[center][h1][color=silver][i]Into The Hunter's Den They Danced...[/i][/color][/h1][/center]

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	The cadaver stared up at Aaron, his eyes bulging, his face twisted into a pain grimace of a man fighting against the inevitable. An arrow shaft stuck up from his throat like a ship’s mast, blood, still warm pooled around him, spreading outward in ever slowing flows. Aaron reached down and drew his longsword before stepping over the body and entering the dungeons depths, the heavy door already flung wide by whoever had penetrated it before. Cautiously, with all the stealth and alertness of a hunter he crept into the darkness, willing his eyes to pierce the shadowy recesses and reveal those who might still be hiding within. Someone, a smart someone had snuffed out all the lanterns making the dungeon near pitch black and treacherous. As Aaron approached the farthest wall his foot struck a prone figure who groaned at the impact. The prince froze, his sword angled down to prod the man. 

	[color=crimson]“Who be this, man of the king or foe?”[/color] Aaron demanded, finding the man’s throat with his sword’s edge. [color=crimson]“Speak true lest I slay you outright.” [/color]

	The man groaned and coughed shifting slightly as he tried to push himself to his knees. [b]“Guard... Uggh, prison guard."[/b] 

	Aaron withdrew sheathing his blade and helping the larger man to his unsteady feet. Using the prince to walk the man managed to exit the dungeon and make it out into the dimly lit hall before sinking to the ground, clutching his head and moaning. He had sat down in the other guardsman’s blood but he did not seem to care, even as Aaron shied away from him, the prince’s fine clothes now stained with muck and grease. 

	[color=crimson]“What happened here?”[/color] Aaron demanded, trying in vain to wipe some of the guard’s residue from his hands. 

	The guard looked worse for wear. The half of him that had been laying down was covered in the filth most associated with dungeons, while his forehead bore twin lumps of significant size, and oozing blood. His nose was shattered, and most of his teeth were gone. Whoever had smashed him against the bars, as that was what clearly had happened, and been a person of immense strength. From all the reports Aaron had heard, the assassin these men were supposed to be guarding had been female, and an injured female at that. Aaron glanced again at the slain guard laying at the door. Whoever had shot that arrow must have been a proper brute of a person. 

	[color=crimson]“The prisoner, when she escaped did she have help? Did you see who it was?”[/color] Aaron demanded of the delirious guard. Only certain people were allowed access to the castle, and their names were written in a ledger by the Vanguard at the gates. Even his own coming and going would be reported, although he was never stopped and asked of his identity. 

	Furrowing his brow, the guard winced, raising a hand to his tender head. [b]“Escaped... The prisoners...”[/b] 

	[color=crimson]“Prisoners?”[/color] Aaron breathed. [color=crimson]“There were more than one?”[/color] The guardsman managed a small nod. [color=crimson]“Who?”[/color] 

	[b]“Th... Lady Tyler....” [/b]

	[color=crimson]“And? Who was it damn you, who else escaped!”[/color] 

	[b]“Sir.... Fenros,”[/b] the man began chuckling and pointed at his head before slumping over, either dead or unconscious Aaron could not be sure. In that moment of shock, anger, and confusion Aaron could only think of one thing.  

	[b][I]Eleanor![/i] [/b]

	As if all the demons of the underworld were in pursuit Aaron sprinted up the many staircases flying past servants, guards, and courtiers alike in his mad dash, smashing over passersby's and not even uttering warnings to clear his way, his drawn sword still clutched in his hand. He reached Eleanor’s room, and finding no guards stationed outside as he had expected burst into it, finding the chamber undeniably empty. 

	[b]“Sire!”[/b] A young Vanguard officer sprinted into the room behind him, panting and puffing, he had clearly been in pursuit of the prince for some time, perhaps having seen Aaron on his mad dash and giving chase.[b] “Lord Commander there has been an escape, and there are killers within the keep!” [/b]

	[color=ed1c24]“Where is Eleanor?”[/color] Aaron shouted over the officer’s hasty report. [color=crimson]“Where is my sister!”[/color] 

	[b]“She, uh-” [/b]

	[color=crimson]“Never mind you fool, Sir Fenros is alive and in the castle!”[/color] Aaron, shouted. [color=crimson]“And my sister is not in her quarters under guard as my father ordered. And there are traitors as well, they could be anyone.”[/color] 

	[b]“Yes sire, I was trying to say so.” [/b]

	[color=crimson]“You were?” [/color]

	[b]“Yes, my lord. I fought them, they were covering for Sir Allaway’s escape.”[/b] He showed Aaron his bloodied sword and hands, a clear testament to a fierce battle only moments ago. [b]“He made good on it too, fleeing over the wall and into the forest with the princess and several others. Some good climbers tried to follow but they had horses prepared, they outran them easily.”[/b] 

	[color=crimson]“Why would my father lie?”[/color] Aaron muttered, leaning against the wall to take a few deep breaths. 

	[b]“My lord?” [/b]

	[color=crimson]“Never mind me, I presume you are preparing a party to pursue?” [/color]

	[b]“Yes m’lord, but they must saddle and prepare the horses, and take the longer route through the city to the nearest gate. The small sally doors we have cannot fit the horses. Even so we are preparing thirty men at this very moment, they shall be departing soon enough to give chase.”[/b] The officer trailed off, he dared not speak aloud his trepidation at their chances of success. The forest had been allowed to grow over in recent years, and although nobles often hunted under its spreading branches a small party could easily lose themselves inside, to all but a few trackers. 

	Aaron smiled, they were wandering straight into his territory. [color=crimson]“Run down and have the pursuit postponed.”[/color] Aaron ordered, no longer shouting and having the wherewithal to sheath his sword and stand like a proper prince, not some huffing and puffing fool forced to lean against a doorframe to catch his breath. [color=crimson]“Have my best horse saddled and supplied for a ten day’s ride. And the thirty other men as well. Send for the hound keeper and order him bring out King and Sniffer and the Lady Spotted.”[/color] Aaron thought for a moment before coming to a decision. [color=crimson]“And the Old Grey. While you are at it send for Sir Arvel, tell him to saddle up and await me, I need a man I can trust.” [/color]

	[b]“But Lord Commander, are you not concerned they will ride at full speed to put as much ground between them and the capitol as possible?” [/b]

	[color=crimson]“I’m counting on it, now go, and hurry before my thirty leave. And make sure I have good young men accompanying me. Ones with experience but who could handle several weeks in the saddle. Now if you would excuse me, I must change.”[/color]