Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 75: Caught (1)

In the woods, Dante walked with his bow and arrow in his hands. His guards were close by, keeping watch for the other men.

"They’re loud," Dante said, forced to stop and rub his ears.

Dante was certain every animal in the woods could hear the other men stepping on fallen sticks and talking loudly about which animal they were most excited to kill.

"You should kill something fast and get out. Unless they catch a few boars and a deer, they cannot beat you. Your ears have always been sensitive, and it is nearing time for you to lock yourself away. One boar would be good enough," Rick suggested.

"Not good enough for my wife. If I pull one animal out of here and lose, she won’t speak to me for a week. Keep watch for any fowl and rabbits. All animal counts, no matter how low the points are," said Dante.

Dante suspected the men were going to waste time searching for a big animal, but whilst he searched for what would gather the most points, he decided to go after animals others would overlook to keep himself ahead of the other men.

Dante walked further into the woods, and along the way, he handed his catches to Rick.

"Do you think the other men will stay true to the rule that their guards are not to hunt?" Rick questioned, though he knew the answer.

"We haven’t passed a palace guard for an hour or so. The others are likely to cheat, but I do not need to take the chance," Dante said, deciding to keep to the rules. "Danger lurks close," he said, picking up on a familiar smell.

Dante had too much to lose to be tempted by cheating and getting caught.

Besides, someone wanted him to play fair.

Dante picked out another arrow, and whilst it appeared that he was distracted, someone took it as an opportunity to aim.

Dante moved in time to avoid the arrow whistling through the air. It didn’t come as a surprise to see Nigel be the one coming close. Dante noticed Nigel had been following him since they entered the woods.

"You’ll have to excuse me, Lord Hastings. I thought I saw a boar in this direction, but it turned out to be you and your men. Good thing you are quick on your feet," Nigel laughed, but on the inside, he was furious. "Receive my arrow for me," he ordered a guard.

Nigel inspected what Dante caught so far and started to laugh. "It appears you are just killing anything you can get your arrow through. The real fun hasn’t shown up yet. If you don’t watch it, you might not have any good arrows left before the show starts. Why do you think the other men are so empty-handed?"

"You are the first man I have crossed paths with. I thought you were empty-handed because you didn’t know how to use an arrow," said Dante.

Nigel didn’t take offense to Dante’s insult. "I might not look like it, but I am a good hunter. It’s one of my best hobbies. There’s nothing like putting an apple on someone’s head and trying to aim for it. The tears as they think I will strike them are the best part.

"Has Ophelia ever told you how we played?" Nigel asked, trying to provoke Dante once more.

Nigel stepped behind his guard when Dante aimed his bow and arrow.

"Have I ever told you how I train? Don’t cower, Nigel. I was only testing my bow," Dante said, lowering his weapon. "I wish it were pleasant speaking to you, but I must be on my way."

Nigel took his arrow from his guard.

Joel suggested staying close to Dante to steal his catches, but Nigel didn’t want to bother himself with small animals. Rather than stealing what Dante caught, Nigel wanted to kill him right now.

"Stay close to him. He’s the real prize here," Nigel informed his guards.

Nigel couldn’t think of anything better than dragging Dante’s lifeless body back to the king and reclaiming Ophelia. She was out of his hands far too long, and if he wasn’t careful, Ophelia was going to lose the side of her that Nigel enjoyed.

Dante looked over his shoulder at Nigel, trailing close behind him. He didn’t mind Nigel staying close since he wanted to finally respond to all that Nigel, but he wanted the extra pair of eyes to be gone.

"Get rid of his guards," Dante ordered Rick.

"As you wish," Rick replied.

Rick slowed down until he was walking right in front of Nigel’s group. "My back is aching," he said, trying to reach for a spot. "You there," he said, placing his sword before one of Nigel’s guards. "Give me a hand."

"Is he out of his mind?" Nigel muttered. "Go around him." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Keep them back!" Rick gave the command.

Rick knocked the guard to the right of him onto the ground, giving Dante time to run. The other guards joined Rick in keeping Nigel’s guards back.

"He’s getting away," Nigel yelled, but his guards were occupied.

Nigel avoided Dante’s guards and chased him so Dante couldn’t get a big kill.

It was a split second, but Nigel somehow lost sight of Dante. He gritted his teeth.

"Is this what it had to come to? You needed to come up with a ploy so you could win? I’m disappointed," Nigel said, turning around before Dante could sneak up behind him. "Here I thought you were going to prove yourself to me and make this hunt exciting. How boring of you to go after the small animals."

"Small?"

Nigel turned to the left after hearing Dante’s voice.

"I’m saving the best for last. What were you saying about my wife again?" Dante asked, his arrow placed in his bow, ready for a shot.

Nigel chuckled. "You wanted to get me alone? Is that it? Fine, let’s talk."

Nigel walked in a circle, waiting for the best time to attack Dante. "You’re a little off. Is it that you’ve fallen for Ophelia? I hate to think that’s the reason for your behaviour. She’s in your hands now, but Ophelia will always belong to me. Ask her about me. About our times together."

Nigel flashed a cunning smile. "Should I tell you how I liked to punish her? You!" Nigel exclaimed, dropping to the ground as Dante fired his arrow.

Nigel groaned when he collided with the ground, and in the distance, he heard a cry which sounded like an animal in pain.

Dante had not aimed at Nigel. He aimed at an animal.

"You bastard-"

Nigel looked up in time to witness Dante coming toward him and grab him by his helmet to pull him to his feet.

Dante peered down upon Nigel. "Punish me as you do her. Or, is it that you can only hurt women?"