You too seem lost... Running away of someone?"
We only could nod, our mouth not even opening an inch.
The hunter, feeling the approach of the hunter, their steps becoming louder and louder, he looked back at us. He seems to have understand who we were running from.
He then... extend us a hand?
"I can give you two a shelter in my humble above, if you want. but it quite far from where we are at the moment." His voice now quite soft, patiently waiting for our response.
We had no choice, our hopes were on him now.
We nod and grab his hand. He helps up stand up, and with his long cloak, hide us from the people that are now in our camp of vision.
when we was starting to walk, one of them greeted, stopping us.
"Greeting, Skull Head, how is it going?"
The hunter just nodded, but moved up to his front, making imperceptible that haves more than him on his cloak. We were shaking, our hearts pounding on our chest of the fear that they might discover us. I was sure that the Hunter could taste our fear, his hands placed on our shoulder as the other people were trying too much to keep even if one more minute the hunter there, as if being on his presence was an honor.
Finally, with a final Finally, with the men bid farewell to the hunter, we start moving again. Me and my wife could feel the relief of not being founded for once, a big sigh leaving form our mouths.
***
The path towards his house was in... One of the haunted forest...?
We didn't know how to react, but the hesitation to enter there was clear in our faces. We looked at each other, worried, but this gigantic hunter, Skull Head his name, was the only who could reach us a hand, take us from this situation. So he was, gladly, our only hope.
But, something was very intriguing. This haunted forest, had other houses as well, not only humans, but a good habitation of creatures as well. The forest was too calm, no predators around, no threats jumping in and out of nowhere like the tales would tell us about haunted forests, it was actually funny to see that a so frightened type of forest was actually the mm ost xalm and peaceful of them all.
Finally reaching the hunter's house, he opens the door, letting us in. Awe and marvel passed through us as we took a sight of the inside. The living room was full of book of many kind, science, machinery, medicine, physics and many more. It was well organized, the utensils and what it seems to be projects on the table where well kept.
"A man of science." My wife whispered to me. "He must be very intelligent."
"I agree with you." I responded, with a smile.
***
We follow the hunter to the living room, where the fireplace is. Sitting together on the floor, taking the warm glow heat and dry us.
"Here, new clothes for you. You can change there."
We look up, a pair of long and clean clothes in his hands. We grab it analyzing ever so slightly the pieces.
"This clothes are from Lumina..." My wife mutters. She looks at mine, analyzing for a moment before also saying. "This one is from Calma. Two estates that only the richest live there."
We look a each other in confusion. How does this humble hunter have such clothes that would cost a whole house to have it? And how intriging the size of the clothes are, right our body size. Was this clothes of his children?
But, i have no space of asking, at least he gave us a place to stay.
***
In the kitchen, we are served a table with dinner, and pastries for deserts. For a hunter, his cooking is promising, on top.
He sits down with us, serving a plate as he starts.
"Now tell me tell me your names, your ages, and why are you, such a couple of nobles, running away and being hunted down?" He asks, his voice calm but firm.
"I am Lassius Evergoth and this is my wife Efalia Mariloss, we are both 22 years old. Well, how do I even explain...?" I started.
Me and my wife, we lived normally as nobles, our houses are consider the richest between the seven houses in the estate of Pranato. I was from the Duke's inner circle, an advisor at that point, and my wife would always be there for me.
But then, in one day... An accusation was made against me.
My cousin, Ferilos, falsely accused me of theft from the royal jewelry, and theft of the workers payment in front of the Duke, with proofs and testimonies he orchestrated.
The Duke gave me mercy, I was given a choice. To pay what was stolen until everything was complete and submit to work for Ferilos, or to run away and loose everything. The tittle, my image, my life... And be nothing inferior but a wanted criminal, who would be haunted down by the citizens. I knew that if I stay, Ferilos would do anything to suck my money until it was left nothing, and i didn't want that, so i decided the second choice.
"My wife didn't had anything with this, but he accused her of being a accomplice too. And now, were here, with nothing but our pajamas and stained names."
The hunter listen intently, is head nodding at each information, he seems to understand more than many would.
"This is completely sad, truly. Loose a title by an false accusation of a person who is lead by envy and status. I am really sorry for that." He sorrows. "We shouldn't let this man win and continue his life like he didn't destroy the life of people who truly deserved more than him. I will help you to take this man down and gave your names clean."
A relief and content washed over us, to have such a imposing figure by our side would make much easier to clean our imagery and names. But, a question came into my wife's mind.
"Sir hunter, why are you helping us? Wouldn't you ask for something in exchange? Money, even?" My wife asks, while cutting the stew in her plate.
"I will, but it's something different. No money needed. Yet i will not say it today, you two need to rest, gather strength for tomorrow plannings and walks."
We both just nod, and continue our meal, our heads full of thoughts about tomorrow and question about this figure.
***
We lay down on the bed of the room the hunter prepared to us, the room was small, but comfortable.
Efalia places her head on my chest, and i wrap my arms her, bringing her closer.
"Good night my love, may you have sweets dreams." She says to me, I respond it with a kiss on her forehead.
And with that, we both succumb in a deep sleep, our exhaustion taking the best of our bodies. Now, may tomorrow be the culmination of our start to clean our names.