Charmaine brought her father and son up to her room on the second floor. "We should investigate anyone going with Serafin during the hunt." She ordered as her father closed the door.
"We can't be rash, we already know he'll be safe. If we panic and show our hand Serafin may be targeted in an unexpected way." Charles tried to sooth taking Charmaine's hand, "Relax, you are an empress." He teased.
Charmaine glared up at her father, then took a deep breath to calm herself. Of course, they were being targeted, there had already been half a dozen attempts on her family. "I know, I'm just worried... Ashton is still young... and his relationship with Lucian is getting better, I want to know what changed. If Ashton and Lucian's relationship... improves, our help won't be needed and breaking the oath doesn't have any consequences on his end. We need something to keep him on our side."
"I've already sent someone to inquire, and while the relations have eased, Ashton's goal is still the same. We still have time, we need to focus, expand our information network. For now, we need to know who makes the quartz protection wards, or at least how to make or acquire more. So far none of our mages have been able to read the enchantments, let alone duplicate them," Charles reminded as Serafin sat beside his mother on her bed.
"He's probably bluffing, how can he know more than us?" Serafin groused patting his mother's hand, "I'll be safe, I'm not weak!" Serafin promised pounding on his chest.
Charmaine wrapped her arms around Serafin. While Ashton had not actually admitted that Serafin was in danger... she didn't want to take any changes, "I know my love, but please, if only for my peace of mind stay with Ashton."
Serafin grumbled as he hugged his imperial mother back, but nodded all the same.
Shortly after noon everyone gathered for the start of the hunt. The rules were fairly simple, regular animals kill would result in 1-10 points, beasts 3 to 25 points, beasts with cores would start at 10 points. Due to the enchantments in the forest boss, leader, and elite class were almost never seen, but if they left the safe areas most beasts at least had boss or leaders in all the packs.
Outside the forest, a first-tier mage would be about equal to a cored beast. In the forest, even a regular beast could take out mage. Devlin had hunted leader class beasts out of the forest... but even he only dared take on higher tiered cored beasts, or lower classed beast bosses in the forest.
Only the person who made the final kill would get the points which would be recorded by enchanted recording stones to prevent kill steals. The bodies would also have a corresponding mark.
While you could give points to another, the giver had to record their names prior to the hunt and if the receiver failed to be present during the announcements on the last day no one else could claim the points.
There were also extra points for capturing any animal or beast worth at least 3 points. If the target was unharmed triple points, if lightly harmed doubled points, and if crippled points and a half were awarded.
And lastly, any beasts that had mana cores would also have additional points based on mana cores from their bodies, level one mana cores added 5 points, level two added 15 points, level three added 45 points, and level four added 150 points. Mana cores were hard to use as stable sources of power because they could vary so wildly depending on the beast.
Ashton thought about the information, usually only 1 in every five beasts had mana cores that replaced their hearts and gave them increased abilities. All the summoning enchantments were only altered to increase the lure of cored beasts... then again if the alpha had a core the entire pack would follow. Even with Devlin checking over the wards with the other mages they didn't seem to notice... Ashton decided to meander closer to Serafin and Natasha.
Serafin sent an unfriendly glance at Ashton then pretended to ignore him as he continued to speak to his fellow heirs. He also took a step to block Natasha's view of Ashton, "Don't stare like a bumpkin," Serafin grumbled.
Natasha rolled her eyes, her snow fox coat was enchanted to keep her warm and deflect minor projectile attacks. "Yes brother." She agreed sticking her tongue out at Serafin before turning back to their friends. Unlike other enchanted items, theses were specifically adjusted to work past the campgrounds.
"We should go north, there were a lot of snow foxes reported there last week."
"But horned rabbits are easier to find, we should still go south, we might find one or two with a core."
"Snow foxes and fire foxes will be scared off by the horses like last year... we didn't even see one the whole week."
"We should spend the first day in the first ring, my dad said there were a lot more beasts than last year."
Ashton listened to the lordlings, some were already more aware and cautious at such tender ages, the youngest seemed to be Serafin at 10, while the oldest in the batch was only fourteen. Still they were deferring to Serafin's judgement.
Serafin gritted his teeth, then glanced to Ashton, "Lord Reece, where would you like to hunt?" he bit out while refusing to look back.
Ashton raised a brow, "I will follow where you lead your Highness, though today we are starting late and just getting to the second ring for horned rabbits will take over an hour, if we go for the snow or fire foxes we will need to prepare torches for our return." Ashton reminded looking at the trees that were well over thirty feet. The deeper in the forest the taller the trees.
Serafin hesitated, they couldn't use most navigation enchantments in the forest and this was his first hunt not by his father's side. "We will search the second ring for horned rabbits today and mark the trails so we can look for foxes first thing in the morning." Serafin announced.
Everyone agreed readily looking at the sky, the winter gloom made it hard to see even in during the day, if night fell... well eventually they would find their way back but better not to chance it on the first day.
Ashton brought over three of his four war horses, "Your highnesses, I believe my mounts will do better in the forest." Ashton offered with a bow before Serafin could mount his colt or Natasha mount her pony.
Serafin hesitated, Ashton's horses were much larger than his colt. All the young heirs were watching, he gritted his teeth before nodding, "I agree, though I'll bring our mounts just incase."
Ashton gave a courtly bow as he walked over, he offered each child a horse. Natasha needed her imperial guard to lift her into the saddle. Then both smaller mounts were given to the guards as the party of 13 nobles, crown prince, princess, twenty guards and Ashton set off.
Charmaine watched from the cabin as the campground slowly emptied, most of the older nobles like her father and Duke Sebastian remained behind, and she as an empress would not participate. Then again... Natasha was the only other lady attending, the other dozen women were servants to take care of food and clothes.
"Your majesty, even if they get lost the cabin produces a light that will guide them home. Come now, Duke Sebastian will be here soon." Charles reminded guiding his daughter back inside after Lucian and Serafin departed for different rings.
Ashton didn't mind as they trailed behind Lucian's much larger group, most parties would travel together until they reached their desired ring. The parties would naturally disperse as they hunted, very rarely would anyone under their majority hunt together, and the unsaid rule about only using guards to carry kills back meant only minimal guards were following their lords into the forest.
Ashton and the lordlings were the first to break off since they decided to stay between the first and second rings. Ashton simply followed the group around while they chatted and broke into groups of 3-4 to try their luck.
The day was rather eventful, Serafin managed to hunt five horned rabbits without help and caught one alive with minor injuries. Most of the lordlings had nothing, and three managed to make a few kills but no catches.
Natasha's guards had captured a regular fox at her request but otherwise stayed as mere observers.
As dusk started to fall the guards encouraged their charges to return, Ashton stayed back with the guards. Of the twenty guards only one had been looking back suspiciously into the darkness.
After riding back for almost twenty minutes the on alert guard brought his horse to trot beside Ashton's war stallion. Ashton sent the guard a glance, "Yes guard Nox?" He asked the older man. A smile crept onto Ashton's face thinking of the name. How similar, yet so different.
"Did you happen to notice anyone following us Lord Reece?" Nox asked getting straight to the point, he'd felt someone watching him on and off since they'd left the campgrounds. While he wasn't sure what Lord Reece's role was he'd been ordered to treat the young lord's orders as if they came from the emperor or empress themselves.
Ashton gave a predatory grin, "I did, but be at ease. They'll soon... be little more than a distant memory." Ashton informed still looking forward.
Nox couldn't help the shiver that crawled up his spine. "Yes my lord. If you have need, please do not hesitate to give your orders."
Ashton glanced over the guard's gelding, "Tomorrow use my other horse, your gelding appears to be rather winded." Since the guard was a little more talented than the others it would be a pity if he didn't return.
Nox saluted before falling back into formation. He had to make an effort not to look for the stalker but within a few minutes he didn't sense anyone else following them.
As they were the first to return the lordlings all ran to their own tents to brag of their prowess. As was customary anyone who made a first kill offered their spoils to the Empress in respect. Charmaine gifted each of the four lordlings with valuable wine usually reserved for banquets. Serafin happily accepted the jar to save for later while the other three rushed to share their spoils.