The Divine Hunter

ten his wrinkled clothes, dusting off the leaves and stems from him.
He was drenched in sweat.

“Had a nightmare?” Letho tossed a few handfuls of soil into the campfire, dousing the fire, then handed Roy a hot rabbit drumstick.

“It felt like someone was throttling me, and I couldn’t breathe.” Roy chomped down on the meat and wiped the grease off his lips.
He tried to convince himself.
“Maybe my body’s telling me to watch out, because it’s getting cold.
But that was the first time I’d had a dream since I’d started replacing sleep with meditation, and it was a nightmare.” He frowned.

“Fate works in mysterious ways.
Sometimes it’ll give us clues in the form of dreams.
This isn’t a good sign.
Finish your meal quickly, boy.” Letho looked at the mountain covered in snow that was not far from them.
“We have to pass through the Mahakams as soon as possible.
I hope nothing else happens then.”

***

They journeyed on for a few more hours and came to the base of the mountains after passing through the west path.
When they looked up, the peak was already hidden by the clouds and snow.
Before them stood trees that had been brought low by the autumn winds, their branches swaying, and their leaves falling to the ground.

A boy in a blue cotton jacket was hopping around the forest like a bunny, scavenging for resources.
Roy and Letho were about to ask him for directions when a sturdy woman darted out from the forest to pick up the boy and turn him upside down to spank him.
“Running around again? What if you get eaten by the monsters? I should wallop you before that happens!” 

The boy bawled, much to the amusement of Letho and Roy. 

“Ma’am, is this the way to the Mahakams?”

“Who are you? I’ve never seen you two before.” The woman glanced at them and brought her guard up when she noticed they were strangers.
She held the crying boy in her embrace nervously, as if she were facing two terrifying monsters.

“We’re not human traffickers, ma’am.
No need to be afraid.” Roy smiled warmly, though the corner of his lips twitched.
I look normal, and the girls from the House of Cardell liked me.
I’m not that scary, am I?

The woman said nothing, only staring fearfully at the bald witcher behind him. 

Roy looked back and realized the reason for the woman’s fear.
He mumbled, “Poker face, weird eyes, looks cold.
No wonder she’s scared.” He then turned back to explain.
“Have you heard of witchers, ma’am? We have to look fierce, or we can’t hunt those monsters.
Don’t worry though, since we’re just going to ask for directions.
We’ll leave after that.”

“You’re witchers?” The woman observed them in suspicion, then she scrambled away with the boy in hand.
She looked back at them on the way and almost tripped on a stone, but she didn’t fall.
Her child gurgled happily.

“Don’t leave!”

They looked at each other, confused, then tailed the woman.
They walked across the pine forest and saw white smoke coming from the chimneys of the houses in a village.

Under the signboard with the name ‘Svanthor’ carved on it stood a red-nosed man wearing a felt hat, and a few village women were behind him.
Children were hiding behind the women, though they looked at the two people who came to their village curiously.

The man with the felt hat glanced at the snake-shaped necklace hanging around Letho’s neck, and he rubbed his hands and forced a warm smile.
“Why don’t you stay for a meal if you have the time? We have a request for you.
Please, come with us.”