The Hunter's Apprentice by Mark Stentson

this?
    He looked away.
     
    Aerys had his first lesson with the hunter the following day. Since his arrival, he had only studied under the supervision of Erasmus but as the hunter pointed out, there were things that could not be taught in books. He followed him outside the house and they walked towards the lone tree where there were two wooden swords that rested against its trunk. Aerys felt uncomfortable.
    He did not like fighting that much. He never had. He was not a coward but he never had the desire to fight. He had fought once or twice back at the village and he had always lost. He just did not have it in him. The hunter did not know that though and he tossed him one wooden sword. He grabbed it agilely in the air and faced him.
    -As you have realized by now, we will start your combat training today. So tell me, did you ever hold a sword before.
    Aerys shook his head. The only weapon he ever held was a knife that Master Elric sometimes let him use to skin rabbits that they caught in the forest. He felt like it was just yesterday but yet it was so far away. The sadness invaded him again when he realized that he would never go hunting with him again.
    -Stay attentive lad, barked the hunter taking position. A hunter needs to be able to defend himself and kill when it is required. So open your eyes and ears.
    The rest of the day Aerys watched the hunter as he taught him different battle stances. Some were a bit ridiculous but he managed not to laugh. Drake ordered him to try each one and then narrowed the lesson down to two stances; an attacking one and a defensive one. They were the simplest positions but they were very effective. Aerys practiced for hours while Drake rested against the tree and drank. It was not until noon that he was finally satisfied. Aerys was sweating heavily by then and his clothes stuck with his skin and that it was very uncomfortable.
    He continued to train every morning from then. The hunter would come and watch his practice and correct him every time something was wrong. And it happened every time for he was inflexible. He wanted everything to be perfect for as he loved to say:
    -One mistake and you are dead kid.
    Aerys trusted him on that assumption for Erasmus had told him that Drake was the longest living hunter in the country. This had surprised him and scared him at the same time. If living up to his age was a feat, it was hardly appealing. He did not want to die so soon. Erasmus also told him about how many hunters died each year and how much more apprentices followed them. When he asked him about the reasons for such high number of deaths, he had laughed.
    -It’s a dangerous trade. The most dangerous of all. Do you really think that you can come out unhurt fighting dragons and giants?
    -But did they not train? I had asked surprised.
    -I will explain to you the factors why hunters die, he said. The first one is rather straightforward. They run into something strong and against whom their chances of survival are narrow.
    Aerys shuddered just from thinking about this. They were truly living n a terrifying world and his job was to kill those indomitable monsters. Would he be able to do so? He was less sure about being the right person as he learned more and more about what he would be facing.
    -The second cause of death is recklessness, said Erasmus gravely. Usually apprentices and sometimes even hunters underestimate the threat of a beast thinking it is not very dangerous. But even the smallest one is a threat. Take for example the imps. Like I said they are the least dangerous creatures of all and can be easily defeated. However this does not mean that they are inoffensive. Treat them lightly and you will be dead the next moment. I know of some experimented hunters who died at their hands and that is a very stupid way of dying. So remember this. Never underestimate a beast.
    Aerys assured him that he would never do such a thing and Erasmus continued.
    -The third cause of death is lack of