Rewards

The hunting party heads back towards the walled guild hall. The sun crests the distant mountains. Still only evening.

“Well that was simple.” Goodswell says breaking our silence looking at the horn in his hand.

“It’s always simple if you don’t kill the rampaging beast.” I reply unable to have this fury leave me. My father and I may have hunted together back in my old life but that was one thing he always taught me, don’t leave an animal suffering. If you can nurse it back to health, all the better.

“I mean we succeeded and learned for next time.” Chaska says trying to lighten the mood.

“You’re right.” I reply to the trapper. I take a deep breath in and a deep breath out exhaling some of my anger with the escaping air.

“You are a terrifying child when you’re angry.” Celosia says to me after a moment.

-- -- --

Nir is leaning against the wall of the guild hall entrance as we return.

“Well done!” He says to us standing up straight. “I see you had to take on a bihorn.” The master continues looking at the horn in Goodswell’s hand.

“Thank you sir.” We all respond to the man in unison. Somehow the most coordinated we have ever been.

“No need to thank me.” Nir responds while laughing with that signature bellowing laugh of his.

-- -- --

Why are we having a ceremony? Just to make people feel bad? Birta looks at me while I shift restlessly.

“What’s got you in a mood?” The ogre asks me. “I doubt anything interesting is going to happen.” She adds looking back at the dais.

“Good job to all of you who succeeded in your hunt!” Xentel congratulates us applicants. “To give you all a little peek behind the curtain.” He continues. “We had sensor magic set all over the area to see how you all did.” The troglodyte explains. “Now for the reason you are here.” He continues on. “We are here to give an award to the best performing groups.” He finishes looking over to Bergenia and Nir just off of the dais.

“We got this.” Celosia says suddenly standing next to me. I jump up in surprise at her voice. “From what I’ve heard we finished the fastest and safest.” She explains slamming her open palm into the middle of my back. Holy crap! That stings!

“We will begin with the third best squad.” Xentel’s voice brings me back to the open courtyard. “Squad J, please come up and receive your award.” He says. A tall lanky human boy, a short lautanese girl, a muscular male orc, and another human this one short and female walk up to the dais. “Congratulations on your successful hunt of a tiger.” The guild master says to the teens while shaking each of their hands.

“Did every squad besides us nearly die hunting such simple creatures?” Goodswell’s voice ask next to Celosia. I notice the annoying tone in his voice has returned. I inspect squad J more in-depth. I note both humans have scars from claw marks all over their faces and arms. The lautanese is missing part of a head fin, poor girl. And the orc has an eye patch, Jesus!

“Now for our second highest scoring group!” Xentel’s booming voice draws my attention away from squad J. “Come get your awards squad M!” The guild master announces. Squad M? Birta’s squad? The top in each division only got second!? Murmurs flow through the crowd of teens.

“See you in a bit.” Birta says to me with a smile and quick wave while she heads up to the dais.

“If the squad filled with the top in each division only got second.” Celosia mutters. “Then we probably are actually the highest scoring.” She cheers quietly.

“Congratulations on your successful hunt of a wyrm!” Xentel congratulates the squad of top applicants. Nir and Bergenia each shake hands with squad M and give the teens their awards.

“A wyrm?” A female sounding voice from the crowd inquires.

“That’s impressive.” A male sounding voice says from the crowd.

“Now very impressive things happened for our top placing squad.” Xentel announces after squad M moves to the back of the dais. “This squad had both the fastest time and no injuries.” The guild master exclaims. More murmurs begin to flood the crowd.

“This is definitely us.” Goodswell says crossing his arms and already stepping forward.

“Squad N please come up and get your award!” The guild master calls. That… really is us. No way. We actually somehow bested the tops in our divisions…

“Come on.” Celosia says bringing me back to the courtyard with another slap to my back. I groan in annoyance at the sting. “Let’s go.” She adds with a smile.

“What!?” A male sounding voice from the crowd yells out as our squad steps up to the dais.

“Those people!?” A female sounding voice yells out.

Without a word, Xentel looks out at the crowd with a glare. In reaction, the entire murmuring crowd silences. Xentel clears his throat and turns back to us before he speaks.

“Congratulations squad M on completing your hunt of a bihorn in less than five wai.” The guild master announces with a wide toothy smile. The crowd begins to awe loudly.

“A bihorn!?” The first female sounding voice exclaims in shock.

“Only five wai!?” The second male sounding voice yells in surprise.

A chilling breeze blows through the courtyard. Despite being midday in spring the chill makes it suddenly feel like the coldest winter night.

“Congratulations.” The voice of Skadi cheers, her voice full of mockery. The tall muscular pale goddess appears on the dais slowly clapping. I do not like where this is going.

“Sk-Skadi!?” Xentel stammers with his already large eyes bulging out, unable to hide his own fear.

“Yes, I am your patroness.” The huntress says in a blase tone. Why is she here? We are just a bunch of applicants. “You four.” She says pointing at the four of us. “You succeeded.” She continues walking over to me specifically. Skadi rests a cold finger on my chest before she speaks “I should commend you. You are the one who put that rhinoceros out of its misery.” Oh no… “But no child of Eris can receive any blessing from me.” The goddess adds a bit of anger escaping in her words.

“Rhinoceros?” Nir interjects with a question. Skadi slowly turns her gaze to the pair of masters.

“Context clues would tell you it’s a bihorn.” Bergenia mutters to shut the other master up. Skadi’s gaze languidly moves to the other three applicants in my squad before she speaks again.

“You disappoint me.” The goddess bluntly says to them. “You two would have left that dying beast to bleed out slowly.” She continues focusing her freezing gaze on Celosia and Goodswell. The huntress’s gaze moves to Chaska before she finishes “And you did nothing to try to stop them from doing it.”

I need to do something. I want to do something. But I cannot move. I do not know if it is fear or if Skadi froze me in place, but I just cannot do anything. My vision fills a little with gold. Not now…

“For your punishment.” Skadi exclaims raising her arms rather dramatically. “I shall curse each one of them!” She announces facing the crowd below. The applicants begin to murmur among themselves once more. “Know that you have been marked.” The huntress continues turning back to the four of us squad members. “You will not escape my sight.” She announces as she walks around the four of us frozen in place “There is no escape.” The goddess’s eyes meet my golden filled gaze. “For you especially, Eris’ vessel.” Skadi whispers into my ear, her voice full of unbridled fury and rage.