Hunter's Bounty (Veller) Read Free

that was Marcus’s edge.
    “Here we are.” Alisa said as she stopped in front of a small farm house that looked surprisingly familiar. It was just as Moppin had vision it, but then so was the house beside it and the one across the road. That was one of the things that Kile hadn’t gotten used to, the different ways that animals see their surroundings and how they interpret them.
    Alisa was already knocking on the front door by the time Kile caught up to her. The door opened and a short elderly woman with silver white hair peered out from within. If she was as old as she looked, Kile would have guessed somewhere in the neighborhood of two hundred, but she knew that wasn’t possible.
    “Can I help you?” The woman asked in a rather raspy thin voice.
    “Hello Mrs. Mi ller, it’s me, Alisa from down the road.”
    The old woman smiled as she pulled the door open wider. “Alisa my dear, it’s been ages… and who is this with you?”
    “This is a friend of mine, Kile Veller. She’s one of the new Hunter’s in town.”
    By now the cat knew it was home, she either recognized the smell, or the voice of the old woman as she struggled to get free of Kile, who was doing all she could to keep from loosing the cat again.
    “I think this is yours ma’am.” Kile said finally released the cat, almost throwing it at the old woman. She was surprisingly fast for her age as she caught the cat that leapt into her arms.
    “Moppin, my Moppin.” The old woman cried as she hugged the cat that purred in return. “Thank you my dear… thank you. Please come in.”
    Kile was happy enough to make her delivery and run, the Hunter that disappeared after a completed mission, it added to the whole mystery of the Guild, but Alisa wasn’t going to let Kile get away so fast . She grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into the house.
    The room was dimly lit, but then most of the places in Coopervill seemed to be dimly lit. It was either the small windows in the buildings or there was a shortage of candles or lamp oil. Maybe the fact that Coopervill was a mining community, they all got used to the dark Kile thought as she looked around the small room. It was just as Moppin had described it, better than the outside, with the rug by the fireplace and a basket in the corner of the bedroom. For a cat, Kile was sure you couldn’t do any better. There were an awful lot of knitted things lying around the small room, everything from hats and scarves to huge bedspreads and blankets. It would appear that Mrs. Miller liked to knit.
    Alisa poked Kile sharply in the ribs . She turned to see Mrs. Miller setting out a bowl of something for Moppin.
    “She asked you a question.” Alisa whispered.
    “I’m sorry… I was just admiring your… knitting.” Kile quickly replied.
    “Oh, do you like to knit?” The old woman asked.
    “I… don’t… really know how to ma’am.”
    Her mother had tried to teach her to knit once, but that was just one of those things that Kile never managed to pick up . Her fingers always seemed to get in the way. The only thing she managed to finish was a vest with no arm holes.
    “Every young lady should know how to knit.” Mrs. M iller replied as she headed for her knitting supplies and Kile was afraid that she was going to start giving lessons on the spot.
    “I’m afraid I don’t really have the time.”
    “The young are always in such a rush.”
    Yeah, like right now Kile thought as she took a step toward the door.
    The old woman dug into her knitting supplies and picked up a rather emaciated purse.
    “So, how much do I owe you dear?” She asked as her trembling fingers toiled at the knot.
    “Owe?” Kile replied. She hadn’t really thought about that. That was what the Guild house took care of. She should have dropped the Cat off at the Guild house and then Mrs. Mill er would have paid Kane and then Kane would have paid her, but looking at the state of Mrs. Miller’s purse, not to mention her house, it didn’t