season content notes: violence, abduction

A soft smile crept across his face. “As I love her. How else? But she hunts me, and will hunt me, because we both wish it. Every day we hunt each other in play and learning. And one day,” his smile widened, and he closed his eyes, “One day she will hunt me in truth. It will be my final hunt, and it will be glorious and joyful.”

When he opened his eyes again, he saw her staring at him in something between pity and horror. “You are insane.”

Iberto shrugged. “The man I once was would agree with you. Though I have worshipped the goddess my entire life, I had never, before meeting her, thought the final hunt would be quite so… literal.

“But I am not the man I was. I am her called, who is no longer quite human. Less in some ways, more in others. As it should be.”

“And you just… accept that?” she asked.

He waved towards the dining hall, and they started walking together, almost companionably. “I was a dead man, until a chance turn and a voice in the dark gave me my life back. Should I complain because the gift was not exactly how I would wish it?

“But no, I am /hers/, I would not have it otherwise.”

They walked silently for a moment.

“You still had no right.”

He whirled on her, hissing. “You would tell me, the Called of the hunt, what I may and may not hunt?”

For a moment, it seemed she would back down. She was new to this place, Iberto knew, new to her power, and likely could not hear Han clearly when this far from him.

But he had chosen well, and she proved her right to the role she had claimed. “You had no right to bind me. Those were not required for your hunt. You found me, you caught me, but you did not need to tie me up and drag me here. You could have asked!”

He stared at her a moment, stunned. So quickly she had forgotten. So quickly she was no longer the human she had been. Had he, too, forgotten important things?

“You do not remember our first meeting, called? You fled at the sight of me. When could I have asked you anything?” She, then, stared at him, mouth agape. Yes, he, too, had probably forgotten things. “But, I will consider this.”

She blinked. “You… you will?”

“Knowledge, too, is prey,” he told her. “I am no longer the man I was. Perhaps I need to remember more what it was to be fully human.”

~~~

Many trails flickered in and out of Iberto’s awareness. Many possible Called, enough to meet the needs of all the goddes. But Iberto did not hunt for just any Called today. He hunted for The Scaled One Who Kept the Balance.

The Scaled One was a strange godde to Iberto, and their statue form gave no explanation for their name. But they were indeed ‘keeping the balance’ between the goddes, even while weakened. Iberto would strengthen them so they might do more.

As Iberto thought of the Scaled One and the taste of their power he had stolen, one trail became stronger, glowing like gold and polished steel. Here was one worthy.

Gleefully, Iberto set off on the trail.

It was a long trail. By chance more than anything. The prey traveled, even as Iberto once had. Though this prey used horses and wagons, letting them travel longer and faster than Iberto might have before he was Called.

The trail was long enough that he nearly lost it several times. He found that from time to time he needed to gain a new sense of his prey. In one town he learned the prey’s name and the trail grew bright again. Another brought him knowledge of the prey’s purpose in traveling — a merchant taking a yearly trip to oversee a family’s trade network.

He finally found the merchant stopped at an inn for the night. The merchant sat alone at a small table, eating whatever food the inn was serving. He had learned in his travels how to better restrain his hunt-sense, to make his nature less obvious to the humans around him. So, after considering his options, Iberto went into the inn and sauntered over to the merchant’s table. As he moved, others in the tavern flinched away — some unconscious of why, others well aware and trying to move out of his way, hoping to not be his prey.

This night, they were lucky.

The merchant did not quail as he claimed the one other seat at the table, instead demanding, “Who are you?”

Iberto took his time to look the merchant over, having never seen his prey clearly before. The merchant was an older woman — her hair was mostly hidden under her cap, but a few salt-and-pepper strands escaped, and she wore the wrinkles of a life fully lived. Her clothing was good travel wear, quality but not like to be destroyed by road grime and hard use. That she had strength of mind was evidenced in her long travel — no woman lightly traveled with only hired help, much less an old, wealthy woman for weeks at a time — and the way she met Iberto’s gaze.

“I am the called of the Great Goddess.” Iberto grinned. “And you are my prey.”

To his delight, the merchant shifted her grip on her knife. She knew she was no match for him, but was still warning him she was not yet caught. “Why would the Great Goddess send you to hunt me? I have never offended her.”

“Not at all. My goddess thinks very highly of you. I am sent to summon you to the great temple.” He licked his lips and tilted his head. “You have been fine prey. Who would think a merchant would lead me on such a chase?

“Do you come with me now? Or does my hunt continue?”

She did not argue or protest. Only nodded once. “I will come, but I need time to prepare.”

Iberto was further impressed by the merchant. That the merchant had led him on a chase might have been chance. But that she stood before Iberto — filled with his goddess’ hunt-thrill, however quieted — and demanded Iberto bow to the merchant’s wishes? Few had that strength.

“My Goddess is not in a hurry. I will tell you if that changes”

It took the merchant a week and a day. Long enough, Iberto became impatient. Since being called he found he could be endlessly patient on a hunt, but lost patience with all other things. Still, the called steeled himself to wait. He spent much time sharing his goddess’ thoughts, keeping up on the happenings of the temple.

In his absence, the monks grew bold. That was to be expected of scavengers who would attack en masse a broken sanctuary seeker but cringe and flee when that seeker gained teeth to fight back.

The Great Goddess did not look down on scavengers. They, in their own way, were hunters and had a role in the world. But that did not mean she would allow them to make a meal of her Called or her fellow goddes.

The balance set by the Scaled One continued to hold, though not as steadily as at first. His goddess showed Iberto her pleasure in his choice of prey. She agreed that a short wait was worth it for a prey who returned with him willingly, but to not wait too long.

His hunt finished, he slept each night cradled in her heart and planned for future hunts. There were other Called to find…

The merchant was as good as her word. On the eighth day, she sought Iberto out and told him she would be ready to journey with him the next day.

“It is good,” he told her. “Time is running short, and we must travel quickly.”

“I still remember how to travel at speed, though I’m sure my old bones will not enjoy it. Do you have a horse?”

Ah, he hoped this prey was pleased with the end of the hunt. She would be a joy to work with if she did not take a dislike to him. “No, but I do not need one. You need to see to your own needs only.”

Though, he was not looking forward to meals on this trip. They would not have time for him to stop and hunt each day, so unless he lucked on prey as they traveled… in the future, the Goddess reminded him, he should take time to gather funds and supplies.

“Nonsense. You did not travel this far for no reason. And you say there is a need to hurry. I will at least cover our meals and beds while we travel. The temple can pay me back when we arrive. Five percent interest would be fair for ensuring we travel with all speed.”

Iberto and his goddess laughed. “Fair indeed!” Others might call her names, but it was not love of money that drove her bargain. This one would always pay her debts — and others would always pay their debts to her. One way or another. Yes, this one was well suited to the Scaled One Who Keeps the Balance.

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