THE ANCIENT HUNT

FALSE HOPE

Ahiga has started to adjust to the life at Adahy's town as he was recuperating, he still doesn't have the memory of what happened during the hunt but he was now fine and fit. He learnt about trading and thanks to his constant visit to the market while he was at the orphanage, he was about to trade smoothly since he knew the tactics of the market.

He was at the market one afternoon when some men were checking out some brushes for painting, they kept dropping it and apologizing to the seller but that was their tactics of stealing some because they his them inside their huge boots. He stood afar for a while observing them until he was sure and caught them red handed before he shouted at them to stop stealing the brushes

"What do you think you are doing? Get one of the brushes if that's the amount you can afford, How dare you steal people's things?" he barked at them and they all pretended they didn't know what he was talking about

"What do you mean stealing? did you see us steal anything?" one of the countered turning to face him properly

"We only wanted to buy brushes for painting, why would we steal them?" the friend supported rolling his eyes

The confused trader who couldn't grasp what was going on decided to come to their rescue because they were his long time customers

"What do you mean steal? they are my customers who have always been here to buy brushes, they can't steal from me" the trader said siding with them and he shook his head in frustration before latching unto the collar of one of the customers to pull him closer, he bent down and raised his trouser up, dipped his fingers into the huge boots and brought out two new brushes he had watched him hid there

"You both drop multiple brushes intentionally and make it look like an accident then pick up the rest while you hide the ones you wanted, if that's not the case then explain why there are new brushes in your shoes?" he asked waving the brushes

"Or did they pay for the brushes already?" he asked turning to the trader who shook his head in denial

"Well, over to you then" he remarked, dropped the brushes and went on his way to get what he wanted while the seller performs whatever he likes for the brush thieves.

The next time he came back to the market, the brush seller thanked him for helping him out and gifted him with a piece of clothes which he only took after much persuasion. He began to work at stores at the market and became familiar with many people, he would get drooled over by the ladies who would intentionally come to buy something they didn't need just to see his handsome face. His hair was now lengthy and he would pack it in ponytail to keep it in place so it doesn't disturb him when he's working.

He just got back home one day and saw that Adahy has brought a big boar from hunting, he joined him in the kitchen to prepare the boar and they got to talk about how he was coping in the town

"I see you have gotten everyone to like you, I keep hearing about you everywhere" Adahy teased him

"Well It's hard not to get noticed with this good looks" he replied and Adahy paused to laugh before continuing what he was doing

"How does it feels to be tagged the town's sweetheart?" he asked further and Ahiga smiled

"It does feel strange but I'm kind of getting used to it even though I shouldn't get used to it because I have to return home, I have to find my friend and my woman, I need to know what happened to them" he replied gently and silence came up between them for a while

"Your woman?" Adahy asked looking at him because he had never heard him mention anyone except his friend ever since he woke up

"Yes, My woman. I promised her to get her out of where she was after the hunt but she must have been waiting for me all day, I couldn't even show up not to talk of carrying out the promise and I'm sure that will make her so sad because she must have put all her hopes in me getting her out" he replied sadly and Adahy coughed

"Don't worry, you can go and get her out soon when you are fully recovered and strong enough to go home but I will not advise you to show up in front of her without having plans for her, she might have started living her life with the hope that you will not come back and comes to term with it, if you show up and shake her up again without doing anything positive then you might actually lose her forever" Adahy advised while he listened attentively

"I should do as you have said truly, I can't give her false hope" he supported and decided to start working properly to save enough and buy her out of the palace.

******

The governor's son didn't call for Shael since the day they came back from the market and she also didn't go to find him. He understands that she was annoyed about what his friend said when they met them but he didn't want to explain so it wouldn't be like he was giving unnecessary excuse and since he likes her truly, he wanted to prove himself worthy and slowly show her his love. The only reason why he rescued her from the clutches of the head maid and the other maids was because he likes her and doesn't want her to be bothered or maltreated.

He went out early that morning as always and didn't take her along like he would before their fight but she also didn't complain, instead she cleaned his room, arranged everywhere and did what was expected of her. The maids were discussing about her in the kitchen when she walked up on them but she didn't react or even talk, she just dropped what she brought and head back to her room

"She's so cheeky and arrogant" one of them scoffed as she turned to go

"Who does she thinks she is? just because the young master favors her?" another scorned and the friend clapped at her remark

"What do you mean favor her? she must have seduced the young master because I don't think he can ever fall for someone like her, his standards are high, don't you know?" the friend countered

"Then maybe he just wants to use her for his temporary play thing, he will soon discard her just like the other lady" the other lady supported and they giggled over it not minding the fact that she was present.

She was convinced that he was a play boy because both his friend and his maids were talking about how he played maids in the past and she was not ready to be played by him no matter how much he tried.

The young master branched in the market to get something for himself when a woman passed and stopped briefly to talk to him

"Why don't you just explain yourself and see if things will work out with her even though I'm not sure it will, you are both bright stars but you seems to shine for different skies, you should still explain yourself to her so there will not be any ill feelings" the woman suddenly told him

"What do you mean by explain myself to her?" he asked puzzled at the sudden advise

"are you going to pretend that you don't have a beautiful gem beside you that you are trying to keep? You can't fool me" she said with a smile but he was only creeped out instead because it was true and he knew it

"Who are you?" he asked looking into her eyes

"Me? I am just a woman as you can see" she replied and went on her way, he paused to think about what she said but turned to ask what he would do with her and found her no more, he pushed through the crowd but couldn't find her no matter how he looked and after trying his best he decided to head home to explain like he had been advised to.

He got home, ate his dinner and was looking for the perfect time to talk to her but she was uninterested the whole time, she just kept mute and did what was expected of her. After everything that day, she went to her room to resume her book she was reading about the erhu instrument which she found luckily in his room before a knock landed on her wall, she wasn't expecting it since he haven't knocked in a while and slowly got up to attend to him.

She opened the door to his room and stood in front of him waiting for him to speak about whatever he called her for

"Are you going to stand there all day? you should have your seat because the night will be long" he informed her and she raised her head to look at him not knowing how to interpret his word

Why would the night be long? what was he planning to do with her? she thought as she slowly had her seat but all her concerns were put to rest when he coughed and spoke up

"I know you have so many questions to ask and many doubts about me but I will clear them tonight" he said and she slowly lowered her gaze trying to prepare herself to hear whatever he had to say.