The Evil Queen

The Witch

Theo woke to see Dax inches from her chest, he was inspecting the golden scar on her. "Pardon me!" He jumped back, "Sorry! I...How do they do it?" She grimaced at his question, like it was stupid. "It feels hard and cold like it's gold." "It is gold." She snapped. He cocked his head, "Really?" The open question in his voice irritated her." First they cut a deep design in the skin and then they dip a special quill in molten gold and trace along it." Dax stood staring in disbelief, "Did it hurt?" She shrugged "Not as much as this". She motioned to the chain. He looked down at her. Her arms and legs had what looked like red burn marks where the chain was touching. The only place that looked worse was her ankle it was deep red and bleeding.

"Best of friends now?!" Algar scolded as he walked back into camp with an arm full of heavy red meat. Dax turned defiant, "I was only asking about the mark." He looked incredulously at his brother, trying to decide whether or not to believe him. "Alright, tell me about the mark Dax." Dax shuttered," It's pretty horrific, sounds painful. Putting molten gold in an open wound." Algar slowly changed his gaze from Theo to Dax in total disgust. After tossing the meat to Dax he pulled a limp package out of the horse's saddle bags. Dax tossed the meat on the coals of their fire. Algar walked over to Theo as Dax rummaged through the bundle. "You have a new dress in there," He touched the skirt of her dress. "Since this one is ruined. If I take these chains off will you behave?" She desperately wanted them off her arms and legs, Ashcroft had never put them there before and the pain was intolerable. "Yes." He narrowed his eyes at her, "I'm not taking the one on your ankle off. You're going to have to figure out how to get a petticoat and stockings on with it." She lifted an eyebrow at him. Dax fished a clean dark grey shirt out of the bundle and smiled, "Nice." He pulled off his soiled shirt and tossed it in the low burning fire. Theo found herself staring at him. "What are you looking at?" Surprised she shook her head. "You're so pale. Do you ever see the sun?" He frowned.

Algar came over with a stack of cloth. He wasn't lying there was a dress, much like a milkmaids, a pair of heavy stockings and a petticoat. He handed the clothes to her and began to unchain her from the tree till only the ankle restraints remained. He stood back and crossed his arms. She gave him a glare, they both turned. She quickly removed the ripped clothes, tossed aside the stockings and petticoat and tied the dress on. "Thank you." She said feeling defeated. Algar was the first to notice the discarded clothing. "Have something against those?" She nodded. His eyes widened in irritation. Dax laughed from behind him. "Could you watch that meat? I don't want it charred. I'm taking Theoda to the creek to clean up.

Still chained, Theoda walked with Algar through the woods. She stopped every couple feet to brush off the bottoms of her feet. "What seems to be the problem?" Algar was beginning to become impatient. "I had to take the cloth off at camp. They were soaked from the attack" He furrowed his brows at her as they began to start walking again, "Why does an elf need shoes?" She shot him an insulted look. "I was not brought up as such." They made it to the creek she crouched and brought water up to her face and hands scrubbing the grime off. Next she worked on her feet, and the blood caked on under the manacle. Finishing she stood up, Algar was much too close for her comfort and she attempted to move around him. He moved to stand in her way again. "What do you see for us, if I don't take you back to Lord Cornell?"

She blinked, "I...I...I" She actually was trying to focus but the bond from earlier was too weak. "I can't see anymore." Algar sighed and pulled his dagger, Theo pulled away stepping into the creek. He cut a gash into his finger again and watched it bleed. He held it up to her and looked at her with anticipation. Reluctantly, she put his finger in her mouth and the bond was instantly back. She snapped her head up to look at him, "What does the Fae have to do with us?" He scoffed, "I thought you were a foreseer, why can't you answer?" She became defensive, "I've never been bonded to anyone else before. Bergamot's was strong, nearly a decade old!" She stomped off toward the camp with Algar following behind her holding her chain.