The large barbarian did not draw his sword, he simply walked up to him in a calm and stoic manner, shaking his head as if Anthony was a rookie who had just made a crucial mistake.
“Look I can tell you’re not from around here, so maybe you don’t know how this hall ‘really’ works.” He talked with his arms folded to show off his muscular physique. “I’m kind of the headhunter around these parts, the name’s Leandor, that means strong as a lion.”
“Actually it means the head of a lion, which would explain your skin, your hair and your pelt around her back.”
“Hey, I’m trying to be civil here and you're being critical right to my face?”
“I was simply admiring your collection of skins, quite the variety to say the least.”
“Ah, well, flatter is a different story.” He showed off his collecting of assorted patches and articles of clothing in his possession. “I take a piece of every animal I kill to sew into my vest, just like those Imperial hobnobs who wear patches made of demon skin.”
“Quite the collection of beasts you have there. Everything from ordinary to greater beasts, by the looks of your pelt. Although, how did you manage to get your hands on brass boar skin when it’s strictly a patch made for royals.”
“Let’s just say, you can get your hands on plenty of rare commodities when you know who’s hand to shake.” He laughed causing his fellow hunters to join in.
“That’s why I’m wondering why you’re working for old Lady Gaia, when you should be working for someone who can pay you a decent wage.”
“I see...” He looked back at the board remembering the vast quantity of stamps with a specific group. “Would these jobs be involved with the Boreas Group whom I’ve heard about from Ms. Phil?”
“Oh, so she gave you the message.” He patted him on the shoulder like a good friend. “The Boreas Group has connections to the Empire itself, which gives them a variety of resources for hunters to use. Maybe you can talk about that over a drink or two. I could put in a good word...” He picked up Leandor’s hand and pushed it off his shoulder.
“Your offer is kind, but I’m afraid I’ve made a commitment and must file these orders before the end of day.”
“Buddy, I don’t think you’ll make it that long.” Leandor held his fist against his palm and cracked his knuckles as the other hunters quickly approached.
“Hey, you guys know the rules!” Philomela called from behind her barred window. “You got a problem, take it out-back!”
“Do you want to walk out first, or should...” Before he could finish his sentence he saw that Anthony was already walking toward the back exit.
“If we’re going to settle this, let’s do this in a civilized manner.”
“...At least he’s eager.” Leandor followed him along with the rest of the hunters in his group, the three stranger’s who had been watching this followed close behind them to mingle in the crowd.
The hunters of the guild gather in a great circle around Leandor and Anthony at the center. They placed down their weapons, Anthony his knife and Leandor his greatsword. He placed his ring, his broach, and amulet inside his money pouch bag, while Leandor simply started to warm up by flexing and turning his muscle. When the crowd was encircled and each party was on either side of the combat circle, a conversation started.
“You know they say the difference between a hunter and a killer, kid?” Leandor smirked at his opponent. “A hunter fights his prey as an equal, but a killer will not care about the manner of which he fights.”
“You expect me to attack in some devious manner?”
“I could tell from the look in your eyes kid that you don’t have the look of a hunter. Just so you know, if you try tricks, all my men won’t hesitate to take you down. Right guys?”
They all laughed, shaking their heads in agreement as Anthony raised his hand over his heart.
“I swear by the fire of my soul, this will be an earnest contest.” It was a fancy salute that nobody had seen before, making everyone think he was not an average hunter but a well educated one.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“...Fair enough kid.” Leandor shrugged off this distraction as he pulled up his fist to match Anthony’s stance.
The crowd roared in an eruption of cheers and boos as the fight began to take underweight, the hunters began to circle one another like wolves locking their eyes for the slightest twitch of the first attack. Leandor was first thrusting a powerful jab at Anthony’s chest, but he slipped the punch back himself further toward the crowd. Again Leandor threw another jab, followed by a three punch combo, but each punch quickly slipped away as Anthony continued to pull himself toward the edge of the crowd.
“Are you gonna fight or run away?” Leandor continued a furious feral assault until he could no longer back any more.
Anthony’s arms were guarding against each blow, powerful enough to take a man twice his size, but each blow was countered by Anthony’s defensive stance. Each blow he managed to slide his punch like a water falling off a leaf, his breath slowly building with each blow as if each punch gave him more defense than the last. The fight continued longer than anyone would have expected, many who had seen Leandor taking out men in at most 5 minutes. The longest battle took almost 15, but now in almost 20 minutes, Anthony had begun to hold his ground without throwing a single punch.
It had been almost half an hour since they started with no breaks and Anthony showed no signs of fatigue, but his opponent was on the verge of collapse. Each punch began to wane, becoming a weapon as if all the strength in his body was slowly being sapped away as he made contact again with Anthony's arms. When he could barely hold on to his last punch, Anthony finally made his move, with quick succession in a combination of moves so fast that only an experienced hunter could see it. He stepped forward, and started stabbing his vital points with his fist, two hits to the ribs, on to the solar plexus, one hit to the liver and another two swift jabs to the kidney, and finally one push to the stomach, not with a fist but a push that brought Leandor to his back.
The crowd was in awe, at seeing the giant of Leandor, being knocked down, and in 30 minutes. Anthony turned his eyes to the crowd wondering if any of his fellow hunters would seek revenge for their fallen leader, but none stepped up. Instead, they all backed away at the stare in his eyes as he walked toward Leandor and helped him back up to his feet. It was hard considering the man’s size and structure, but soon he was on his feet looking at the pretty colors dancing around his eyes.
“Do you wish to continue or will you make the call?”
“Nah...kid...I think...you won.” He held up his hand in a sign of defeat, and the other hunter’s let out a cheer of excitement and praise.
The other hunters started praising him with cheer, while Leandor regained his bearings. When he was stable enough to talk right, he walked over Anthony not as an antagonist but as a fellow peer.
“That was some great defense, kid.” Leandor praised as he wiped the sweat from his body with a towel. “You lasted longer than anyone, and you didn’t even use a cheap blow. I’ve seen guys start to aim for my weak points during the first five rounds.”
“You’re referring to your knees, shoulders and jaw?”
“What, did you say?”
“I could tell from your flexing that while your physique is in prime condition, there are some weaknesses in your knees, jaw and shoulders. I’m guessing these are injuries sustained while hunting, since the amount of scars on your body seem to coincide with those areas.”
“You knew then, but you still chose to fight fair?”
“Does this prove that I am a true hunter?”
Leandor and the rest started laughing uncontrollably as they escorted the man back into the Guild hall.
“You’ve got a sharp eye, kid, that’s why I don’t see why your mind isn’t as sharp as your fists.”
“What do you mean Mr. Leandor?”
“Before you go signing those orders, let me give you some free advice.” He leaned closed to whisper in his ears. “The wind blows in every direction, especially in the Slums.”
Leandor escorted him to the front desk to meet Philomela, and after some scolding and screaming to Leandor for his treatment of newcomers they got to signing the orders. It didn’t take as long as Anthony thought, mostly because Leandor was eager to help him make sure that every detail was left checked and double checked. Despite his offer to stay for a drink and celebration at a nearby pub, he politely refused as the sun was nearly set.
They wished him goodbye and farewell as he proceeded on his trek to Zoe’s pharmacy. All the while, he noticed that a set of strange eyes were following him down the road. He had noticed it the first time in the Guild Hall, and even amongst the crowd, that three strangers were following him closely. With his dagger at the ready he turned around to catch a glimpse of them, but surprisingly he saw them changing direction at the turn of a street corner.
Whatever the three strangers wanted, it could wait until another day. For now, he carried his signed and sealed copies of Master Zoe’s order in a satchel that the guild was gracious enough to provide. He made it back to the shop, just before the last rays of the sun had set, he saw only Master Zoe standing out the door at the closing of the day. She looked across the street with a look that could pass for a surprise by her standards.
“What kept you?” She noticed the bruising and battering of his arms.
“Just a ritual between hunters.” He shrugged.
“Well, you made it in time...just barely.” She scoffed. “Why don’t I patch you up and see if I can set you up a bed for the night. I won’t be pretty, but I’ll try to make it comfy, because tomorrow...we start training.”