Back at the Mansion

"I think I found them!" Jer burst through the doors, shouting in excitement.

"You did?!" Brandy popped up from her seat and sped over to Jer like an excited puppy. Derek and Dave came around the corner to see what the commotion was about. "Where are they?" Brandy asked as she bounced around in front of Jer.

"Oy, Brandy! Cut that out! You're not a child." Brandy pouted at Jer's obvious look of annoyance. Derek shook his head and Dave shrugged.

"So, where are they?" Derek quickly inquired, before Brandy could open her mouth again.

"They're in Tal, or at least I'm pretty sure they are. One of their soldiers came to town to visit his mother. I heard him talking about a hunting couple; a man with crazy sword skills and a sprite little woman with short brown hair. Apparently they're the talk of the town."

"Tal...that's the village by the mountain. They don't normally accept new hunters. I'll admit that Demetri is as good as one can get but Taya is a normal hunter. Wait a minute, why are they the talk of the town? What did that guy do?" Brandy, who had calmed down, quickly got fired up again.

"When are you going to let go of that grudge, Brandy? He did save you." a ticked off Jer questioned.

"Why should I let it go?! He didn't save us; he saved his partner. Do you really think he would still step in if Taya wasn't at risk?!"

"BRANDY, SHUT UP!" Brandy froze with wide eyes. Jer stepped back. Even Dave looked startled. Derek quickly closed the distance between himself and Brandy. Then, towering over her, he unleashed all his pent-up frustration. "You're a merchant, Brandy. You didn't participate in the war; you profited from it. My father and elder brother fought in the war. I've heard countless stories, through their letters, of the previous duke and his highness. They always fought on the frontlines, taking the brunt of the enemy attack. They cleared the way for their subordinates behind them. If it weren't for them, we would have lost, and my father and brother would've died for nothing. LAY OFF!" Derek huffed, his breathing heavy from shouting.

"...sorry." Brandy whispered.

Derek sent her one last glare and then hastily left the room. Dave looked alternately between Brandy and the direction Derek retreated. Eventually, he followed after Derek. Jer put his hand on Brandy's shoulder. "You went too far this time, Brandy" he said, gently. "My father and brother also participated in the war, only they were lucky enough to come back alive. His highness wouldn't have let us die." Jer patted her shoulder a couple of times, in comfort, and then left the room. Brandy stayed in the hallway, her head bowed, for a long time.

*******

By dinner time, everyone had calmed down. The atmosphere was sullen, but better than earlier. As they began eating, Jer once again broached the topic of Tal.

Cough, cough, Jer cleared his throat. "We got a little side tracked earlier. What I was going to say is that there's a very good chance that Demetri and Taya are in that village. I heard that the male of the group was training hunters in combat, and that it's on the level of professional battle training. He set the condition that his partner wouldn't be asked to hunt until her skills were on par with the rest of the guild there. As you said before, Brandy, they're incredibly picky about which hunters get to work in that village and the standard is pretty high. That's why I think it has to be them."

"That does sound promising."

"So my question to all of you is; do you want to meet up with them in Tal? Though I talked to the guild leader here and we tried to come up with strategies, to put it plainly, we don't have manpower with the necessary skills to be able to deal with a mutant. Demi is our best shot and if I'm right, he's already taken the initiative to train others."
"So you want to follow them to be on the winning side? Or you want to follow them so that Demi can train us as well?" Derek raised an eyebrow.

"Well, both. Of course I want to be on the winning side, but I also want to be able to rely on my own skills in any situation." Everyone nodded their heads. Dave made a thumbs up gesture.

"Haha, it seems Dave is in favor; and I'll diligently follow my partner." Derek smiled and tapped Dave on the back.

"I will also come," Brandy, who had been silent the whole time, quietly replied.

"Then it's settled. We'll pack the necessary supplies and leave the day after tomorrow."