7

Prey

"Oh Amygdala, Amygdala, have mercy on the poor bastard!"

...

Feoh, night time

The Rosie was an old brothel, having survived many tumultuous events in the history of Eostia. When the Black Dogs came and the orcs roamed the city, the Rosie was still there. In the hands of its indomitable mistress Shani none of the girls were accosted or distressed by orc or man. Rumors say that Shani herself had the eyes and ears of certain knights in Alicia Arcturus's retinue, despite her disapproval Alicia had known nothing about it.

As Kyril walked up to the brothel he noted its architecture which was a lot cleaner and more isolated than the rest of the shantytown around it. High walls, iron gates. It was quite a formidable bastion. Maybe the girls inside were also skilled fighters as well as escorts? He had heard tales of such things before.

The Good Hunter had split his party, Sanakan and Hugh would be responsible for hunting down the so-called 'Gadsden Gang' who swore allegiance to the Black Dogs. He would come here to meet with the rumored knight hiding in the Rosie.

Kyril reached the double doors, ignoring the fact that the curvy figure of a woman was carved onto the front. He reached up and knocked on the door three times, muttering to himself that there was no way he was actually going into a brothel when he hadn't been in such a place in his entire life. It wasn't exactly the strangest thing he had ever done but still...

As Kyril waited for someone to answer he thought about what could happen. Either it was a normal brothel and he could seek information here, or it was a trap that Beasley set up. If it was indeed a trap then he'd have to leave this place a charnel house...

He reached behind his back for his Saw Cleaver and nearly jumped backwards as the door opened.

"My, my~" A dark haired woman with a husky voice greeted him, a smoking pipe in her hands. She was wearing red silk robes with roses printed on the hem. She was beautiful indeed, the Good Hunter could see that but there was a haughty intelligence in her yellow eyes. An insidious cunning that made him extremely wary, like being in the presence of a gigantic cat waiting to pounce on him.

"I was just about to lock my doors for the night...Oh, pardon me..." She gave a low curtsy, Kyril noting that she had exposed a large amount of cleavage on purpose to distract him, much to his dismay. "My name is Shani, good sir. Mistress of the Rosie, please do come in..."

Kyril bowed formally. "I am Kyril Sutherland." He said tonelessly as he entered the brothel with Shani closing and locking the doors behind them. If this was indeed a trap then he'd have to spring it and then completely annihilate it. He was packing Molotovs after all.

"Oh, wow." Shani's yellow eyes gleamed sultrily in the dim light. "Lady Lucross's new knight comes to visit my humble business."

"I see that my arrival has sparked some interest, even here." Kyril commented quietly, although he deigned to hide the irritation in his tone.

"Why yes, it has." Shani said. "A young, incredibly dashing and a mysterious foreigner who goes around fighting monsters. He then takes the fight to that dreadful Olga Discordia with the Black Dogs..."

At this her yellow eyes looked into Kyril's own, seductively.

"And gets knighted after he double crosses that nasty old Vault and his band of cronies. This new knight is not a soft-hearted man, I have to say...if Lady Alicia Arcturus is so afraid of him." She said. "Now, he is here...seeking the head of Prime Minister Beasley the traitor who gave Feoh and Ur to the Black Dogs."

Kyril narrowed her eyes at her. Hunter and Mistress stared each other down as the Hunter decided on starting a fight here.

"You are a formidable woman, Mistress Shani." Kyril told the mistress of the Rosie honestly. "And you speak the truth for Beasley has tried to kill me once I entered the fortress city."

Shani giggled. "I have many eyes and ears, young man." She told Kyril. "Now, let's put aside that caution you have...please, relax while you are here."

/

The entrance was kept dark just for this reason.

The main area of the brothel was brightly lit, candles were everywhere. And all of the girls were handpicked by Shani herself. All of them were very beautiful. Kyril kept stoically calm as he looked around.

"Good evening, Mistress Shani!" They chorused even as they gazed at the Hunter curiously. Some knew him from the stories and some didn't. The Hunter kept his mask on but had removed his hat for politeness's sake. Kyril wasn't exactly very good with women, in fact Arianna had once called him a nice man back in Yharnam. She just felt that he was far, far too brusque in his mannerisms. Polite, but very brusque.

That was the last, peaceful interaction he had with the woman of the night before her tragic end. It saddened him that the friendly woman who only sought to be safe had been murdered that way. Now, he was here having flashbacks and trying to school his expression into something neutral.

"Evening my dears." Shani spoke loud enough for them all to hear. "We have a very special guest tonight, Sir Kyril himself has come to not only help Lady Alicia but also get rid of that ugly little man called Beasley!"

Holding the Hunter's arm she cooed quietly in his ears. "Now, please darling...do enjoy yourself while I go call for our young Harriet and her friends."

Shani slipped away, leaving Kyril to the whims of the young women who crowded around the knight asking curious questions that he politely but distantly answered.

He probably should have left this part to his apprentices.

Facing down a gang of outlaws was easier for him than dealing with women.

/

Sanakan and Hugh...

"Okay! I'll talk! I'll talk!"

Hugh relented on breaking the man's arm with his cane and slammed him down in front of Sanakan who crouched down.

"So where are the rest of your buddies?" She asked him calmly.

"We- We got a little warehouse we hang out in!" The cowardly thug yelped as Hugh tapped him not too gently in the back of the head with his cane. "Th-There's fifteen of us, please! Don't kill me! I joined because I felt like I'd belong somewhere-"

"Snap his neck." Sanakan told Hugh.

As the thug pleaded for mercy, Hugh grabbed the man's head in both hands and twisted it brutally to the side. The man fell boneless to the ground. Sanakan stabbed the man in the head to make sure he died quietly.

"Fifteen he says." Sanakan said to Hugh. "In a warehouse. It's not really an even fight at all if that's all he could do."

Hugh shrugged and looked at Sanakan with his one remaining eye meaningfully. Sanakan sighed. "Yeah, well this is our tenure as Hunters ain't it?" She told him. "We have a job to do."

/

The Hunter's Dream, weeks ago...

"We need to talk."

Kyril looked up at Sanakan and Hugh who were looking at him expectantly. As the Plain Doll stood up to say something Kyril held out his hand.

"Talk about what?" Kyril asked.

"About the Contract." Sanakan said seriously. "What happened to us...we, we don't get it. If it was such a horrible job how did you come out unscathed?"

Kyril closed his journal and looked at them critically. "Unscathed isn't exactly the word I would use...more like changed beyond all human reasoning."

"All human reasoning...that means you're not human right?" Sanakan asked looking upset. "You're...You said you turned into something else."

"Indeed." Kyril said, eyes gleaming. "If I had decided to show you what I really look like, it would do very bad things to your head."

The scratching of charcoal on paper alerted both Sanakan and Kyril to Hugh who was writing. He held up the parchment for them to read.

So what will happen to us? You said that the beast plague started with the blood. Is that going to happen to us? We'll turn into blood starved monsters?

Sanakan glared at Kyril and just as she was about to launch a tirade, the Hunter made a simple statement.

"I gave you my blood to help you." Kyril said to the both of them. "And I decide what happens. In essence, yes, the blood was the cause of Yharnam's downfall as I had told you. Now that I am the one responsible for this Dream, and my blood, it will not happen to the both of you."

Sanakan and Hugh looked unconvinced. Sanakan exhaled.

"You did ask for me to make you both stronger." Kyril told them both honestly. "But if you wish to still leave you are free to go. The contract is merely a formality under my ruling. You'll wake up from the Dream, forget about it and you can be on your merry way. You can live out your life until the Black Dogs take you as a slave or kill you."

He leaned back still not finished speaking. "I took you both in because you reminded me of myself." He continued. "Young, desperate, starving and poor."

"You didn't have to put it that way..." Sanakan muttered but Hugh shushed her to let Kyril speak.

"I guess I could say that I had wanted to help the both of you when I discovered you in the village of Navarus." Kyril said, softly. "Why did I choose you as my apprentices? You could say sympathy, or maybe a desire to help people."

"Sympathy." Sanakan laughed. "From a hard killer like you that's almost hard to believe."

"When I came here, I wanted nothing to do with the war. All I had wanted was to be left alone so I could suffer my memories in solitude." Kyril said. "Until I learned what Vault planned for every single man, woman and child. The women and children slaves and men who resisted his regime dead or dying. Yharnam was dead long before I came here. Eostia is war torn but she still has a chance for peace."

Sanakan and Hugh watched Kyril as he looked at them with intensity. They now saw their mentor as someone else, powerful but sad. Someone who had many burdens on his shoulders.

"If I stood by and allowed an evil man to cause harm to a nation that has done nothing to deserve its fate then it is right that I bear the shame of doing nothing." Kyril said quietly. "I won't stand by and do nothing in Eostia. I will fight no matter the cost, so that others may live in peace. And when I do, maybe I shall finally lay down my blades and fade away."

The Good Hunter looked down at his hands and sighed. He gave Sanakan and Hugh an studious look. "Perhaps I came here for a change. Perhaps I decided to lend my strength to those who needed it. But either way, I am your mentor and you are my students. I wish to give you power so you can do good."

Sanakan and Hugh looked at each other.

Hugh started writing again. And as they waited Sanakan sighed. "You know, boss. I was unsure of what to expect but your little speech..." She smiled at Kyril. "Heh. I guess you are a good man after all...well, technically-"

"Yes, yes." Kyril waved a hand.

"No I mean it." Sanakan said. "Me and Hugh are orphans, we got nothing. We didn't care about anything until the Black Dogs came. We were...I guess we didn't really care if we survived or not. But you came, and you saved us. You made us stronger."

Sanakan looked down at her hands. "And if Vault wins we wouldn't have that strength now would we?" She said.

Hugh held up his note after a long pause as he looked Kyril in the eye.

You had every right to turn us away but you didn't. You gave us a roof over our heads and food to eat, plus a chance to prove ourselves. If that's not kindness I don't know what is.

But thanks for being straight with us.

"And I will continue to do so." Kyril promised.

/

Presently in Feoh

Sanakan and Hugh made it to the warehouse. Standing on the roof of a house, they surveyed the area for a good place to strike.

"Let's see." Sanakan fished out her monocular, a handy little device that allowed her to see across distances. "Interesting, no guards. Are they all inside?"

Hugh beckoned Sanakan for her monocular and took a look. He gave Sanakan a shrug and handed the monocular back to her. She pocketed the thing and rubbed her chin thinking. What was the best way of doing this? They could just go all out and kick the door in.

Or... they could sneak inside, see what was happening.

She looked at Hugh who was waiting for her decision.

"Hugh, we should probably sneak in and do a little eavesdropping." Sanakan said. "Before we cut them all down? It'd be nice if we weren't ambushed like this morning." She grinned. "Let's get to work eh?"

Hugh nodded and adjusted his hat before both Hunters clambered down from the roof of the house and sneakily made their way across the street towards the warehouse used by the Gadsden Gang as a hideout.

Hugh reached into a small bag on his belt for a lock-pick. When he had shown Kyril that he could pick locks the man looked so impressed that it tickled the mute constantly whenever he thought about it. Sanakan kept a lookout. The front door was too obvious but the side door was more isolated and was perfect for sneaking.

Hugh grinned as the door was unlocked and gave Sanakan a grin before readying his cane. He opened the door and slipped in with Sanakan close behind, holding her Kirkhammer sword. The warehouse was large, almost empty save for a few large crates and barrels. Inside thuggish looking men were keeping a lookout over a knight.

The woman had a sack over her head.

"That was good Gadsden!" One of the thugs complimented the leader. "We got one of the knights of that Arcturus bitch. Maybe we'll get paid!"

"Or we could fuck her right now." Another one said. "And get paid later, I like the legs of this one. Real smooth."

"Hush up." The bigger man, Gadsden, snarled. "We get this to Beasley first. Then we'll talk about who fucks who. The Black Dogs are coming here in force after all, to really take the Fortress. Without Alicia the knights ain't nothing."

Sanakan narrowed her eyes as she observed the gathering. So the Black Dogs were coming eh? That was going to be trouble. And the knight probably knew what had happened to Alicia Arcturus or her other knights if they weren't lucky. Silence be damned. She readied her sword as Hugh made the switch to his Chikage. In unison the Hunters charged in silence, completely surprising Gadsden and his gang.

A thug tried to give a rallying cry and draw his weapon but Hugh's Chikage sliced his throat open before he could even blink. The silent Hunter turned and speared another enemy in the chest. Sanakan smashed into two others, her blade flashing in the torchlight as she killed one man with a quick swipe that took his head off. She lashed out with her off-hand, covered in a metal gauntlet, the thug on the receiving end was knocked out of the fight as his face shattered.

Gadsden turned and tried to flee but Hugh overtook him, flaying his back open with a vertical slash from his Chikage. The man tried to scream but Hugh silenced him with a sword thrust into his skull. He turned and nodded to Sanakan who approached the knight. She removed the bag over her head.

The knight's silver hair fell about her face as the young woman tried to breathe.

"Thanks a lot." She said as she gazed at both Hunters with yellow eyes. "I thought I was gonna suffocate in there. My name's Harriet."

Sanakan nodded at the pixy-like knight. "I'm Sanakan. The guy over there is Hugh, he can't speak." She told Harriet who gave Hugh a nod.

"Who are you guys working for anyhow?" Harriet asked looking at Hugh curiously.

"Sir Kyril." Sanakan answered and Harriet blinked.

"Oh...Cool!" Harriet said. "Awesome! He's really well known, if a bit scary but I think he's all right."

Sanakan looked confused and was about to answer but Hugh nudged her shoulder and shook his head. He was right, now was not the time for this.

"Come on, we need to get out of here." Sanakan said. "Sir Kyril's at the Rosie waiting for us so we'll take you there."

"He's at the Rosie, right now?" Harriet stood up suddenly shocking Sanakan and Hugh. "Great! Can we go? Can you untie my hands too?"

Hugh obliged Harriet by cutting her bonds. As Sanakan was about to lead the way out, the side door opened. Hugh drew his Evelyn pistol and took aim as Sanakan readied for another fight, muscles tense and ready.

"Oh my~ I seem to have stumbled onto something bad..." The woman in the cloak spoke sultrily. "Is that you dear Harriet?"

"Big sister Shani!" Harriet hugged the woman. "I got caught, I'm so sorry..."

Sanakan rubbed her forehead while Hugh cheerfully stood there watching the two sisters reunite.

/

The Hunter's Dream

Celestine opened her eyes as she looked up at a grey, cloudy sky. The High Elf panicked as she sat up and turned her head from side to side. She was laying in white flowers that covered a hill. Celestine got up, holding her arm as she looked around. Where was she? She was asleep in her bed but...

She started walking heading down a path that lead to a gate that was ajar. It was foggy.

"Hello?" Celestine called out even as the fog slowly lifted revealing an old building, a workshop from the looks of it, sitting on another small hill overlooking a small garden and many graves. Celestine looked at them curiously, then stopped as she saw that most were rubbed smooth by time.

One stood out however by the names scrawled on it.

Gehrman, First Hunter, a teacher who has earned his rest.

Eileen the Crow, Hunter of Hunters, a mentor who no longer dreams.

Gilbert, a man who deserved a better end.

Alfred the Executioner, an unwitting martyr due to my actions.

Sister Adella, a kind soul taken by madness.

Arianna, Woman of Pleasure, a dear friend taken far too soon.

Countless others covered the grave stone, a large list. Celestine whispered a benediction then froze in terror eyes wide as the doors to the workshop opened.

The...thing standing there looked human but it wasn't. It was a Doll. And it was walking. Breathing fast Celestine stood up and faced it, eyes wide.

The Doll looked down at her, dressed in fine but strange clothing holding a bucket of water and a cloth. She had white hair and grey eyes. She towered over Celestine and looked down at her with mild curiosity.

"Hello there." She spoke politely in a very strange accident. "Are you lost?"

"I...I suppose I am." Celestine said trembling. "C-Can you help me? What is this place?"

The Doll blinked. "This? This is the Hunter's Dream." She told Celestine. "A refuge for those who hunts beasts." She started walking down the steps towards Celestine still holding the bucket.

Celestine began to hyperventilate as the Doll approached, moving so smoothly for an inanimate object. But the Doll merely ignored her as Celestine stepped back. She then began to clean the gravestone.

Once she had calmed down, Celestine licked her dry lips as she asked. "Who...Who are the ones who hunt beasts?"

"The Hunters." The Doll answered. If the situation had been different Celestine would have rolled her eyes. "Many have come and go from this Dream, the graves here stand in honor of their memory."

The Doll wiped the gravestone gently with her cloth. "I care for them whenever the Good Hunter is away on his excursions." She continued. "He often visits the graves, to take care of them whenever he is troubled." Once finished, she set the cloth over the rim of the bucket and put it to the side as she turned and looked down at Celestine.

"And who is this...Good Hunter?" Celestine asked.

Much to her surprise the Doll smiled warmly as if reminiscing about a wonderful friend. "He is silent, but kind. A humble person who likes to keep to himself." She answered Celestine. "He bears many burdens, so I care for him and soothe his sickly spirit."

Celestine looked down briefly. Could this Good Hunter be...

"Is...Is his name Kyril Sutherland?" Celestine asked.

"Yes." The Doll answered.

"I...I'm Celestine Lucross, I knighted him for doing a service for me and my people. He fights to defend my home from evil men who intend to enslave my people." The High Elf told the Doll. "I read his journal, I took a glimpse of it and I feel guilty about what...what I've done."

The Doll tilted her head. "How so?"

"I shouldn't have read it, now all I see is pain. How can Sir Kyril live with himself after what he went through? He doesn't deserve that."

"It is his purpose." The Doll said. "As it is my purpose to serve and support him in his endeavors."

Celestine knew it was going to be hard to reason with this...Doll. "But, surely he could do with some rest?" She asked.

"He rests here." The Doll said. "It will always be his home. He spoke much about your country, and what is happening to it. He fights for you does he not?"

"I...yes." Celestine answered.

"Then all I can say is that you can support him too." The Doll said. "The Good Hunter is kind, even if he does not show it." She looked to the side. "You should probably go, it is almost dawn."

"Will I...Will I be able to return if I wish to speak to you?" Celestine asked. "Or if...if Sir Kyril is there?"

"That depends on the Good Hunter." The Doll's answer did not give Celestine much hope as she looked to where the Doll was looking. There was a lamp sticking out of the ground, glowing an eerie purple.

"You may use that to return to the waking world." The Doll told her.

"Okay...um, thank you." Celestine bowed. "I will think about what you said."

She approached the lamp looking down at it curiously, her eyes drawn to the ethereal light. The next thing she knew she was falling...falling...falling...

/

Celestine Lucross's Personal Quarters

She woke up.

Celestine looked to see that she was in her room, in her bed wrapped up in a blanket. She remembered falling asleep and then arriving in...the Dream. She sat up massaging her temples as the hazy image of the Workshop remained in her head. The whispering had stopped however, that was what she appreciated the most.

The High Elf got out of bed and fixed her white robes. She knew Olga was probably feeling just as bad as she was so she was going to check on the Dark Elf. She just hoped that she did not get it into her head to delve into Sir Kyril's journal once more. That would probably be fatal for her. Celestine opened the door to her quarters.

"Ah, Lady Celestine!" Both female knights bowed quickly. "Why didn't you call for us to assist you?"

Celestine blinked in confusion. "What?"

The two knights looked at each other. "Lady Claudia had asked us to keep an eye on things here and to assist you should you call."

Celestine nodded. She was still out of it, it seemed. "Right. Sorry. Where is Claudia anyway?"

"Erm...She seemed upset with Lady Olga over something." The one on the right said. "A journal I think."

Celestine did not hesitate any longer. She beckoned both knights to follow her. She had to stop Olga before she hurt herself or another person. She hoped that the Dark Elf was not going to do something foolish like let someone else read the journal. She had to hurry, and her stride quickened enough for the knights behind her to realize that something may be happening.

/

"Olga. Give me the journal." Claudia did not sound or look too pleased when Olga took the journal for herself to keep it safe and away from weaker minds.

Olga looked confused. "I left it in Sir Kyril's room for a good reason." The Dark Elf replied. "And I locked the door so no one will stumble upon it. I don't have it."

"Don't lie to me, dark elf." Claudia scowled. "You have the journal hidden somewhere and you're hiding more than what you told me the last time."

"Why would I want that blasted thing near me?" Olga was flabbergasted that she was being accused of this. "I left it in Sir Kyril's room and that is where it is staying."

"It wasn't there." Claudia said crossing her arms.

"What?"

"I checked. It was gone." Claudia narrowed her eyes. "Someone must have taken it, and the obvious signs point to you."

Olga's voice was chilly as she replied. "Do not think for one second that you can just accuse me of hiding anything, knight." She glared at Claudia who resisted the urge of stepping back as Olga's magic flared slightly. "I may have lost my crown, but I am still a Queen."

"What is going on here?"

Celestine Lucross was looking sternly at the both of them and although she looked as haggard and tired as she felt, she was still the ruler of Eostia and the leader of the Seven Shield Alliance. The High Elf had her hands clasped at her belly, although there was a tenseness in her frame. In comparison, Olga's eyes had bags under them from countless nightmares these past few weeks. Her posture was slouched and often times the Dark Elf felt the claws of some dark creature scratch at her during the night.

"Lady Celestine, I am trying to secure Sir Kyril's journal from Olga." Claudia threw a nasty look at Olga who didn't bother returning it.

"And I've been telling this relentless harpy that I don't have his bloody journal." Olga countered. "Why would I want to read it again? I just left it exactly where it was, in Sir Kyril's room and locked the door."

"Claudia? Why are you trying to read Sir Kyril's journal?" Celestine asked patiently.

"I was trying to help you, milady." Claudia answered. "And hopefully put an end to what ails you."

"It is not that easy, Claudia." Celestine said quietly. "I fear I shall bear the burden of what I have seen for the rest of my life." She smiled, trying to reassure Claudia who did not look convinced.

"Sir Kyril still has to answer for what he did to you." Claudia spoke resolutely.

"Sir Kyril did nothing." Celestine said. "It was Olga and I who did him wrong by peering into his journal to find his secrets. We violated someone's trust and we paid the price for it."

Olga looked down at her feet, feeling a bit guilty. "I suppose we're still at a crossroads however." She said to Celestine. "I never took the journal."

"Is it not in Sir Kyril's room?" Celestine asked.

"No. I looked for it inside Sir Kyril's quarters, it was not there." Claudia shook her head.

"Then who could have taken it..." Olga whispered. "Chloe refused to go anywhere near it once she learned of its existence."

"Perhaps..." Celestine suggested. "Perhaps...It returned to Sir Kyril?"

"Returned?" Olga asked. "How?"

"It was a repertoire of fell power, Olga. Perhaps it has gained sentience?" Celestine suggested. "You were better at these things than me anyway." She smiled causing Olga to smirk.

"Perhaps." Olga yawned. "Well, I should probably take a break for today." The Dark Elf went to her quarters.

Celestine and Claudia watched her go.

"Are you alright, milady?" Claudia asked.

"I am." Celestine said quietly. "Although much still weighs on my mind, I don't hear whispers anymore. Am I recovered? No. But perhaps...perhaps when Sir Kyril returns he can help me make sense of what I had seen."

Claudia frowned. While she was glad that the young knight was on their side, she still could not trust Kyril Sutherland. And with this debacle with his journal being an extremely dangerous artifact to read, it only did more to make him suspicious. The knight kept her thoughts to herself. If Sir Kyril was dangerous, then she would have no choice but to cut him down.

/

Feoh, the Rosie...

It was dawn by the time they got back to the Rosie and it was just about time for the building to open its doors to the clientele. Kyril and his Hunters were sheltered in the more secluded areas of the building. Sanakan and Hugh were already asleep, huddled together under a blanket. Kyril stayed in the dim lighting of their temporary quarters taking a drink from his wineskin. He then fished out a hardtack biscuit and started eating it.

Harriet had been captured by the Gadsden Gang who were going to offer her to Prime Minister Beasley's forces, who took over the city after Alicia Arcturus surrendered control to the man. Kyril had yet to figure that one out. Beasley and his cronies had taken the fortress-city as their own personal fiefdom, having renounced Celestine Lucross's rule and were getting ready to welcome the Black Dogs into the fortress.

Kyril was not about to let that happen however, and thus had sent a message to his company to get ready to enter the city. Next was infiltrating the Arcturus estate and freeing the knights in the dungeons. With Shani and Harriet's help they had managed to make contact with other rebel forces within the city, those nobles and their retainers who were still willing to resist the Black Dogs.

They had done all they could to resist. Now all was needed was to light the fire that would burn Beasley out of his hole. To do that, Kyril was going in to the estate to free Alicia Arcturus, her knights and Prim Fiorire.

He would have to wait till nightfall to do so, and the thought of it made him annoyed. Someone knocked on the door. Sanakan was up instantly, a hand on the hilt of Hugh's Chikage. Kyril waited for another series of three knocks before he stood up to open the door, holding his flintlock.

"It's me." Shani's voice sounded but Kyril wasn't taking any chances and opened the door, pistol in hand.

The mistress of the Rosie smirked at Kyril's choice to be paranoid. "Relax, darling. It's just little old me coming to tell you that my dear Sergeant Bergen has received my message." She told him smiling.

Kyril sighed, then holstered his pistol. "Any other news?"

"So blunt!" Shani tittered. "But I guess that's why you're such an item for other ladies of refined taste," she walked inside and sat on the chair Kyril once occupied and crossed her legs, showing off quite a bit of skin due to her robes.

Sanakan was watching the show with a raised brow. In the time she had followed the boss, he had interacted with several beautiful women and not once did he react. He was always polite but extremely distant with everyone he encountered. Sometimes he was a little brusque when people get too close. It was fascinating.

"Tell me, Sir Kyril." Shani asked. "What will you do when the war is over?"

"I don't know," Kyril answered. "I still have a job to do now, I'll let the future take care of itself."

"A fair answer." Shani smirked as she stood up and walked slowly towards Kyril, a sway in her hips. "But...I see now that you are a very tired individual, Sir Kyril."

"So I am." Kyril said quietly. "But so long as there is one more beast to slay, I will keep wielding my blades."

"Again, a fair answer." Shani observed the Hunter. "But...why not relax just for a bit, hmm? Just a little break from all the bloodshed?"

"Not in a war like this." Kyril answered shaking his head. "And while you are a beautiful woman, I can only apologize and say no."

"Oh, you do know how to talk to a woman...even if you are letting me down." Shani gave a playful pout.

Kyril sighed.

/

"Sir Kyril." Bergen nodded as he and his leader reunited in the private section of the Rosie. "Never expected you to be in a place like this."

"Lady Shani was most generous to provide us with not only intelligence but also a place to stay." Kyril answered quietly. "But we have rebels ready and waiting to turn their blades on Beasley."

"That quickly?" Bergen asked.

"You tell me," Kyril shrugged. "A lot of them are sick and tired of Beasley who is not a very good prime minister it seems."

"Politics to go along with Dog hunting then?" Bergen grinned. "Very well, sir, what's the plan?"

"I need you and the company to start causing chaos in Feoh." Kyril said circling the area around the gates. "While that's happening, I'll be taking Hugh with me alongside Harriet to infiltrate the Arcturus estate."

"Wait, what about me?" Sanakan asked.

"You'll be working with Sergeant Bergen." Kyril said to Sanakan who frowned but she nodded. Decoy duty was going to be dangerous and she knew Sergeant Bergen was going to need the best with him. "You're going to need to open the gates during the night as well."

"Got it Boss." Sanakan said then looked at Hugh who looked at her knowingly. They weren't worried about each other. "I'll be back, okay Hugh?"

Hugh grinned and pulled his mask over his mouth.

"So we'll provide enough distraction for Beasley's forces to keep their attention on us." Bergen said. "That's a lot of work."

"Hold the gates." Kyril told him. "And if we're lucky, I can get to Beasley before he does something drastic."

"Aye sir." Bergen sighed. "Better get the company going."

Sanakan nodded. "I'll go scope out the gates, boss." She said.

Kyril exhaled. "This is it. We pull this off, we'll put a dent in the Black Dogs' plans." He told his sergeant. "Drinks are on me after this."

"If we're all not dead." Sanakan told him.

Bergen laughed.

/

Nightfall

The battle for Feoh began when Sir Kyril's company entered the gate and slaughtered the garrison of Beasley troops stationed there and lit a bonfire, large enough to be seen from far away in the city. This was the start of trouble for the Prime Minister Beasley who was watching with confusion from the estate.

Within the city of Feoh were many lords, ladies and other miscellaneous nobility who felt slighted by Beasley's attempts to bring the fortress city of Feoh into the hands of the Black Dogs. These high born nobles were staunch supporters of the Goddess Reborn and had positive relations with the Knight of Iris herself, Alicia Arcturus. As such, when Beasley made the announcement that he would be surrendering control of the city to Vault and his Black Dog Sex Empire there was much disagreement and the Prime Minister was met with indifference, cold politeness or even in one case outright scorn.

Thus the nobility were censured and ordered to stay within their estates or face consequences...Until the coming of Sir Kyril Sutherland who gave them a chance to strike back at Beasley.

When the bonfire was seen by these rebellious nobles, the signal spurred them into action as their household guard clashed with the orcs of the Kuroinu and the forces Beasley had under his control. The damage to the surrounding city was catastrophic as man fought monster in the streets. The night burned as bloodshed and anarchy consumed the city.

It was a perfect opportunity for someone used to the chaos to sneak into the Arcturus Estate. That man was Sir Kyril the Bloody, who was on a mission to first rescue Alicia Arcturus and Prim Fiorire.

/

The faint sound of ringing steel alerted Kyril that the fighting was intense. "How long, Miss Harriet?" He asked the knight who was picking the lock into the dungeons.

"Not too long, this lock's old." Harriet groused. There was a loud click. "Ugh, finally! Shani was a lot better at this than I am."

Kyril didn't say anything, instead he moved into the dungeons first, Saw Cleaver in hand. It was dark and dimly lit. Hugh made a gagging noise as the stench hit them.

"Ew...It smells like pee." Harriet complained.

Kyril kept moving. "You grew up in the slums." He told her.

"Yeah, well orcs do too much bodily emptying. More than humans." Harriet countered. "And they're less clean."

"So orcs then." Kyril readied his cleaver as an unruly greenskin brute emerged from the shadows and grunted at them. It wasn't alone as it had decided to bring more of its friends along.

He heard Harriet gulp as she drew her sword. Hugh did the same thing as Kyril readied his cleaver.

"Oh boy." Harriet muttered. "I am so not ready for this."

"Kill them quickly. Hugh, no firearms. We still need the advantage for this."

Hugh nodded his head and charged first as he slashed at the Orc. Kyril took the next one while keeping an eye on Harriet who was clearly a nervous fighter, but she was a good one. The orcs were ferocious but they eventually overcame their foe.

"Let's keep moving." Kyril said just as Hugh beheaded the last one with his sword. Both of them were covered in blood. Harriet wiped the crimson liquid off of her cheek, wincing as she realized that one of the greenskin bastards had cut into her cheek with one of its knives.

"Bastard cut me." She said when Hugh took a glance at her. The silent Hunter just shrugged and followed Kyril through the dungeons. If the maps were correct this should lead to a passageway that would allow them to enter the estates, deeper in should be a holding chamber for the more important prisoners.

Hopefully Prim and Alicia were here. If not, and they were lost to them then Kyril would avenge their deaths. As they marched through the dungeons they saw the ravaged forms of women in the cells, probably citizens taken from their homes and families.

Harriet had to stop to vomit when she saw some of the bodies which were mangled beyond recognition. When she was ready all they saw in her eyes was hate. Hate for the man who did this to these innocent people. Kyril could understand how she felt, he just didn't show it. He focused his rage into the thought of completing the mission.

The deaths of these innocent people were just more sins to pile upon the shoulders of Prime Minister Beasley.

As they continued through the dungeons they heard faint screams. Kyril and Hugh didn't hesitate and sprinted, causing Harriet to cry out and follow them. More orcs blocked the way but Kyril's Saw Cleaver and Hugh's Chikage were more than enough to cut them down.

They emerged into a large holding area where they saw something horrifying. Nuns, some of them quite young, were lashed to wooden edifices like sacrifices. Red imps crawled over them with long tongues and grasping claws that groped and cut at their flesh. Two had already succumbed, having long bled to death.

The rest that were alive were pleading with Kyril to help them as they had been tortured and raped to almost insanity.

The bigger red demons were growling, which only intensified as they caught sight of Kyril and his two companions.

"Save me!"

The cries were devastating. Hugh let out a shaky breath, then stepped back with shock as Kyril launched himself into the fray like a bullet. Harriet dropped her sword in terror as she heard the cries.

"Forget what I said about the firearms, Hugh." Kyril said frostily. "Use everything at your disposal to kill these demons. But, I will make one thing clear. Beasley is mine."

Hugh nodded furiously and both Hunters charged, intent on ripping the demons limb from limb.

/

Feoh Gate

Sanakan dodged the axe swing meant for her head and stabbed the enemy soldier in the face with her Kirkhammer sword.

"Who's next!?" She roared at the Beasley troops who were hesitant to approach her or the rest of Sir Kyril's soldiers who were just as tough as she was. Sergeant Bergen was at her side, shield raised as he too waited for Beasley's men to come right at them.

Orcs, swordsmen, spearmen it didn't matter who came to the gate to die. They just had to keep their attention. Bodies littered the ground, a few of them from Sir Kyril's company but many were wearing armor that belonged to Beasley's guardsmen, or they were greenskin corpses. They had reaped a toll on Beasley's men and the night was still young.

Sanakan grinned as she saw more and more men incoming. "Bergen, looks like the party is getting started." She said fiercely.

"Alright." Bergen panted. "Archers, get ready for a volley!"

The archers on the roof readied their bows, even as they mentally calculated how long they would last. It was looking to be a pretty uneven fight, but they were more than willing to stick it to the Black Dogs, and Beasley, even if it killed them. Sanakan raised her sword.

"Come on!" She yelled. "COME ON!"

She led the countercharge against the incoming Beasley troops. She was going to survive this and return to Hugh. At that moment, she felt invincible as the troops beside her let out a furious roar.

/

Feoh dungeons

The demons didn't stand a chance. The Hunters sliced and hacked through the demon bodies, their blades stained crimson with their life fluid. Kyril brutally hacked down a red imp with his cleaver the little bastard trying to escape when there was no chance. He turned his murderous wrath onto the next imp who tried to stab him with a rusty trident.

Kyril reached out grabbed the imp by the neck. Its beady little eyes bulged as it tried to pry the Good Hunter's hand open, only to let out a tortured squeal as Kyril squeezed hard enough for an eye to pop out. Bones broke as Kyril snapped its neck and threw it aside.

Hugh was in the midst of slaughtering more of the red skinned demons, having already gutted one of the big red ones. His Chikage blurred in the air, slicing a red demon in half even as the imps shrieked in terror at the silent Hunter that was cutting them down.

"Harriet, cut them down!" Kyril snapped at the knight who was trying to regain her focus as he faced the remaining red skinned monster that was holding a club. Its imp friends were dead, the thing actually thought that it was going to escape this night.

But it was wrong. Kyril's pistol snapped up and the bullet smashed into its skull. The Good Hunter watched it fall to its knees before him. He folded his Saw Cleaver then opened the demon's throat with the blade and let it die.

The holding area was silent, save for the crying nuns who were weeping in fear and relief. The Good Hunter couldn't bear look at them. Hugh and Harriet began to help them out of their bonds, doing their best to be gentle with the girls. The dead were the last to be cut down, their eyes closed.

Weeping, the other nuns folded their hands across their chests. The leader, the oldest one with red hair shakily stood up and limped her way towards Kyril who was keeping an eye on their surroundings, and also avoiding the victims of Beasley's betrayal.

"Noble lord." The nun spoke shakily. "Thank you for coming to our rescue. My name is Lily...If-If there is anything this ashamed nun could do for you, you need but ask and I will do anything in my power to grant it."

Kyril said nothing but he did turn to look at the young nun, who stumbled back as the Hunter regarded her with a blank look. His eyes were cold, lifeless. But there was an ember in them that made it quite clear he was angry.

"Where is Beasley?"

The nun gulped and pointed to a set of double doors. "He is there, milord." Lily answered. "He has Lady Alicia and Lady Prim hostage and had intended to use us as a distraction for him to escape." She sniffled.

Kyril turned his attention to Hugh who was watching over the rest of the young nuns, helping one drink from a water skin. The silent Hunter looked at Kyril, waiting for orders. "Get Harriet and take them out of here," Kyril nudged his head at the nuns. "I will take care of Beasley the traitor."

Hugh looked like he wanted to argue but nodded. He turned to look at Harriet meaningfully.

"Wait. You're going on alone?" Harriet asked, looking shocked.

"So I am." Kyril said.

"You..." Harriet started but then realized that there probably was no way she was going to convince the Hunter to think about another way.

One way or another, this had to end.

...

Beasley is not going to enjoy what's gonna happen to him.