From beneath the ground, a bolt shoots out straight at Bruno. He dodges it just in time only to find another coming from a completely different direction. The raider training kicks in and the man also manages to avoid this second attack. But at that very moment, the leaves and the ground burst open as someone with grey cloak jumps out shooting a crossbow at him.

It is the end, having nowhere to go, Bruno reaches out, trying to grab the bolt coming for his head. He fails, and the steel tip stops right in front of his eye. The barb wires around his arms tangle with the bolt, stopping it.

“Tch, quite some luck you have there”

The attacker is covered from head to toe in a camouflage grey cloak, blending perfectly in the drab background. A one-eye goggle in her right eye, the glass shrouded in darkness. She holds a custom-made crossbow, covered in grey leaves.

“Is this all, Siobhan?” The priest asked, still remains calm.

“Of course not, Father. I am just waiting for my target, that’s all”

A person mode and expression can be deduced from their tone. Bruno can tell that this woman is grinning, her voice mischievous.

Coming up toward him, the Smiling Hunter asks slowly in the most condescending tone possible, still grinning “Can. You. Give. Me. Back. My. Bolt. It’s the pointy thing, pretty please, Mr. Raider? Or else I would have to kill you”

“Here you go” Bruno ignores her attitude. The man inspects the tip before giving it back. Even though it was dyed to reduce visibility, that piece is made by Blind steel. Then the camouflage cloak and all the traps strewn about. Is this woman part of the Blind Order, a field hunter? But she isn’t here for him and his friend or else she would strike earlier.

If so, what could she be possibly be hunting here?

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Raider. People call me the Smiling Hunter Siobhan because I am always so happy!” The woman introduces herself and makes a heart with her hands “Can you stand still for bit. I need to memorise your face”

“What for” Bruno backs up, cold sweats running down behind his neck.

“So I can remember to hunt you later”

She said with such a playful tone, but the man can tell that this person is not joking. The Smiling Hunter sounds joyful, too much so when she made that announcement.

“Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about you yet, Father!” Siobhan turns to the priest.

He smiles gently, his voice still warms the soul “I will be sure to receive you properly then. But for now, can you put your traps away?”

“No no no, don’t be mistaken, they aren’t for you and Mr. Raider” She shakes her head.

“I know who you are after and we both know you aren’t going to succeed anyway” His voice still filled with warmth and yet the content is filled with contempt “This is a crucial time, for the next two days she must not be obstructed. Leave it be, Siobhan”

The Smiling Hunter tilts her head in contemplation then suddenly draws the crossbow points straight the priest “You can’t fool me, I know you also want her! You want to defile her!”

“Defile? No, I simply want to show her the wondrous sight that I have seen” Smiling, the black rocks embedded on his head seemingly pulsates. The raider collapses to the ground, the barb wires suddenly react. It emits an unbearable pain, one beyond comprehension. Fortunately, the reaction stops before he could see what is past the suffering. On the other side, the deity awaits patiently.

Father Walker continues “If you know me well and I am sure a hunter you must be knowledgeable about your prey. Then you must know that I don’t lie, Ms. Siobhan. For two days, she must not be touched nor hindered in any way” He smiles but the façade is see-through, a sadistic monster lies just beneath “After that, well, it will be hunting season”

“Huh, I have forgotten what a crazy fucker you are, ‘Father’ Walker” Siobhan backs off.

“This is imperative, dangerous, even for her” The priest hunches forward to be nearer to the Smiling Hunter “She might die”

“That’s impossible, nothing can kill her! If anything can, then it will be me!”

Bruno hides himself behind a hollow tree. This woman is deranged, no, both of them are. Her voice, while still cheery is cracking. He doesn’t want to be there, the first living thing in her sight right now.

“Then maybe you could help, I’m sure she would appreciate you for it” The priest whispered “She will love you”

The Smiling Hunter backs off and giggles, it starts out innocent enough but is soon distorted.

“Father Walker, you are one crafty bastard” The laughter is cut off in an instant, like a singing canary, snuffed out “So, what do I have to hunt?”

Needless to say, Bruno is disturbed by this union. But he doesn’t complain, this crazed Blind could be his only change to put all of his friends out of their miseries. While the thought of them dying to this lunatic angers him, a death is still a death.

Looking at the horse, Bruno wonders if it belongs to the woman those two are talking about.

___

The settlement is buzzing with the arrival of the Blind hunter and the mysterious Stranger. The former because of his age. How old is he? In his fifties or maybe even sixties? How could one live for that long especially as a hunter!

Outside the guard barrack, a young woman waiting for news of her husband.

Only the hunter exits, he strikes a match and lights up the fuel already poured at the building. The isolated barrack goes up in flame, lighting up the dark night. The young woman grapes.

“Where is my husband, he isn’t hurt, he is fine”

She goes after the old hunter, begging for his attention, for answer. The man turns back, his face devoid of emotion.

“He is already cursed”

Trying to help his brother, the man came in contact with the blood tainted by the depth. Still normal, he started to hear whispering from something called Scy’lla. The voice, his life brought to an end by the hunter’s steel. He continues to scorch the trail of cursed blood leading into town. The widow, meanwhile, weeps.

“It’s all my fault”

Looking from afar, Mordia commented, guilt weighted heavy on him.

“What nonsense are you on about?” His wife turns him around, looking into the man’s eyes.

“Those raiders, they are here for the charger, my charger” Mordia looks down in shame.

“You are such a fool”

Claudia hugs her husband, he is truly too kind for his own good. She started to regret letting him be this way. Their lives were peaceful until now, but this is an apocalyptic wasteland, misery will find its way. Her heart aches when she thinks of her children, they resemble their father to a fault. After this all blow over, she would have to toughen all up.

‘After this all blow over’, for some reason, those words rung so ominous in her mind.

Their tender moment is interrupted by their neighbour, the town tailor. He also maintains the guards’ equipment and was tasked with fixing the Stranger’s clothing.

“I couldn’t make it as good as before, but this is all I could do” He said, grudge in his voice.

Why is that though? Claudia wonders, the air in the settlement has been hostile but she doesn’t understand why. This isn’t frustration of their position, nor a hatred for the force besieging them. Where does this anger come from and what is it aimed at?

Mordia takes the clothes and brings it in.

After a while, a familiar jingle could be heard with every sound of footsteps. It’s the spur on the Stranger boot. All geared and healed up, she is ready to set out.

“Thanks for your hospitality, sir and ma’am” The woman said, tipping her hat to the other two little ones “And you both”

“Let’s go then” Mordia said, still looking rather disappointed.

There was an argument last night, the mage wanted to go and helped wiped out Scy’lla’s influence. Claudia, of course, didn’t want him to go. But Mordia didn’t budge, he was still the same as that boy she met in the tavern all those time ago. But it was the Stranger stepping then did the argument stopped.

“You are not Mordia, no, you are Mordia Castellanos. Dying ain’t no way for a family man” She said “Stay and protect your place, your home, don’t let the Pale Rider take ‘em away”

Custom making some artefacts for the Stranger was all he could do. Mordia would accompany the two till the edge of the barrier. Then, after opening a passage and closing it, his job is done. Oh, he pained himself over the decisions, but the man understood what was important.

While Claudia may not exactly be happy that it was a stranger’s words that keeps her husband home, she is satisfied.

Outside the door, the old hunter is already there waiting for them. The Stranger waves at him, something has put a smile on her but what remains a mystery. After some reluctance, the old hunter hands her his steel knife.

“I will be back soon” Mordia said, kissing his children on the heads then one more on his wife’s lips.

It is just a trip to the barrier, but Claudia couldn’t help but feel like his words are ominous. She pushes him away before his lips could touch hers “I will wait until you return” the wife said. Look who is the one making things seem ominous now, Claudia wants to sigh.

With that, the three make their way out of the settlement.

People with their windows opened, gazing out curiously. They gather somewhere inconspicuous, together whispering.

“Good riddance” Those words were muttered in hatred.

The widow looks on, her eyes lock on that crimson hair harlot. It is all her fault, only after she came her, falling from the sky did misfortune before them. That demonic red hair, those iris-less eyes. But most all, skin like a new-born, as white as Death’s mistress. It is she that heralds the misery.

A place like this has ears everywhere, especially in situation as dire as this.

“The Pale Rider” They whispered “Does she mean herself…”

But most frustrating is that they need her. A place like this, even under the leadership of the last of the Castellanos caravan couldn’t hope to survive the unknown.

The mayor’s son also sacrificed his life to call for help. In the end, all that came for them was an old man. Bet that he was going to fall apart any time soon.

Such words don’t escape Mordia’s ears and definitely his two temporary companion. But they still remain unmoved. The old hunter still has that blank yet sharp look in his eyes while the Stranger is still smiling gently.

“I hope you enjoy your time here in out humble settlement” The mayor is here at the gate.

“I certainly did” The Stranger tips her hat while the old hunter remains quiet.

Sitting in the living room with her children, Claudia is certainly restless. She brushes Alessio hair why he brushes his little sister hair. Next time it will be the other way around, they like to rotate like that.

“Do you think she will return?” Alessia asked.

“No, I don’t think so” Claudia answered “Why do ask that?”

“We like her, she seems like a nice person” Alessio said “We want to learn to fight like her, to protect mom and dad against the filthy raiders” Alessia continued.

“Don’t worry, mommy will teach you plenty. I promise”

Claudia smiles, her children are growing up. She continues to brush their hair, humming to herself. The woman finds it’s lucky that their lucky resemble their father, silky blond and not one as washed up as their mother.

By the time the sun appears on the horizon, the door opens and Mordia is again by his family.