The Dark Witch And Her Knights

13

"Esmerelda," I tried calling out to the girl to wake her.

"Ms. Eskanova." Didn't know if she was married or not. Every single one of her fingers had at least one or two gold rings upon it. She appeared too young. And the way Arbor fussed over her, I couldn't tell.

"Esmerelda," I tried again, shaking her shoulder a bit this time.

A bloody hand snatched ahold of mine. I was held still in a vigilant grasp. Suddenly she took in a large rapid breath. A cough escaped her throat and her eyes slowly tried to flutter open. The color of her iris stopped my heart. Never had I met anyone with that color. I had only read of it in books. For a moment I no longer felt alone in the world.

Her eyes were pink like a flower or the sky during a rare stunning sunset.

"Esmerelda, you are inside Arbors cabin. You are safe," I reassured her with a soft but raised voice.

Her grip seemed to loosen and her eyes found mine. Briefly, she was shocked like most who first laid eyes on me. My features were unique like none other and eye-catching. I learned to hide my face quickly after a couple of men tried snatching me off the streets as a child. The locals and my neighbors all became familiar with me after a while, but it was the others I needed to not be seen by. I never left home without a hooded cloak again.

Esmerelda tried to speak but nothing came out. "You are safe," I repeated. Her hand let me go before moving to her throat. Her neck was bruised as if she had been strangled.

I reached over to the cart holding the potions and selected a couple of drinkable ones.

Taking her hand in mine I began to pull her up into a sitting position as gently as I could. With one hand she held the remnants of her dress over her chest to keep herself covered. Passing her a celadon circle vial I told her to drink. Her hand shook as she took the bottle and threw her head back to swallow the probably foul-tasting liquid.

I went to the brewing pot finding enough clean hot water left to make tea. I searched the cabinets for the right ingredient and herbs to prepare it. When it was ready I handed it to the sulking gypsy girl and told her to drink that too. I put a bit of honey in it to help soothe her throat.

"If you don't mind telling me what happened, I wouldn't mind listening." I had waited until she had drunk a bit of tea before I began buggering her.

She rubbed her throat a bit and checked her surroundings. "I was fleeing the village." She paused looking into my eyes trying to assess me as a person. Taking one of my hands, she began searching my palm before pressing her thumb to place between my brows and closing her eyes. When her eyes reopened she looked more comfortable. "You are not a friend of Arbors but you are a very strong witch. A rare witch."

"I can hardly call myself a witch. I can't cast a single spell." I blushed slightly but felt anything but worthy of the compliment.

She did not seem shocked at all. "You did the work on my wound, no?"

"Yes."

"I was sure I was to die. Came to hide; instead, I thought I would be saying farewell." Her face turned into a sly sultry smile. It was surprising she had the strength. "Your time has yet to come but your day is close."

I was going to ask what she had meant until Arbor reemerged from the back of the cabin. He was stunned to see Esmerelda upright and in good spirits. "You're awake."

She turned to him with such an ecstatic smile I became slightly jealous of their connection. I didn't have that kind of friendship with anyone but with Sorran. Over a year had passed since I had seen him. I missed him but I knew the path I had chosen was for the better.

"Arbor, I did not think I would live." They embraced each other as she spoke into his shoulder. "Your guest is an amazing healer. I am so grateful I get to live to see another day. Breathe another breath. To hold you in my arms once more."

He pulled back from her smoothing her hair and trying to calm her worry. "Esmerelda, I would like you to meet a new friend of mine," he gestured over to me, "Princess Sable."

She turned to me with widened eyes. "You are the hidden heir."

It wasn't a question so the only thing that came from me was, "Huh!" I didn't mean for it to come out and the urge to smack myself in the face was nearly irresistible.

I became even more confused when she added, "You are the savior of legend. The Shadow Witch to end the slaughter. The guardian of magic." Esmerelda rapidly grew tired and faint. She swayed and her hand flew to her head seeking comfort.

"Let's get her into a bed. She needs to rest Arbor."

"I am fine," she demanded swatting away Arbor's worried hands. "It is just a vision. Someone is nearing the cabin."

On cue, Stella jumped through the window she had departed with a loud meow. The cabin door swung open as Gavrial returned looking a bit disheveled.

"The woods are clear. One body. Guessing it was the Gypsy Queen over here." He placed a decorative string of beads on the table near her. "Strangled him to death with your waist beads. Ruthless, the true gypsy way."

"He tried to rape me." Esmerelda's eyes landed on my witchman and she began to shake with rage. "He is a friend of yours Arbor? Or yours?" Her eyes fell to me accusingly.

"Both," Arbor replied without hesitation.

"You know he is part of the King's guard. He helps hunt our kind." The anger on her face was frightening and oddly gorgeous at the same time.

Arbor's smile grew with satisfaction. "He is a warlock. A very strong one and a very old friend. He worked for the guard as a favor to me. He rescued as many as he could that were in danger. If you could not tell he was on our side then he did a good job of hiding it."

"What better way to help our kind than to break thy enemy from the inside out," Gavrial informed crossing his arms over his chest and scrutinizing the gypsy woman.