6 Chapter 6

Lovell opened his eyes as he found himself with a splitting headache, feeling a relatively large bump where the pain was. Lovell realized that the commander had taken him somewhere because of those two.

Lovell looking around to see the furniture cover in gold and the sheets of satin or silk. Lovell also noticed the other extravagant decor throughout the room. Lovell sat up and walked to a balcony as he looked out to see where exactly he was.

Once Lovell was outside, he could see city walls and castle walls surrounding the city. Lovell turned white as he recognized the architect. Looking down, Lovell could see the training grounds for the soldiers and the castle gardens. Lovell looked back up as he figured that must be at the Grand Dale Castle. Lovell squatted down. Lovell held onto the railing. Feeling the rush of confusion as he tried to think how they got here so fast.

"Just who are those boys?" Lovell muttered to himself before a knock at the door caught his attention. Lovell stood up and looked at the door, wondering who could be at the door. His heart racing in anticipation.

"Are you awake, sir?" a woman's voice asked beyond the door.

Lovell signed as his heart settled, "Yes," Lovell called out the woman as he turned toward the door. "and you may come in."

The door slowly opens as the woman walked in. Nervously, Lovell watched her as she entered the room. The woman walked in backward as she was holding some clean clothes in hand while she turned around. Lovell could tell the woman was a servant as the woman wore a black maid's outfit. She then walked over o the bed and placed the article of clothes on the bed. The servant stood over the ground as she waited for him.

"Sir, could you come here, please." Lovell was hesitant to come any closer, as he had no idea what was going on as she smiled at him. "Sir, I'm here to help you get changed. AS the king wished to speak with you personally." She waved her hand over the clothes.

Lovell looked at her as fear gripped him. While Lovell walked over to her. The servant helped Lovell change into the clothes as she smiled in doing so. Lovell found that the outfit was quite similar to his original clothes, if not newer. He found the boots to be higher as they were half calf-high.

Once Lovell was dressed, the servant bowed as she pointed with her hand at the door. "This way, sir."

Lovell bowed as he walked out the door to see four guards were waiting for him. They were fully suited in heavy mail and armed with spears as they escorted him to the throne room.

'What's going on here?' Lovell thought to himself, terrified that something terrible was going to happen.

As guards escorted Lovell down the corridors, he noticed a large flower garden off to the side. Lovell noticed one of the flowers was a white marigold or a Sehena, the flower of honouring a fallen one's life. Lovell began to remember Morris as they walked past. The guards and Lovell reached the door to the throne room, where the King of Gran Dale was awaiting Lovell's arrival.

The men opened the door to show a line of more spear-wielding guards standing on either side. Lovell took a deep breath as he made his way forward towards the King. As Lovell catching a glimpse of two men in a suit of armour with a lance instead of spears. Lovell noticed one of the men was the young man with brown hair. Lovell was surprised to see he was a soldier and wondered who the other young man was.

Once Lovell reached the throne, he knelt down on one knee. Lovell glanced at the king's left to see the bar's commander when he was knock out of the bar in Stonebeak. Lovell's hands began to become sweaty from everything going on as he awaited the king to speak.

"From what my son, Gale, has told me. You just so happen to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time when Lance's father, Eledon Pendragon, came to get them. After they escaped to join the Hunter Society." The King explained to Lovell. "Now tell me, Lovell, what was your purpose in Stonebeak?"

'Lance and Gale. Okay then, so that's their names, just which one is which?' Lovell thought to himself. Lovell's fears were fading slightly. 'Just what are they going to do now?' Lovell panicked silently as he waited for the King to ask him questions. "If they wanted to, I could be killed if they find out I am—no—was part of a mercenary group. I could be pushing daisies.'

"He's in search of something or someone, Sire?" The lancer called as the other glared at him.

"Are you sure, Lance Pendragon?" The king raised his brow at Lance.

"Yes, sir. This young man had said something about that when Gale and I first met him." Lance answered as the commander growled at him.

"I see then, hmm?" The King began to think about the matter. The King leaned back in his throne. "To whom or what are you looking for, Lovell." The King stroked his beard as he waited for Lovell's answer.

Lovell figured that the two young men had told the King his name. Lovell closed his eyes as he calmed himself before looking up at the King.

"A young woman. No older than twenty years old." Lovell stared as he swallowed. "She would have silver hair and eyes. While her skin is a pale complexion." Lovell began to doubt that she was even alive. While he bowed his head. "Your majesty."

Resting his hand, the King stared at him. "I see then, hmm…" The King was closing his eyes'. "there might be someone I know who could help in your search." Shifting his weight. "though she's a stubborn old woman, but is in the elven kingdom to the west of our nation."

"Really! That is great news!" Lovell rose his head in excitement. 'Finally, some luck.' He thought to himself.

Lovell then realized that he had lifted his head without authority to raise it. As the commander groaned loudly at Lovell's ignorance. Before raising his lance up.

SLAM!

The commander slammed his lance hard on the ground as he glared at Lovell. "You, insolent worm!" The commander roared. "How dare you raise your worthless gaze to his majesty?!" Lovell was unimpressed by the commander's actions. The commander walked down to Lovell and grabbed his arm.

"Father!" Lance was trying to get him to calm down. "Lovell never meant disrespect. He was just excited to find a clue to—"

"Enough out of you!" The commander scoffed at Lance. "You're not even worthy to even be my son!" Lovell let out a low growl as the room filled with the sound of a snarling dog. "What was that, and where are all the dogs?"

The commander gripped tighter on Lovell's arm as he looked around. The King narrowed his eyes as he looked at Lovell, "Lord Pendragon, let the young man go."

"Sire, this worm is not worthy of such luxuries as he is part of the Goanna Mercenaries!" Eledon scowled as he looked at Lovell. "I say we execute him here and now!"

Lovell had become agitated with Eledon as his growling grew more intense. The King stood up to order Eledon to stand down but was stopped when Lovell erupting with magic energy swirling around his body. Forcing the Eledon, letting go, as he shielded his eyes.

"What's going on now!?" Eledon demanded as he stepped back.

The fire grew when a giant wolf paw came out of swirling magical force. As the energy dispersed, it began to reveal an enormous black wolf with a single blade horn, snarling towards Eledon. Its teeth were visible as it opened its maw.

"What in all the heavenly plains?" Lance backed up in amazement.

Eledon pulled his lance out as he readied to attack the beast. The king stepped forwards as he raised his hand at Eledon.

"Stay yourself, Commander Pendragon!" the King roared. Eledon gritted his teeth as he glanced at the King. The king then walked down to the giant wolf. "Please calm yourself, young Theyan."

Eledon froze as he turned to at Lovell in his beast form. Lovell glanced at Eledon as he continued to growl at him.

"You should know when not to attack a person and when to listen to your king," Lovell growled in his beast-form.

Lance's mouth dropped as he watched Lovell speak in his beastly-form. Eledon stepped back even more as he listened to Lovell. Eledon knew that his actions could have had the King targeted by other Theyans if Eledon killed him. Lovell turned to The King as he bowed.

"I'm sorry, your majesty, for my behaviour a moment ago." Lovell apologies as he returned to human form in the same manner in which he became a beast. "It's just hard not to get mad when people start to judge someone based on simple mistakes." Lovell paused. "That just irritates me."

The king placed his hand on Lovell's shoulder. "That is alright. The commander Pendragon was in the wrong." Turning his gaze to Eledon. "he did interrupt our conversation." Eledon turning red as he turned away from the King. "now, where were we."

Waving his hand over, Lovell nodded as he followed the King. While Lance trailed behind. "Ah, yes, the person who could help in your search." Lovell's eyes light up once more. "I believe still lives in the beastman kingdom of the Inroar Dynasty." The king walked into the gardens as they continued.

"Yet her name seems to elude me at the time, but she is well known as either Grandmother K. or Mama K." The King stopped as he knelt down to look at the Sehena's before turning to Lovell, "I'm sorry if that is all I can give you."

Lovell smiled as he shook his head. "No, you have been more than helpful, thank you." Looking at the King as Lovell bowed. "I'm the one who should be apologizing. Since I can't even give you the name of the woman, I am searching for to protect her identity."

The King smiled as he looked towards the sky. The king closed his eyes as he began to think of something. Lovell looked down at the Sehena's as he felt his heart sink, knowing the meaning of the flower.

"Take my fool of a son, Gale, with you." The King asked Lovell as he grew concerned. "It is not that he needs protecting, but he's a fool when dealing with people, and I fear if he is not exposed to more people, he might not become a great king for my kingdom." The King turned to Lovell as he bowed. "Please, will take him with you."

Lance is watching the entrance, then left to find Gale. Lovell stood stunned as he smiled at the King and touched his shoulder.

"Of course, I would take him. It's a lonely journey without company." Lovell turned back to see Lance was gone.

Relief washed over th king as he looked up at Lovell. The King placed his arm alongside Lovells. Resting his hand over Lovell's shoulder.

"May Lunatica's guidance be with you." The King spoke as Lovell stared at him in shock.

"Thank you, and may her grace be your guide to a long life?" Lovell answered back as he smiled.

The King walked back as Lovell stood standing a little longer. Lovell turned to the Sehena's and knelt down. Caressing the white petals in his hand.

'Wish you were here, Morris.' Lovell thought to himself as he started to tear up. 'You would have loved to have seen these. As you always did like botany. If only I was stronger back then. You still be alive.' Lovell could no longer hold back the tears as he cried over the flowers.

Lovell cleared his eyes as he began to head to the stables. Once he reached the stables, Lovell noticed that his horse was there. A wave of relief washed over him as Lovell grabbed a brush and clean her. While approaching, Lovell saw that she was injured. Lovell knew she could be temperamental with strangers ass she would kick in horse stalls. Lovell knelt down to check the wound. He tried to lift her leg as she fought him.

Lovell sighed, knowing how stubborn she was when it came to injuries. She would act as if nothing was bothering her. Lovell was finally able to lift her leg and looked over her wound.

"What did you do, silly." Lovell could feel the tears well up once more as he stared at the wound.

The injury was life-threatening as she pulled her leg free. Lovell knew the only way she would be comfortable would be to but to put her out of her misery. She turned her giant head and wrapped her neck around Lovell, hugging him as the tears ran into her coat. Lovell stroke her mane while he looked into her brown eyes.

"I'm so sorry, girl." Lovell stood up as he helped her to the ground as she knew what he would do.

Lovell cast a spell that allowing his hand to reach inside her heart. The mare seemed to know what was happening. The horse laid still as she made a purring noise at Lovell. He started rubbing her forehead while he began to squeeze her heart. Watching the life leaving her eyes as she closed them. As if to say thank you to her rider. Lovell could hardly hold back his tears as he laid down on her, with his hand gripping his horse's heart.

Gale ran over as he was looking for Lovell after hearing the news from Lance. When he walked up to Lovell, he was there for the last moment as Lovell took his own horse's life. Gale hesitantly walked closer as he reached out and touched Lovell's shoulder. Gale rubbed his shoulder as Lovell continued to cry away, not even saying a word to him. Gale could tell that Lovell was hurting. To where Lovell did want to talk as he wiped his eyes.

"Do you want a new horse to replace the one you lost?" Gale senselessly spoke to Lovell. Lovell glanced up at Gale as his red eyes filled with rage. "I am sorry. I did not mean any harm from that."

Gale caught himself as to what he had done while Lance came over. Lance glanced over to Lovell. He knew what was going on for the scene. Lance gently grabbing Gale's shoulder. Gale looked over to see Lance shaking his head at him in silence. They began to leave when Lovell caught Gale's pants as he glanced up.

"No, I'll find a new one over time." He had answered Gale's question before drying his eyes with his sleeve. "Sorry, she was a gift from someone that I respected." Lovell found the strength to stand as he looked over at Gale and Lance. "Besides where we're going, we won't need a horse."

Gale and Lance looked at each other, as they were confused about what Lovell had just said. "What do you mean 'we'? Gale is going with you, not me?" Lance asked.

Lovell was taking a deep breath as he smiled. "You want out of the castle and on an adventure, right?" Gale and Lance nodded slowly as they stared at Lovell. "Then go get packed. We will be leaving in a week."

Lovell seemed to recover quickly while Lance and Gale's exchange looks before running off to pack their things. Lovell grinned as he watched them runoff. "I think things will be interesting with them around. Despite the fact, I am being forced to take one of them along." Lovell looked back at his horse's body, feeling now that he did the right thing.

Lovell took a deep breath and went to find some other people to help him pack her out of the stall. Then burn the body in respect of how her original master was cremated. Lovell closed himself off to not let his emotions overtake him, as he had more on his plate now that he had two new companions. Taking the journey with him.

After Lovell said his goodbyes to his horse, a soldier walked up to Lovell to let him know that dinner was ready and that the King would like him to join them until his departure. Lovell nodded as he followed the soldier to the mess hall. Where The king awaited his arrival.

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"Hunter, where are you?" Bellowed, a shadowy figure as they sat on their throne.

A young man with honey blonde hair approach from the throne room's shadows and knelt before the figure. "You called milord?" The young man's hair slipped past his face as he lowered his head.

"Ah, there you are, Hunter. I have a mission for you, Hunter." Hunter lifted his gaze as the shadowy figure leaned into the light, his dark green eyes piercing through the sun as his copper hair shined in the morning. Hunter's blue eyes stared hungrily as he awaited his lord's orders. "I have become away from this 'Lovell.' TO where he is in search of a woman with pale skin, silver hair, and silver eye. I believe she might be a threat, and if this Lovell finds her, all of our plans will be washed away. I want you to find and dispose of this Lovell. Either by killing him or having him join us. The method does not matter." The king leaned into his hand, resting it next to his mouth. "If you find this girl, bring her to me. She must be kept alive at all costs." Hunter bowed once more, pivoting around to walked away. "Oh and one other thing, Hunter If you see Fang do—"

Hunter twisted his body to his King. "Do not engage Fang. Right?" Hunter sneering as he looked up at his king.

The King cracked a grin as he looked into Hunter's eyes, "Yes, do everything in your power to not fight the man or give him a reason to hunt you. Fang far more skilled than ten thousand of our most skilled men. He was once one of our best next to his father." The King's eyes grew cold while staring at Hunter.

Hunter bowed once more before leaving the throne room. The King leaned back as his grin was only visible in the light. Hunter made his way down the dragon grounds as he went to retrieve his dragon.

"You! Is Harpoon ready?" Hunter sneered at one of the dragon keepers.

The keeper directed him towards Harpoon's stall. As he entered, a grey-scaled dragon lifting its head to Hunters as he walked closer. Hunter glanced over at his dragon noticed that the saddle was off. Hunter's started to fill with rage as he looked around for one of the quartermasters. Hunter caught one in the corner of his eye as he stormed over.

"Tell me why my dragon is not ready?" Hunter barked at the quartermaster. While Hunter gripped his shoulder.

"Calm yourself, Hunter." A voice called out from behind him. Hunter turned to see who was talking to him. As rage seethed over Hunter. Hunter looked at the elven man as he fixed his glasses, "I made the decision to have Harpoon unsaddled as she is in her cycle. If you were to take her out, she would buck you off and leave you for a male and not return until she has laid her eggs, and they have hatched." The elven man pulled his black hair back as he looked at Hunter dead in the eye. "Besides, you should know that from our last encounter."

Hunter was looking up at Harpoon as she acted lethargically. Hunter stared into her violet eyes to see the primal urge ravage her sight. "Humph, I guess you are right, Kyle." Hunter peered out the corners of his eye. "Fuck, I hate the idea of going on foot, and it would have been easier to fly to our starting destination. Unless…" Hunter turned to Kyle as he smiled at him. "…you have another means of travel, ready to go?"

Kyle, lifting his glasses as he gestured Hunter to follow him. Kyle led him to his workshop as he pulled the covers off a hoverbike.

"Would this do for now?" Kyle grinned as he watched Hunter scan over the bike as he whistled. "It forms the late Terranea Era, so about six to seven million years old. I found this model on my last mission without you and decided to fix it right up. Knowing you might like to use it when Harpoon is not viable for missions." Smirking in joy as he watched Hunter's reaction.

Hunter turned to Kyle, "so, this bike is mine to use as I please?" Kyle nodded as they then grasped each other's arm. As they were long-time friends. "So, what's your duties today? Other than being the quartermaster for the rookies?"

"If you count the paperwork from Hans, that he has not finished and leaves me to do all the work—AGAIN—nothing as of late." Kyle leaned against his worktable. As he knew the mission, Kyle turned to Hunter. "Hey Hunter, do you remember the man—oh, what was his name again?" Kyle snapped his fingers as he was trying to remember the name.

"You mean that Morris guy?" Hunter answered as he walked over and leaned next to Kyle. While he placed his crystal sword on the table.

"Yes, that traitor of a man." Kyle snapped his gingers as he pointer at Hunter. "It so happened Morris knew Lovell. But with his death, we have no solid leads."

Hunter's facial expression turned sour as he looked at Kyle. "Great, there goes my first led, into dragon shit."

Hunter thought back to that time as he remembers a teen running up to this Morris. The kid's face had looked just like his, but he had platinum blonde coloured hair instead of honey blonde.

"Hey, Kyle?" Hunter turned to look back over at Kyle. "Do you think that the kid that had run up to him? Might be my prey?"

Kyle began to ponder as he touched his chin. "Now that you mention it?" Kyle lowered his hand slightly from his chin as he turns to Hunter. "Yes, actually, that young man from the report might be him. If so, he might give you a good fight. That is if he finds out that you killed that man,"

Hunter was unimpressed that he met his prey ten years earlier. "Do you know what became of him?" Anger and excitement coursed through him while a dark grin washed over his face.

"From the intel, I have got in, he was last seen at Stonebeak." Kyle fixed his glasses while he smiled at Hunter. "Are you packed?"

"Kyle, when am I never packed? The real question is, are you coming for the adventure?" Hunter asked as his grin grew more sinister.

"Who would keep you running otherwise?" Kyle smirked while he looked through the lower half of his glasses. "As well as keep you on track."

The two smirking at each other got their things in order. Hunter got on the bike as Kyle grabbed on to him. Hunter started the motor as it hissed to life. Hunter revved the engine as the portcullis raised. Once the portcullis was fully extended, Hunter hit the throttle. They were bolting out beyond the main fortress of the Faremin forces.