Tales of the Big Bad Wolf: The Red Riding Hood Arc (A Fairy Tale)

Chapter Eight: In which, the Hunters Meddle

Year 1304

In which, the Hunters meddle

A man went a-hunting at Reigate,
And wished to leap over a high gate.
Says the owner, "Go round,
 With your gun and your hound,
For you never shall leap over my gate."

- The Hunter of Reigate

Edmund’s thoughts were full of questions as his horse carefully plodded its way down the snowy road through town.  He did not volunteer, however, to divulge those thoughts to the guildmaster riding ahead of him.

Unlike the majority of his guildmates, he found there to be something rather unsettling about Wilhelm Cadeyrn. He was a large bear of a man, sleepy and jovial in appearance, but as a hunter he was superior in strength and speed to most of the current hunters and lethal to the beasts that he tracked.  Wilhelm was also a model leader, keeping order in an expanding guild.

Edmund had noticed soon after joining, though, that those who defied Wilhelm soon found themselves left out of the more desirable and important hunts by others.  Those who opposed him outside of the guild often were rewarded lesser choice spoils from a plentiful hunt.  And yet, none of these things were the leader’s doing.  If it were, no one would truly believe it, for the man was popular for he was cheery, generous to many, and blessed with a saintly wife.

But what Edmund knew that the others did not, was the depth of animosity that Mrs. Winchester held for the man.   She had said nothing to Edmund about the reasons why, because she was determined to maintain a degree of civility between the offices of Mayor and Guildmaster.  All she had admitted to him once was that she found the man absurdly proud.

He did not particularly want to get involved in whatever dispute existed between two of the town’s most prominent figures. There was too much at stake to get involved in the small dramas of this town.  His father was dependent on the good-will of the townsfolk.  As such, Edmund could not go about trying to alienate others.

As they finished passing out of the border of the town, the number and type of tracks decreased significantly.  Wilhelm circled his horse about, bringing it back alongside the younger hunter’s own steed and broke the silence.  “Looks as if a coach came in of some sort,” he pointed at ground, indicating a set of long grooved impressions in the snow.   “Did you see one about this morning?”

Edmund hesitated for a moment. He wondered what to say about his morning encounter with Elanore. “I did see a coach from one of the outlying homes.”  

Wilhelm looked further up the road, following the tracks as far as his eyes could see. “Probably some of the folk coming to town for supplies.  With the Crossroads suppliers not able to come in for a few days, I expect that some of our less prepared folk might be anxious for a bit of ale and food.”

“That may be the case,” Edmund agreed. “The tavern was quite full during the lunch hour. “I believe that most families, however, are managing.”

“Of course they would,” the man grinned.  “I’ve made sure to distribute what we can spare from our own stores.  The guild takes care of this town,” he added before turning his horse back about and resuming his brisk pace down the road.

Occasionally Wilhelm would slow or pause to study the houses near the road before moving forward.  It was apparent what the man was doing – taking mental notes on the comings and goings of the townspeople.   He continued like this until pausing at the last inhabited residence before the bridge, eyeing the gate that marked the Wolfram estate.   As Edmund caught up to him, he noted that a set of wheel tracks ended there.