Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 296: The hunt

Chapter 296: The hunt

The long-awaited tribal hunt that Egil had called for before the marriage ceremony finally commenced, though it was quickly overshadowed by unforeseen complications. Egil, Alpheo, and Jarza had envisioned a traditional hunt, as they used to do when they went in search of meat in forest during their long march south after they regained their freedom. However, their plans met an immovable obstacle: Jasmine.

Determined to ensure Alpheo's safety, Jasmine had ordered the eighty knights assigned to guard the prince to remain at his side at all times. Their steadfast presence, though well-intentioned, turned the hunt into an exercise in futility. The sheer number of knights, clad in their heavy armor and thundering hooves, made it impossible to approach any game quietly. Animals that might have been viable prey scattered long before the party could get within striking distance.

For Egil, this was an affront to the spirit of the sacred hunt. They had hoped to bond with Alpheo in the ancient tradition of the his tribes, stalking their prey as one with the land, celebrating their connection to nature.

After much deliberation, and reluctance from Alpheo, the group made a difficult decision: Egil and Jarza would press on without the prince. It was a painful but necessary compromise. The royal hunt, as Jasmine and the nobility envisioned, would have seen the knights capturing an animal for Alpheo to slaughter while it was restrained and bounded —a far cry from the authentic experience Egil intended.

Alpheo, though dismayed, understood their reasoning. His safety came at a price, and while he longed to take part in the hunt as they used to , he had no choice but to relent. Left behind with his knights, he watched as the others melted into the dense foliage, their spears and bows ready.

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