Alois shook his head. “No, you are right to keep your distance. Icchorians that have perceived territories are infinitely more dangerous than those that wander. If you do not have the training, it will most definitely end in death. Let us risk that for you.” He sat back, considering the information provided. “I will go, two others will accompany me to the village. We should be able to deal with the threat as soon as I’ve discussed the situation over with the other villagers. Not that I do not believe you, Sir. But this is a very unusual situation.” He stood, indicating Alexander to follow. He turned to look at one of the other hunters. “See this man to a room to rest. We leave at first light.”

Alois exited the crowded common room that served as their food hall, Alexander close behind him. “What are you thinking Alois?” The other man only ever used his name in the privacy of their squad or when alone. Alois may be younger than him, but he was very skilled and shrewd when it came to perceiving things that others might take at face value. Alexander always assumed that had come with being raised by the King.

“Icchorians don’t just show up in places. This one must have been in the große Schloss for some time. Why didn’t it make a move on the people before? They were isolated and ripe for the picking. Something doesn’t add up here.”

“Was it wise to tell that man you think something is amiss?”

Alois shrugged. “Subterfuge is not my forte. I leave that to Yulian.” Alexander laughed, patting him on the back.

They entered the barn, checking over their horses and organizing the equipment he would need. They agreed that Alois would take two of the newer recruits with him, who had yet to taste battle. It would be an excellent experience for them, and if the need arose, they would be able to provide backup to Alois’s considerable skill.

Alexander and the squad would remain behind, preparing for the winter ahead. As they made their way to the building that served as the barracks Alexander smiled.

“I know why you want to go. You’re not very talented at hiding things at all.”

Alois glanced at him. “And why do I want to go, all knowing one?”

“To see the snow. Although it sounds like this place doesn’t get to see much of that.”

Alois stopped,mouth hanging slightly open. Alexander looked at him incredulously. “Did you forget what he said? It doesn’t snow in their valley.”

Alois groaned, one hand fisting his hair in frustration, causing Alexander to laugh again. “You are too impatient for it. Just wait, soon they’ll be so much, you will get sick of it.”

The two picked at one another all the way back to their room, settling in for the night with quite a bit of murmuring from Alois on the impossible sass he continued to get from his own squad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The carriage shook over the rock filled path, the two horses struggling across the rough terrain. The passenger inside was trying very hard not to press himself against the window in excitement, aware of the two young recruits who looked up to his leadership sitting opposite of him. Alois could feel the air growing colder and colder as they moved further into the valley and he allowed himself a small smile. Despite his squad’s teasing he couldn’t quell the hope he felt dwelling in his chest. Just one peek at snow and he’d happily live out any fate that lay in wait for him.

For the last few days he had patiently answered the questions of the newer recruits, describing in detail the Icchorian’s he had encountered before. He made sure not to leave out details of their crazed behaviour, even speculating how strange they were compared to the recorded instances in years past. They scoffed when he told them that once Icchorian’s were even as civilized as Humans themselves were. Of course, Yulian’s letters had told him that the whispers of the Golden Ones were still very much true, the Beast Icchorians that had made a fool of them in the early days. The King spoke of his plan to pursue the rumors once Alois returned, and the young Hunter supposed that it would certainly be an interesting matter to look into once he assumed his new post. If there were others out there that were similar to Mukesh… perhaps they would be able to elaborate on what the Elder had tried to tell him.

Now the trip was coming to an end, shown by how the carriage came to a rough halt, the horses sighing in apparent relief for being allowed to rest. Alois spared no time in opening the door and jumping down. The ground was a mix of slush and mud, the surroundings matching this with dull dead trees and high banks of what was once snow long ago. It seemed the villagers had pushed most of it out of the way into the forest’s edge, but it would not melt with the colder temperatures.

“We know our village is not much too look at milord Hunter, but you will find it not the worst accommodations in the north.” An elderly man stood in thick furs, flanked by two younger, broad chested men. They regarded Alois and his two recruits with critical gazes, one of them glancing harshly at the carriage driver, the man who had traveled to retrieve the Hunters.

“This is the mighty undefeated Hunter you spoke of? He is a child.” One of the men spat.

The recruits behind Alois bristled, but held their tongue when their leader simply laughed. “I haven’t been a child for many years sir. And please, my name is Alois.” He met the eyes of the Elder with a smile. “You are the village leader, Gunter, yes?”

The old man nodded, returning his smile. “Yes milord. Please, you and your men must come inside. We can talk while you rest.” He indicated for his villagers to lead the Hunters inside, turning to go in with the assistance of his staff. Alois cast one more glance around the village, quickly assessing the words of a few days ago to be true. Despite the first initial impression of the village, it was indeed thriving in the harsh environment. He could see pens that held livestock set on the furthest edge of the village, and long rows of unidentifiable crops weaved throughout the rough hewn buildings scattered in the clearing. For the briefest moment his gaze moved to the looming forest behind, unable to see the dark outline of the castle from this angle, but he knew it to be there.

Inside the building were several other villagers, all men who wore the same thick furs as their fellows. It was then that Alois saw that his two recruits had their arms crossed, seeming to try very hard not to shiver as they slowly made their way to stand before the large fire that lit the room from the center.

Gunter settled himself down on a bench near the fire, sighing as he eyed the new arrivals. “Please sit milord, and warm yourself up. Although… you do not seemed as affected by our cold winds as others are.”

Alois shrugged lightly, watching his recruits warm their hands. “I am not often affected by the weather around me. Never have been.” He cast a look at the grim faces of the villagers that settled around them. “So tell me about your… monster.”

“You sound doubtful, milord.”

One thin eyebrow raised. This older man was more astute than people Alois normally encountered if he was able to tell that from one simple inquiry. The other men in the room shifted at their elders words, seeming to take offense that anyone would not believe their tale.

“I do not doubt that there is an Icchorian here from your man’s story. And we will take care of it. But I am concerned as to why this Icchorian has not made a move on your village of its own desire or will. It seemed to have been provoked before it raised it’s hand in violence against you.” He tilted his head. “Would you know why?”

Silence met this, before one of the men, the one who spoke out before scoffed. “Why does it matter? It is a monster that murdered one of our boys. There is nothing else to know.”

Alois frowned at this, eyeing the man. “There is much to know and consider. I have encountered many Icchorian and I can tell you with absolutely certainty there has never been one that has held back or shown signs of being capable of thought outside bloodshed. And they have not been seen in hundreds of years in our territory. Why would one suddenly have a presence here, so close to a ready supply of blood in the form of your village and be able to not take advantage of it?”

His words made the men shift uncomfortably, murmuring to one another. Gunter finally spoke then. “Perhaps milord, you do not need to think of it as a creature capable of Human intelligence. It may have just been biding its time until it’s hunger drove it mad. We do have facts. It is a fact that our boy did not harm the creature, nor did he threaten it. He was cut down in cold blood, and did not even seem to need to be devoured by the beast, as is in their nature to do.”

“But he took something, didn’t he?” Alois’s tone was clipped.

The man from before snapped. “What are you going on about? There is no one in that castle that can be stolen from!”

The Hunter regarded him coolly. “But there is. The Icchorian.”

A moment of silence passed before every voice spoke out in protest, his two recruits shifting uneasily, hands loosely over their weapons as the tones become hostile. Alois merely sat, his gaze returning to meet their elders who regarded him through the flames.

“You defend an Icchorian, milord Hunter?” The older man’s voice was calm compared to his fellows.

“I’m not so much defending as I am stating facts, Sir Gunter.” Alois could not help the small smirk that threatened his lips as he echoed the elders earlier words. “I want everyone to understand that this isn’t just a monster in the woods. This is a being capable of intelligence that can rival, and even surpass our own. If it lives there alone, we can surmise that it has immense power, and that it can come with an even greater hunger. Your boys may have provoked the hunger to awake, and your way of life may now be at stake.”

Silence met this again, and Alois sat up straighter now that everyone was listening, even his recruits gazed at him in contemplation.

“I really want you to try and think of things differently going forward. It has become an issue in Leben Festung recently that people forget what a danger the Icchorian race can be to us. At their core they are stronger and possess far more ambition than we could ever hope to have. They can surpass us if we are not ever vigilant for the possibility.” He leaned forward, his blood red gaze seeming to glow in the fire’s light. “We must treat them with respect, and when we face them, we face them as warriors on the same level as ours. Even if the only ones we face now are crazed, they were once intelligent enough to take our form. The fact that we haven’t fought them in their Human like forms means that something is happening to them to make them forget...forget who they really are. If they were to ever remember...there would not be much we could do to stop them.”

He knew that most of the information would mean nothing to the men gathered, perhaps aside from his recruits who now looked a bit stunned. Gunter too, seemed to be reflective as his gaze never left Alois’s. In fact, everyone stared at him, and suddenly the young Captain flushed under the attention, the glow of his outburst leaving him. He always got passionate about his theories on the Icchorian behaviors, almost as much as he was about snow. Alexander used to tease him about how he’d get caught up in describing things, but that everyone around would be too busy listening to notice how the Captain would become nearly manic in his descriptions.

Alois cleared his throat. “The first course of action will be to scout the castle. We can do so at first light, after we have rested. Does that suit you, Sir Gunter?” The old man seemed to shake awake at being addressed directly.

“Yes milord...that...that will do fine. Please make use of our facilities here during your stay, and do not hesitate to ask for anything you may need.” He stood shakily to his feet, avoiding Alois’s gaze. “If you will excuse me…” Alois watched him leave before nodding to his two recruits. They were shown to their rooms and fell into bed quickly.

The white haired man sighed, eyes trailing to the thick clouds that hung out the small window. He could make them out through the frost, and it seemed as if they might let loose at any moment. Yet no matter how hard he strained or stared, not a single flake drifted down, and it was with disappointment that Alois drifted into a light sleep.