The Witch's Daughter and the Rogue Lord

Like my mother

     I did not wish to hide my glare from either of them. After bowing weakly at me, we all seated ourselves silently. So Dragg finally invited the man who has lived in my family home. I had wondered, several years ago, if he ever would. I had concluded that he cared to much for my feelings to do such a thing. I know now that I've put too much faith in his consideration. But why hide it? Why not tell me? Warn me? I like to see myself as reasonable.

     Also, why didn’t Ferron say anything? Was he lying about being a merchant's son? If he is a merchant's son, then why does he own my beloved home? I stare at my bowl of soup that Cynthia had put in front of me. I had no desire to eat. I look up at Ferron. His eyes still wide and starring down at his bowl as well. I didn’t notice earlier, but he combed his hair back. His clothes were also a lot nicer. He catches my stare. I frown, causing him to wince.

 Dragg breaks the silence. “Ferron, tell me how the trip was. I’m told you came only on horseback. No carriage?” 

Ferron smiles politely. “No, I never travel by carriage. I rather prefer traveling lightly.” I swirl my spoon in my soup. 

“I see.” Dragg strokes his beard before smiling. “I am very pleased to finally see you lad. Your father always has high praises of you. You are his mirror image you know.”

     I glance up at Ferron. He looks as kind as ever with his soft eyes. I feel as though I've been fooled. I let out a groan. Ferron's eyes shoot to me.

  I squint my eyes at him. “I thought your father was a merchant.” I ask with suspicion in my voice. Dragg's head quickly turns to me.

 Ferron nods. “He is a merchant.... now. For most of my life my father was captain of the king’s guards. He suffered an injury and the king allowed him to choose a less dangerous profession.” Ferron looked down, as if regretting saying anything. 

I caught on to why. “Where did he get this injury?”

 “Have you both already met?” Dragg asked faster than Ferron could answer my question.

 I looked at Dragg, faking an innocent face. “Yes, in fact we did. Though my Lord seemed to be in on the deceit.” 

“Lii!” Dragg scolded.

 “I meant no deceit Milady.” Ferron leans in. “I had no idea who you were! No one ever mentioned that you were Dragg's ward!”

     I feel my gaze digging into his eyes. I could feel the sweat on the back of my neck. It felt as if I was right next to the fire, though it was all the way across the room. I didn’t want to believe him. I wanted to stay mad at him too.

“Why did you hide your title then?” I ask with my jaw clenched.

 Ferron glances at Dragg then back at me. “I didn’t want anyone knowing of my arrival. I wasn’t sure what kind of …. gossip?” He couldn’t think of a better word. “Would spread about the new lord of castle Gastion coming to see the....” He could think of no more words. I decided to help him out.

 “To see the orphan that Castle Gastion left behind?” 

“Lii! You speak out of line.” Dragg sternly says.

 I push myself up from my chair. “How could you keep this from me!? I would've been fine with a warning, and you know that. This was done for a reason, and I demand to know what it is!”

     Dragg gives me a look. I know the look all too well. This was his final warning look. The heat growing in me burns through my skin. The silence has only further pissed me off. I continue to stare at Dragg while I notice Ferron stand.

“I’m sorry, Milady-”

 “How can you address me this way? “I snap. “I am no Lady; I can never be a “lady” of anything anymore.” I turn my scowl towards Ferron. Dragg stands aggressively up from his chair. I no longer of the will to contain my fury. “You have everything that I would have been. For you to call me that...it.... it’s so insulting, and I want to hate you for it. Though you may not have asked for it, I despise you for having it!”

 “LII!” Dragg slams his hand down on the table causing all the dishes to shake. “You have spoken out of place for the last time. Things ARE as you say. You are no Lady and since you truly understand that you should understand this as well lassie.” Dragg leans down close to me. I can smell the ale on his breath. “Your status is that of a servant. Though we certainly tried to make you feel otherwise. I'd even been in the mind to call you my own daughter, if you would've let me! But you had the right idea when you first arrived.... Maybe Elenore was right. You were always meant to be a peasant, just like your moth-”

 “Enough! Enough! You've said all you needed!” I feel the tears fall from my face as I shout. I wish I could hit him. I wish I could scream more. Most of all, I wish not to be here.

    I did not wait for anyone else to say more. I pulled up the skirt of my dress and ran for the door. I could hear the pounding of my heart and nothing more. It felt like I was a child again. Running towards nothing and away from everything. Would Dragg try to chase after me?

    I push the castle doors open. My feet know where to take me and I hoped no one would follow. I dart for the tree line closest to the castle. I had found an abandoned well there as a child. No one ever had any interest in it, so I made it my personal place. My place of privacy.

    My feet came one after the other. Down the hill I pounded. The steepness of the hill was no match for my lack of grace. My heels struck together. Losing my footing, I slide down the rest of the way. My hip smacks against a rock firmly in the ground. I grind my teeth and moan loudly in pain. It burns. My hips and my feet and my hands burn.

I stand fast and gasp at the sound of ripping. I look down to see my new skirts torn down the middle. One end caught on a stick. My chest heaves. Tears streaked down my face, and I could feel the anger in me boil up to my face. I feel pain all over my body. A burning pain that would not stop.

     The pounding in my ear was replaced with the words Dragg almost said. “Like your mother.” The words were meant to cause me pain and they met their target well. The burning pain festered into my chest. It had to be released. My lungs fill with air before pushing out the burning anger built up in them. 

    Fire erupts from my lips as I shriek into the night sky. My throat burns fiercely with pain. My hands stretch straight up into the sky as flames rush from the tips of my fingers. I feel the searing pain in my hands and on my tongue. Hot tears pour down my face.

    But as suddenly and quickly as it started, it was over. I fall to the ground and take several gasps of air. “WHAT THE F*CK?!” I can hear the c***k in my voice. All the pain is gone. I look closely at my hands. It was too dark out to see if there was any small damage, but they seemed fine.

    A twig snaps and I am swiftly on my feet again. I begin shaking. “H-hello?!” I see a figure on the ground. I gasp as it stands. 

“I-I-I'm sorry. I-I didn’t m-mean to-”

 “Ferron!?” I gasp.

 He tries to back away. “I'll just go...I'm sorry-”

 “No!” I lunge at him, grabbing his arm with both hands. “No please! You can't tell anyone! I’ve never done that before I swear!”

     He stops and turns back to me. I feel my hands shaking his arm. A shiver creeped up my spine as I clearly remember my parents sentencing the day before I lost them forever. My father for treason against the crown. My mother for treason against the crown and witchcraft. I tremble harder. 

"Hey hey.” Ferron grabs my hands before pressing my head into his chest. “I wasn’t going to say anything Lii shhh.”

     I didn’t mean to cry. I didn’t think I'd cry. But hearing him trying to comfort me just broke me. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close as I sobbed. I grabbed on his coat and held onto him. I’m not sure why this is happening. But I suddenly feel something that I haven't felt since childhood. I feel unsafe.