Chapter 2

Hunter Rothwander is a man of the majority, he has spent half of his life since he was eleven years waging war along with his uncle—wrestling with his father's former army and protecting his kingdom, Southland.

The war proved to be a challenging one by lasting for twenty-five years. He is the backbone and man of victory of his homeland and, the people knew.

They even praised him more than the one who holds the throne. He is of illegitimate blood, he is still the first son of his late father but even a blind person can avow to the semblance he took from their great king.

Hunter's bravery was as perfect as the king of the jungle; he perfected his men with war strategy that never failed, not even once.

After spending twenty five years warring with their greatest enemy and making them retreat from their borders back a

The man is back in his forties. The warfare had taken the true nature of a man away from him. He who had never had a woman in his embrace or pictured an obscene scene with a different gender was still as uninterested as when he was battling in the war.

He still has handsomeness of a man in him.

He is brawny and en suite. The battle involved extreme training that built him into the man he was today. He has learned to endure in the wildlife and hunting was his best talent yet.

His nature was all about the strongest and fittest; he despised limitation with all of his existence. A man who has trained thousands of men had no heart of cotton candy; he started residing in the war front since he was a just eleven years. His nature was always to win, losing was not an option.

He stepped into the assembled surrounding where his mother waited for her long gone son whom she had heard many rumours about and sometimes pondered on whether it was still the same lad she carried for nine months.

She saw a large built being get down from a mighty mare and she remained there to know if her son was the large being that reminded her of Hercules.

Hunter's POV

My eyes fell on the woman who has the weariest eyes and I reasoned with my head that maybe she was the one who birthed me. I walked closer with my men staring at the subordinates of the woman and their emotional faces.

General Hunter of Southland, Alfred announced me!

I and my men walk into the path smiling to the cheers of the people who praised my name with roses flying into the bright morning sky. There were loud beats of drum spiralling in the air and I could hear my name throughout the congregation.

Millions of Southland are exhibited in the surrounding for my arrival and the glory was established. It was evident that I had built a legacy that I promised my father. As I continued to move forward at the open space meant for my entrance, the sound of the drums becomes tranquil and I watch my step brother, the king assume his throne at the centre of the divine path.

My men fall on their knees behind me in allegiance to the King and I created a dominant distance heading to the King's view. I pulled out my sword, raising it into the air. The sun tainted the sword and it shot the rays back to the giant metal drum.

I retraced my sword back into its former position saint fully and stood on one knee waiting for the King's blessing.

Rise! The king commanded and I rose up along with my men. He stood from his throne along with his subordinates and my mother. The King began to take steps towards me, coming along with a priest that is holding two golden divine cups.

David, the king had become man. He had our father's smile and height. I never got to see him when he was a child for it was the day he was born I left for the war front.

Rumours had dispersed that his rule wasn't so democratic; he had allowed slave trade over the years which wasn't part of my father's principle. That was just a rumour of course. I decided not to take into heart.

He was the owner of the throne after all, who is an illegitimate son to have a say in this matter. David smiles whole heartedly at me opening his arms apart as he hugged me tightly patting my back and I returned the bosom to my brother.

The protector of Southland has come back to us! David announced stretching his arm for the divine ware. He handed me the cup and I raised the golden ware to the fine people and the crowd cheered before I gulped the contents.

"Welcome back brother." David says resting a hand on my shoulder and bringing me with him into the entrance of the castle's wide open passage.

"Welcome back, son of Rothwander." Welcome back to your homeland and family.

The Queen dowager, David's mother says with embracing arms coming towards me.

My mother peers her eyes through me and I could see glee and emotions spiralling all together. She did not have to say a word, she did not have to let tears leave her eyes—but there it was...she has something everyone else here was missing.

The love that sparked in her eyes was abstract.

"And then there is a face of the Queen dowager, I could never forget her taunts and cruelty when I was still a child."

"Locking me up in the stables or dungeons when she wasn't able to birth yet."

She believed I was a curse a long time ago.

Only the gods know what kind of troubles my mother had gone through without my presence in Southland, every smile on her face is just a facade that I can see right through.

"We have all waited for your presence for years now and I'm sure your mother has a lot to tell you." David says and then looks over to man standing at his right side.

"This is Richard County from the House of Cape; he is also my future father in-law and an advisor to our late father whose spirit still watches us."

"It is an honour to shake hands with you, Richard County said while he shook hands with me." Your father would be gratified of the warrior you have built yourself into. He said to me.

"Thank you" I replied and acknowledged his greeting.

"This is my son, Angelo and I assure you that he would be worthy of your favour." Richard said introducing me to his son whose resemblance was no mistake from his. I nodded to him.

Where is Vixen? The Queen dowager, Alice asks two court ladies who were at their service.

"She is supposed to be here but she..one attendant tried to finish her sentence."

The Queen dowager frowned at the attendant before facing the man next to the king.

"Richard, your daughter is a despotic little rebel isn't she? The king laughs at his mother's words before returning to me."

"Mother, I'm sure something came up and she couldn't come."

The king says on her behalf.

"Hunter, you will have to forgive my fiancée." She is a fan of the wildlife and sometimes believes it calls her. He says.

Richard steps into the conversation with a small chuckle.

"The king sure knows my naive daughter well, I ask for forgiveness for her immaturity Lord Hunter."

He says with a small bow.

"I take no offence, Sir Richard." I assure him.

"If she is a fan of the wild life of course, then we may have something in common." I reply.

My mother smiles at my words and it gave her face a good glow.

"Your father once said if he weren't a king, he wanted to be a hunter." She says for the first time since her I marched into her presence and receives a stare from everyone.

Although, she has said something slightly controversial, she doesn t seem to care, I my mother was as brave as a lion as she walks towards me with intent admiration.

"Bless you son, for I have waited winter and summer for your presence and...thank you for showing me that hope is worth having." She says turning everyone s attention from and making all former matters talked about in the latter worth not even an ounce of his presence.

"Oh, I thank the God for keeping you safe." She says placing a kiss on my forehead and her eyes sealed with warmth that intrigued me. I embraced her tightly before releasing her.

"I am back home mother."