Hadjar approached one of the saddled horses. Besides him, only Nero and one of the female nobles had no transportation of their own. The rest of the hunters were already sitting on their horses.
Elaine had a white mustang that beat his hoof against the ground nervously, but she stroked his powerful neck for only a couple of seconds and the horse calmed down.
The Princess straightened and turned her face toward the rays of the midday sun. Even in her leather hunting suit, she looked so beautiful that everyone around her froze for a few moments.
“Well, friend,” Hadjar whispered in the gray horse’s ear, “remember: you do your best not to drop me, and I’ll try my hardest not to break your legs.”
The horse snorted and turned its muzzle away. Apparently, it didn’t like the agreement, but, just like the cooks, it had no choice.
Hadjar jumped into the saddle and immediately felt like a fish out of water. He’d spent all his life on his feet, so riding was rather stressful for him. He felt like he’d been deprived of a good half of his power. In his opinion, a human had two legs to run and jump with, not sit in a saddle.
“A bit unusual, isn’t it, Hadj?”
Nero came up to his friend. He looked just as awkward. Being Dogar’s subordinates, they’d spent a lot of time hunting. However, it had been a very different affair — going on foot and in a group no bigger than five people. Now they had to participate in some kind of farce.
“Before we start this trip,” (The aristocrats apparently called it ‘a trip’) “we should choose a leader.”
“Are you suggesting yourself, Oneg?” One of the girls asked.
Hadjar hoped that he would never have to see these people again, so he hadn’t bothered with remembering their names.
“Why not?” Oneg’s friend said. “Leah, you know that Oneg is studying at the ‘Falling Leaf’ Imperial School. They are known for their constant skirmishes with wild monsters.”
“You’re just saying that because you’re studying there with him.”
Hadjar looked intently at the two disciples of the Empire. He had to be wary of Oneg. Not only because he was on the verge of becoming a true cultivator, but also because he was studying in the Empire. That made him a very lethal opponent.
“We’re wasting our time,” a cold, distant voice sounded. Its owner was a beautiful girl who looked bored. She had a bow and arrows.
“Izma,” Oneg smiled derisively, “you still haven’t gotten over my ‘Falling Leaf’ school beating your ‘Four Clouds’ sect at the last tournament?”
Therefore, this girl was the third disciple of the Empire. However, the fact that she wasn’t studying at a school of martial arts, but in a sect, made her less dangerous than Oneg. In schools and academies, everyone was taught equally, without dividing access to knowledge into levels, but in sects... It was unlikely that a citizen of Lidus had been allowed to become a disciple of the sect. She was probably an unofficial member of the sect. This meant she could use a small amount of resources and had access to a very limited portion of their knowledge. Nevertheless, Hadjar was pleased that he’d identified three of the most dangerous foes before the hunt had even begun.
“I just don’t want to waste time,” the archer shrugged. “I see no reason to argue when we have two royals here with us. Let Prince Eren or Princess Elaine lead the hunt. Then none of us will be offended.”
The nobles exchanged glances and stopped arguing. Apparently, they weren’t so spoiled and narrow-minded to not recognize the truth of those words.
“Thank you, Izma,” judging by the warmth in Elaine’s gaze, the two girls were very close. “But I can hardly expect to handle such a task well. You know that father rarely lets me out of the palace. So…”
“So everyone will obey me now!” Nero derived a lot of pleasure from what was happening. “My deputy and assistant will be my close friend Baron Traves. Anyone who disobeys his orders will be seen as someone who’s disregarded my orders.”
Hadjar hadn’t even thought that Nero could speak in such a commanding tone. Of course, he’d attended the Bear Squad training sessions a couple of times. Still, Nero had been commanding ordinary soldiers back then, and now he was doing the same with aristocrats who weren’t used to obeying anyone.
“My Prince, you-”
Nero’s gaze cut Oneg off. For a while, they looked at each other. Hadjar put his hand on the hilt of his sword. The forty horse riders tensed up. Oneg’s friend demonstratively put his heavy hammer on his saddle.
“As you wish, my Prince,” Oneg said quietly. “Your word is law.”
Nero nodded, turned his horse toward the forest, and raised a clenched fist into the sky. He straightened his palm and moved it in a circle several times.
“We’re not in the army anymore,” Hadjar whispered to him.
“Damn,” Nero realized. He cleared his throat and commanded quite loudly: “Let’s set off! Hadjar and I will be in the vanguard. Oneg will lead the group behind us along with Elaine. The beaters will ride on our flanks and track the game. The carts will bring up the rear.”
No one argued with him. Ten minutes later, the group entered the dense forest, the canopy above providing ample shade. The day was beautiful, but the atmosphere was tense. Each of the aristocrats had their own issues. Judging by the way Oneg kept looking at Hadjar, this trip wouldn’t be an easy one for him.
Night had fallen by the time they’d come across their first game. Ironically, it was a Fire-Horn Deer at the Alpha Stage.
Chapter 203
In a wide clearing, under the starlight, the children of the aristocrats feasted. They felt free and uninhibited.
