A Song of Ice and Fire: The Hunt Begins
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Chapter Four: Interest
The horses galloped through the Wolfswood, the men of house Stark rode with great vigor. Off to where a peasant woman and her daughter told them a murder had been committed. The woman told them that she and her family were on their way to White Harbor to visit her mother but were intercepted by bandits. Bandits who murdered her husband and attempted to rape her and her daughter. However, they were saved by an unknown assailant. It was said to be 8 feet tall, scaly skin, with strange armor and weapons. She described it as a demon who killed the bandits with ease.
Obviously, Ned chalked it up to the woman being hysterical, that her fear clouded her mind and imagined what she saw. However, when they arrive at their destination, what he saw next will make him question the way he thinks.
"What in the Gods' name?" Robb asked in shock.
"I don't think the gods have anything to do with this." Jory added.
"Bloody hell!" Cursed Theon, as he was repulsed by what he saw.
"Aye, you said it lad." Rodrik Cassel replied. His face was recoiled in disgust.
Arthur and Jon couldn't help but agree with them. The sight before them was a bit much to bear.
'I should've stayed in bed with Mya.' Jon thought to himself.
Ned looked on with horror, the display he is witnessing now, disgust him.
Before the group were the bodies of four men, hanging from the trees with their skin removed. Leaving the muscles exposed. Two of them were missing their heads. Flies swarmed the corpses, crows were feasting on the flesh.
"What could have done this?" Ned asked.
"I don't know my lord." Jory replied.
Ned turned to some of his men, "Cut them down." The men did as they were told and cut the hanging bodies down. A bloody thump was heard as the bodies fell to the ground.
The lord of Winterfell then turned back to Jory. "I want to take some of the men with you. Search every inch of the area until dusk." He ordered.
"Yes my Lord." Jory nodded as he did just that.
"Father." Ned turned to Jon who approached him. "Why search for that long? These men weren't exactly good men, they were rapists judging by the words of the merchant's wife." Jon said, confused as to why his father would make a search.
"Aye, that may be true but the one who did this to these men is more of a concern." Ned explained. He then gave Jon a stern look. "Go with Robb and Theon, see what you can find."
Jon nodded at what his father said and went to the two.
After Jon did what Ned asked of him, the Lord of Winterfell trotted towards Arthur. The dornish man had a grim look on his face as he looked at the bodies.
"Arthur." Ned spoke.
"This is no way for a man to die." Arthur replied, not bothering to look at the northern Lord.
Ned grimaced and nodded in agreement. He gestures to him to join in the search. Unbeknownst to them, they were being watched.
VIKING
The hunter watched the two men walk off. They were interesting, more so the one who carried two swords. The hunter turned to where the younger males went off to. The hunter found the one the older bearded male was talking to, interesting as well.
For now it will watch, until it is ready to strike.
JON
Hours later.
They had searched for the past six hours, and they had found nothing. It was like whatever killed those men never existed. There was no trace of someone being there, not even footprints. With nothing to be found they returned to Winterfell but Lord Stark told them that they'll continue the search tomorrow.
Jon still couldn't wrap his head around it. How could someone do something like that? Kill four men and then skin them and then leave them hanging from a tree. One of them even had the head removed!
Jon sighed, trying to get the image out of his head.
Jon then felt a pair of slender arms wrap around, as someone pressed their body against his back. Jon smiled softly as he turned to see Mya smiling back at him.
Mya captured Jon's lips into a kiss, which he gladly returned. There was no lust behind this kiss as before, only love.
Mya soon broke the kiss and looked into Jon's eyes. Immediately, she knew something was wrong.
"What is wrong, my love?" She asked.
Jon sighed. He didn't want Mya to know about what he saw but he knew she'll find out one way or another. Best she heard it from him and no one else.
"When I rode with my father this morning, we discovered something. Something…horrifying." Jon said with a shudder at the last part.
"Horrifying?" Mya asked.
"We found the bodies of four bandits hanging from a tree. All of them were skinned like elk. Two of them even had their heads missing." Jon finished.
Mya simply was shocked to hear this. It was just unheard of. "What kind of man would do such a thing?"
Jon let out an exasperated sigh. "I don't know." He said.
Mya looked at him and brought him into a hug. Leaning her forehead until it touched Jon's. She closed her eyes and she welcomed the warmth his body gave off.
Jon soon copied Mya and closed his eyes as well. He wrapped his arms around Mya and held her close.
The two stood there, not moving or saying anything. Jon and Mya stayed like this for several minutes until Mya spoke.
"Let's get you to bed. You need rest."
ARTHUR
The sword of the morning swung his blade at the dummy before him. The momentum caused it to slice open, spilling the hay inside.
The Dornish man let out a tired sigh. He spent hours on the training ground to try to get the images of the skinned bandits out of his head. He had seen many brutal things during the rebellion. Even the mutilated bodies of Elia and her children. But those men being skinned and hung up in the air like a display sickened him.
Arthur put away his sword. It was time for him to retire to his quarters. He turned to leave but suddenly stopped. Something felt off to him. A sense of unease filled his stomach and crawled up his spine. He felt as if someone was watching him.
He looked around the room, to see if can catch a glance of his stalker. However, he found nothing. Strange.
Arthur looked around the yard a little longer but found nothing. With a sigh, he walked inside the castle. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for him.
Unbeknownst to Arthur, had he looked up at one of the towers., he would've seen a pair of yellow eyes glowing bellowing fading away.
To Be Continued.
A/N: I apologize if this chapter is short, I kind of lost interest in Game of Thrones lately. I still like, don't get me wrong but I'm not just as interested as I was when I was first introduced to it. Anyways, stay safe. Arcanus out.
