Chapter 7 – A Witch

    Oleg arrived right by dawn. He looked out of breath but still full of energy, followed by a dozen warriors, all from my father’s personal men.

    “You were fast.” I laughed, welcoming them, ignoring the two who were still tied to the trees, moaning, and admitting we weren’t kidding about who we were.

    “Of course, Young Lord!” He hopped down from the horse, breathing out with relief that I was okay. “We should be enough to deal with any ragtag bunch who took up residence in our forest.”

    “I already investigated where they are.” I said loudly, looking at the rest, dismounting their horses. “Do you all know where the old logging site is? Good!” I grinned, seeing them nod, “We are going to travel there on foot; tie the horses up.” I explained, showing them a drawing on the ground.

    While waiting, I wasn’t just chatting with the prisoners. I made sure they told me everything about the place, and I drew it out, making my plans. We would surround the site and ambush them. I told Oleg that there was a wild mage inside, and his face went dark, listening to everything I said. First, he wanted to complain it was sneaky and... dishonorable to do so, but after saying there is a witch... he no longer complained. That is the power of magic. I already knew it was a rare and unique gift, so much so that most people thought a mage could do anything.

    “Don’t worry, she is untrained and weak,” I continued, trying to keep the men calm and collected, “and we want to capture them alive, okay? Use non-lethal attacks!”

    “What?” They asked, making me twitch my eyes.

    “Don’t kill, please? I need them. Think! If we can capture them, we can control the witch. If you kill them, what if she goes apeshit? And conjures something to kill us all? Huh? Think a little man. With hostages, she will come with us peacefully.”

    “My Lord... are you sure? With a witch around...”

    “It will be fine! I want her to join us, not to threaten! When the initial shock has settled down, let me talk, okay?”

    “Young Lord?”

    “Relax! Trust me! If I come in like, oh hello, I am the son of the Lord of this region, I am here to recruit you, blah blah blah... She would think I want to place a collar on her and keep her as a pet. Why else would she be out here? She values her freedom, for sure. So, I think the quickest method to get her is to be more straightforward and... well, we need to show our strength. Show her we can do this multiple ways, and I am open to taking the cooperative route.”

    “...”

    They had no real answer to my monologue, but that was good. I was already excited to do it, so we left for the logging site after going over the plan a second time. It wasn’t that far, only an hour of walking distance, following the old route now overgrown with shrubs. When we got close, we could hear the noise they were making, waking up and starting their morning routine. Spreading out, I also took part in the ambush, rushing in from the front side of the place.

    Surveying it, it had some old warehouse, a few buildings, and many shabby ‘tents’ held up by sticks, leaves, and whatnot. It was worse than a shanty town from my time. I think some homeless people lived better than these poor men and women. Yes, both were present... hell, I think there were more women than men! Not that there were many of them, around twenty people at most, all of them scrawny and dirty.

    “There...”

    I quickly singled out who I thought must be the witch. She had a different aura covering her. Yes, her clothes were rags thrown around her bony body, her thick, bushy, dark, orange-colored hair had leaves stuck to it, and her face blackened by dirty spots... but she exuded something unnatural from her pores that even I could pick up. It is hard to put it into words, but it is the same feeling when you open the door to a cool cellar on a hot summer day.

    “Temporary pain. I told you. I’m not going to hurt you.”

    “Said the soldiers, before they murdered my parents...”

    “...” Now, that was... something I didn’t expect. Nor did it add up to the other two’s tale. Not that they could have been important or somebody close to her. Well... I had the source walking next to me while holding her still-bound arm with one hand. “What is your name?”

    “Sasha. That is my real name... the one given to me by my mother. The people here call me Queen; please ignore that, My Lord! They don''t know better!”

    “No problem. Well, I am Leon; good to meet you! We have a long road to walk, so... care to enlighten me what happened?”

    “What if I don’t want to?”

    “Fair.” I shrugged, “No pressure. How’s life? You all look dreadful...” I switched the topic immediately, making her raise her head with surprise, amusement... and anger. “What? You said you didn’t want to talk about it. I have other questions that need answering. No? Okay, then... how old are you?”

    “16... or... 17... I don’t really know.”

    “Tsk, tough. Favorite color?”

    “Huh?”

    “Cats or dogs?”

    “Huh?!” She repeated, getting lost by now.

    “What are your three sizes? Looking at you, they are probably in the minus category, as not even a bulimic model aspirant looks this bony.”

    “HUH?!”

    “Nah, ignore it, we will-”

    “Just stop!” She moaned, half crying, half laughing, letting out a defeated sigh, “I’ll speak... okay? Haaah...”

    “I’m all ears, Sasha~! And do take your time... I’m not in a hurry.”