243: The hunt that changed everything (part 1)

The hunt that changed everything (part 1)

As Summer's full force encased Lanark, the Archduke's annual hunt commenced at the break of dawn.0

Accompanied by the knights of the First Order, Kaiser de Lanark ventured forth into the wilderness, leaving behind the knights of the Second Order who were assigned the duty of guarding the Archduchy in his absence, a responsibility that stretched from three days to a full week.

During this time of year, Lanark made a concerted effort to control the population of predators in its outskirts, particularly when their cubs had the chance to mature since spring, ensuring the survival of the species. The annual expedition played a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of Lanark's ecosystem, with falcons being an integral part of this endeavor.

As the hunting party embarked on their noble quest, the ladies of the de Lanark Household bid them farewell, standing on the highest tower of the manor and waving their handkerchiefs. The Archduchess and her daughters were well aware of the dangers involved, but this age-old tradition held a special place in their hearts, and they cherished it dearly.

"Come back safely," Adela whispered under her breath.

The only notable difference this year was the fact that Egon von Conradie had been invited to accompany them, a gesture that indicated the Archduke already regarded him with the eyes of a father looking upon a future son-in-law.

The unfortunate event that no one saw coming took place during the noon of the second day of the annual hunt.

Everything began with the ominous return of all of Lanark's falcons without any of the falconers—a sight unseen and unheard of before. And then, in a sudden burst of urgency, the sky was illuminated with emergency flares, casting a stark contrast to the tranquil land below.

Panic spread through the Archduchy like wildfire. Something had gone terribly wrong with the hunt.

Adela waited anxiously, her nerves stretched to their limit, alongside her mother and sister. All three of them dreaded the news that was yet to come from the depths of the forest.

Meanwhile, Arkin, who had been keeping an extremely low profile ever since the night of the murder, mounted his horse and stood before the rest of the knights of the Second Order by the gates of the Archduke's manor. His hands were tied, unable to leave the Archduchy unprotected, and a sense of restlessness engulfed him.

And then they arrived.

The knights of the First Order galloped back, their faces etched with fear, their urgent cries piercing through the air, calling for Lady de Lanark and the physicians of the infirmary. Adela's heart sank as she noticed the absence of both the Archduke and his Commander, Gustav, among the returning knights. 

Egon von Conradie was also nowhere to be seen.

Adela and her mother exchanged anxious glances. What could have happened out there that led to the Archduke, his Commander, and Egon not returning with the rest of the knights?

At the front lines near Arkin, Grace leaned on Larissa for support, while the Baroness and Adela held hands, drawing strength from one another. Each of them was consumed with worry, hoping and praying for the safe return of all the men who were now missing from their view.

"Make way for the knights of the First Order!" Arkin's voice boomed, cutting through the tense air.

Half of the  knights arrived at the manor's gates, panting from their hurried journey, followed closely by two carriages that were flanked by the other half of the Knight's Order.

"Was there an assassin!" Grace exclaimed anxiously, "Where is Kaiser!"

Adela strained to hear every word, her heart both pained and relieved as she felt the familiar tug of the mate bond coming from one of the carriages that were nearing the gate. How she wished she could feel her father too.

Father...

The platoon leader, still catching his breath, dismounted his horse and hurriedly hit his chest in a show of respect before speaking.

"The attack caught us completely off guard! One of our newly enlisted knights was having trouble keeping up with the rest of the party and got separated for a moment. That was all it took for his life to be in grave danger. But the Archduke, he... he intervened, leaping from the hill down to the valley, risking his own life to save the young knight..."

The platoon leader gulped down, his voice trembling with emotion.

"And then, Sir Egon, he came out of nowhere! It was like he appeared in the nick of time, preventing a tragedy from unfolding right before our eyes." He shook his head in disbelief, still processing the intensity of the moment. "I've never seen anything like it. It was incredible."

Arkin tightly clutched the knight's shoulder and gave him a shake, demanding, "What or who attacked you?"

The knight stammered, "M-Mutant looking hyenas, Commander."

Arkin let go of his shoulders and glanced back at one of his platoon leaders who hurried over to him.

"Get me Bastian von Conradie from wherever the hell he is. Tell him to be ready with his platoon and wait for my orders."

Adela bit her tongue, realizing that she couldn't intervene with her brother's decision at such a critical moment. She clutched her chest, finding some comfort in the fact that her instincts were not hyper-activated. She trusted that everyone was not in a life-threatening situation like the one she faced in that dungeon that day.

The two carriages finally stopped by the gate, and Gustav was the first to step out from the first one, supporting Kaiser on his shoulder. Both men were drenched in sweat and mud.

"Kaiser!" Grace screamed, rushing to her husband's other side with Adela and Larissa following closely behind. The three of them anxiously scanned his body with their eyes. Adela desperately tried to determine what was wrong with him but couldn't identify the extent of his injuries.

"Get the physicians to care for His Excellency at once," Gustav said solemnly to his son, who stood by his side.

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