A Matter Of Skill

Ravage bounded through the melee as they approached The Huntmaster, another crossbow bolt whirling by as they weaved through the crowd.

He’d be faster without me on his back! Fulcher thought. As they approached the opening where The Huntmaster fired from, Fulcher leapt off. Free from his rider, Ravage made a hungry lunge for The Huntmaster, clamping his maw around the unloaded crossbow. The leather-clad hunter dropped the weapon and rolled away, also dodging a lunge from Arrow. As the man stood he drew two blades, glancing at the three combatants that had now encircled him.

“Well well… The Huntmaster of the Capital against three more beasts,” he said, motioning to the three of them in order. “Some wretched magical cur, this furred mongrel and you, Fulcher the abject failure.” Fulcher lifted his gauntlets towards the man.

“Give up, and I promise you and your men will be given a proper trial,” Fulcher commanded. The Huntmaster scoffed.

“As if such a thing could happen. You will be cut down before you reach the castle, by my hand or another,” he boasted. Arrow growled as he began to pace forward, but the ground shifted as the wolf walked. Metal teeth surged from beneath the grass, clasping into Arrow’s foot as the trap was activated, causing the wolf to yelp.

“Watch your step, you’re on enemy territory!” The Huntmaster shouted, beginning a charge at Arrow. Ravage responded faster, moving to intercept the man with his maw extended. The Huntmaster turned on his heel, shifting his momentum to stop short of the raptor’s attack. In response, both his blades slashed forward, one cutting across Ravage’s eye while the other worked to cut into his leg, severing the muscles. Ravage called out as he fell onto his side, the beast twitching his injured leg as he struggled against the grass. The Huntmaster turned to Fulcher with a mad smile as he motioned to the two animals.

“Don’t you see? You rely on beasts and lesser men,” he said. “I will mount their heads on my wall, after I ensure you are dragged away in chains!” He shifted to run at Fulcher, blades ready at his sides. Fulcher punched forward with one gauntlet as darkness ruptured into the air.

“Abyssal Black!” he called. The surge of midnight flowed forward, but The Huntmaster bent down and dodged the flow of black, running in an arc towards Fulcher.

He’s fast! the Prince thought as he leaned back, just barely dodging an upward slash meant for his face. He thrust a gauntlet forward, trying to meet The Huntmaster’s blade.

“Brittle Fracture!” he called, but the sword was turned mid-air and slashed down to cut into his leg instead. Fulcher was slower than this man, and the crossbow bolt in his side was not doing him any favors. Slice after slice found the weak points in Fulcher’s armor, as The Huntmaster teased him with the damage he could cause, each strike of the gauntlets missing their mark. Then, a voice came from the surrounding melee.

“Aid The Tamer of Darkness!”

“Rally to his side!”

“Under scale and claw!”

A group of dismounted Ubuk riders came to Fulcher’s side, beating back The Huntmaster as he parried the new flow of strikes. Fulcher slumped to his knees for a moment as he clutched his side. He knew he should not remove the crossbow bolt, but it burned against his muscles. He watched as the Ubuk soldiers clashed with the single warrior, The Huntsman’s blades weaving between the trio with ease as he eventually cut them down, one by one.

“No!...” Fulcher wheezed as he forced himself to his feet.

“D’aw, did I dismantle your mongrel friends, Fulcher?” The Huntmaster sneered. “I should really thank you. After freeing all those within the Beast Pens I worried we’d struggle to replenish the stocks. And yet you’ve delivered so much profit, right to our doorstep.” Fulcher felt his anger boiling over as he raised his gauntlets once again. With a shake in his arm, he aimed at the approaching man.

“Sea Gate,” he muttered. For a moment, nothing more than the scent of the ocean greeted Fulcher, until a torrent of water began to spray from the ringcaster. The tremendous force pushed against Fulcher as he held his arm up, water spraying forward as The Huntmaster was blasted back and forced to the ground. The ring shuddered as a fish was lofted from it, flailing through the air with the last of the water until it collided with The Huntmaster’s face. Fulcher fell to one knee as he pressed his hand against the path of wet grass that lead to the puddle The Huntmaster was soaking in.

“Glacial Core…” he muttered. Ice crept from his hand onto the wet grass, following the salty path of Sea Gate until it began to encase all the water left behind. The Huntmaster groaned as he tried to shift to his feet, but his recovery was too slow. Ice encased his arms and legs, until his entire body was slowly consumed in the growing frost.

“No– no! Magic… what is this?” he croaked out as he was frozen to the ground.
Fulcher did not answer, instead limping over to Arrow and freeing the wolf from the teeth of the trap.

“Hey… buddy, can I get an awoo?” Fulcher said with a tired smile. Arrow licked his face before sitting back, wagging his tail as he offered a howl. The damage to his paw began to stitch itself up as Fulcher felt the burning pain of Crimson Vigor coarse through his body. He looked down and watched as he body rebuilt the damage The Huntmaster had left behind, even expelling the crossbow bolt at the initiation of the fight. The howl seemed to reach Ravage as well, who finally scrambled to his feet and clawed at his face while a new eye formed from the damaged one. Arrow panted gently as Fulcher rubbed his sides.

“Good boy!” he said, rising to his feet. As Fulcher looked around, he noticed a surge of Corvidrop troops joining the fray, as the enemy force routed. Some of the exhausted defenders began to surrender, while many simply began running in any direction they could. Fulcher walked over to the nearly frozen Huntmaster and looked down at him.

“You h-h-healed?” the man stuttered as he shivered, glaring up at Fulcher.

“Guess these beasts are better than you anticipated,” the Prince taunted. Arrow ran up and began chewing on the ice, barking as he tried to pry off a piece. Ravage was a little more successful, sneaking closer and breaking off a chunk of ice that included The Huntmaster’s hand. Fulcher flinched as Ravage chewed on his prize, looking down at his frozen opponent.

“What…. What was that?” The Huntmaster shivered.

Fulcher did not answer, smacking Ravage’s maw lightly as the raptor reached for another chunk of arm.

“Stop it!” he hissed, climbing back into the saddle. As Corvidrop troops surged past him, Schon, Vardia and Akaj eventually ran up.

“Benedict is dealing with that jester guy!” Schon said, running past Fulcher and beckoning for him to follow. “Come on! Let’s take the keep while we have the momentum!” Fulcher nodded as some of the troops arrived to guard The Huntmaster, spurring Ravage onward and towards the Capitol army.