The Witch's Daughter and the Rogue Lord

Questions

I feel an ache on my forehead. My hands grasp the sides of my head. “Are you okay Lii? Maybe we should go see the physician, that was quite the fall,” Ferron ask with concern in his voice.

“No, it isn't that. You broke most of the impact.. you’re probably more hurt than me.” I say as I look over him. There didn’t seem to be any discomfort. I do notice how sunken his eyes are. He must be exhausted.

“I'm fine, Milady.” His cheerful smile radiates. “I’m very happy I made it in time” Ferron stops smiling for a moment. “Mrs. Crach was talking about how reckless you are, I’m beginning to understand.” I roll my eyes. Mrs. Crach would be the one to scold me even when I’m not present. I choose not to voice my annoyance at this. Ferron's eyes search my face. I feel his questions, though he’s asked none. 

I sigh. “I suppose we have things to discuss?”

 He scratched his head. “Well, I have many questions.” 

I can feel my stomach knot up. But I do my best to hide it. “Okay then. Do you mind walking with me to the stables?” I gesture in that direction. He nods and we both turn.     

“So,” I sigh. “What is your first question?” I keep my eyes on the distant stables.

“I know you said that’s never happened before but… do you know what it is? Why it happened?” Ferron asks after a moment of thought.

I shake my head. “I’ve never done anything like that. But-“. I close my mouth. I remember Mother’s magic tricks. I’d always thought that’s all they were.

“Your mother has?” Ferron asks as if he had read my mind.

“Yes but…smaller. So much smaller. I didn’t think it was real.” I almost whisper it to myself, but he heard me anyway.

Ferron was respectfully quiet for a moment. “What do you mean smaller?” He asks softly.

    I bring both of my hands up and twirl them in circles. Snap. I snap my fingers together. “Like this.” I focused a moment, to see if I could perform the trick now. But I stopped suddenly. I looked up at Ferron. He was watching me with curiosity. “Small sparks would come out of her fingers,” I answered the question he didn’t ask. His brows raised but he stayed quiet. I smiled at his attention. I continued. I wiggled my fingers slowly. “The sparks would turn into flames at her fingertips.” I chuckled as no flames, or sparks came out of mine.

Ferron also laughs the cheerfully asks. “What was your mother like, Lii?”

     The question catches me off guard. I look up at him. His eyes are still wide and attentive. The heat in my chest flared causing me to let out a small gasp. I feel the blush in my cheeks. I try to hide my embarrassment with a smile. 

“Mother was wonderful. She was always with me, no matter what. She made me smile and laugh. Oh, but Father was much better at making me laugh. Father felt no embarrassment making a fool of himself for me.” I giggled joyfully. I could almost see my parent's smiles, even though I couldn’t see them at all yesterday. My smile falls from my face. Ferron must've noticed my expression.

“Do you think of them often still?” He whispers.

I nod slowly. “Their faces are fading with time,” I whisper back, mournfully.

Ferron is quiet again. His lips part to say something, then shut. “I’m sorry Lii,” He finally began. “I had always felt terrible about what had happened.”

I could hear his sincerity but I still try to brush it off. “I’ll never forget that day.” I flinch at the memory of being dragged away from my parents. “It's hard to have closure when no one tells you anything.”

He frowns. “Dragg doesn’t like to talk about it.”

“To be honest, last night was the first time Dragg has mentioned it in years. He avoids all questions about the matter. He doesn’t like being reminded that I’m not his daughter. That’s what I used to think at least.” My stomach twists at the thought of last night's fight. Ferron's expression showed understanding. “He shouldn’t have said that Lii. But I am sure he didn’t mean it. He has always spoken so highly of you. In his letters, he had said-“

“Letters?” I interrupt with much shock in my voice.

Ferron's lips closed. He said something he shouldn’t have.

“How often does Dragg write you?” Accusation took over the shock in my voice.

“I was the one who first wrote to him. I had an important task to discuss with him. I wanted to come to visit as quickly as possible.” He answered with hesitation.

“What is the important task?” I try to soften my voice.

“To deliver a letter to you Lii. From my hand to yours.” Ferron stops walking and looks down at me.

I stop as well and say. “From who?”

“My mother, Myra Dellagashe,” Ferron says her name with a fondness in his voice.

I shake my head. “I don’t understand.”

“I wish I had more to tell you Lii. I haven’t read the letter. It's been unopened for two years now.” He frowns at that.

“Why would she write a letter for me?” All of this was extremely confusing and I couldn’t begin to fathom it.

“Mother knew Una. I’d even say she loved her.” His voice is gentle and quiet.

“Oh.” I sigh at the sound of my mother's name.

“Her heart broke when your parents died. I’ll never forget that day either Lii.” His hand found mine and grasped it. “ I don’t know what Mother had to say to you Lii. But on her death bed, you were the last person she thought about.”

“Do you think she knows about what would happen to me?” I gasp quietly.

“Maybe, I can't be sure but…”Ferron thinks for a moment. “But maybe there is something in her letter to help you, or even just to give you closure…I should’ve brought it sooner Lii.”

               I gasp loudly as a burning pain shot through my chest and over my body. Ferron releases my hand backs away.

 “Lii! You're super warm.” Concern suddenly strikes him. “Are you okay?”

     The pain fades quickly. I nod. I wasn’t sure what happened. This was a different emotion. I felt hopeful. I was now thankful for Ferron. Maybe I was even safe with him. I begin to smile at him and he smiles back with confusion in his eyes. “Thank you, Ferron.”

“You are most welcome, Milady.” Ferron slowly bows his head, still with his eyes locked on mine.

               Ferron then turns to continue towards the stables. I’m sad that we are almost there. I walk faster to catch up with him. “When can I read the letter, Ferron?” He speeds up. I frown and feel a bit of heat on my face. “Ferron?” He lets out a nervous laugh. “Um…so I’m sorry Milady. I don’t have it with me right now.”

“So it's in your room?” I ask hopefully.

He keeps walking. He is too far ahead for me to see his face.

“Ferron!” I shout. He flinches but doesn’t turn. The heat has traveled down my arms. I stomp my foot. “Ferron!” I jump as a small burst of fire blasts from my knuckles. Ferron turns quickly and gasps.

“We are going to have to work on your temper.” Ferron groans as he assesses the singed grass.

“No, we are going to work on not hiding things from me! Where is the letter, Ferron?!” My patience was gone. My knuckles still burned as the flames waited to be released.

“I…I left it locked up at Castle Gastion.”He hesitated.

“So you have to go back to get it?” I tried to calm myself.

“No no, I sent a raven to my servant. He will be bringing it directly to me once he receives it.”

I rolled my eyes remembering him say “From my hands to yours.” I repeat mockingly.

               One minute, I feel like Ferron is a blessing. The next, he is testing the little patience I have reserved. Then he makes my heart beat so fast that I cannot think straight. I storm into the stables for a moment away from this man. What is he doing to me?