The Evil Queen

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Barwick made his was down the dusty road, he walked more hunched over now. Riding day and night for the Elvan was having a serious toll on his old body. He muttered to himself as he walked into the tavern, he never wanted Theoda around. Never trusted her, he had expressed his concerns heavily when Malice had chosen to bring her home all those years ago, he knew she was dangerous. He blamed her for Bergamot's cruelty and depravity. He hoisted himself into a chair and called for the closest maid. Ordering a bottle of their finest he proceeded to drink it down hurriedly. Knowing what he needed to do he abandoned the last few drinks in the bottle and headed outside. Stumbling he made his way into the shadiest parts of the village.

A fragrant aroma awoke Theo, only because it was particularly peculiar to smell the flowers with the mixture of lingering dust and old linens. She sat upright slightly startled, on the bedside table in the room she was in was an old remedy tonic bottle with two beautiful white roses in it. She stared mouth open at the flowers wondering why it was so significant to her. "Morning." Dax voice caused her to jump, she jerked the blankets to her chest. He looked at her apologeticall , "Sorry, I didn't intend to frighten you." The start was gone, replaced by annoyance, "What?" "Sorry? It's what you say when you've done something wrong and you feel badly." She winced at him, "No, what do you want?" Raising his eyebrow he looked down on her, "You're not sleeping all day, come down stairs I have some cross roll."

Felta was a mercenary with a large group of men under her command from Lord Cornell. He had sent her to Greenwall with one objective. Bring the Elvan witch to him. She wasn't pretty, a thick woman with black hair rolled tightly in a heavy rope that circled her head. Her black beady eyes were bright as ink and she had several scars covering her lower face. She had a pretty good idea where the fugitives where hiding, and she only hoped she would get to them soon. Her and her men road slowly through the streets of the sleeping village.

"It's too early Dax, look the sun isn't even awake!" Theo jutted her finger to the boarded windows. Dax laughed at her as he walked with her chain down the stairs. "Yes, but how can we get a whole day of tasks finished if we do not start early?" She pulled a small piece off the roll and popped it in her mouth. "What tasks?" Dax frowned at her, "Do you always speak with your mouth full?" "Do you always act cryptic? It's growing ever so old." As he began to speak Theo put her hand up. "Something is wrong." Dax furrowed his eyebrows, "Don't like them cold?" She glared at him, "Dax Hunter!" She started, then the doors blew in. Dax lunged at Theo pulling her down to the ground and pushing her under a broken table. He jumped to his feet, unarmed.

Smiling sickly Felta looked at Dax hard, "Which Hunter child are you?" Dax stood tall as the ten men with bows and daggers began to surround them. "Dax." Her smile widened, somehow. "The sweet one, well if you make yourself small, I won't have to end you." He looked around, debating his odds. It was crazy and foolish, but he would have to do it. He braced himself, then he felt Theo's hand grasp his elbow. "Dax, don't be daft. You cannot fight them all."

Barwick crept quietly up the steps of the inn, the red headed clerk struggling against him with every step. "Madam, I will ask you to please stop making this difficult, I would hate to snap this pretty little neck." He took a deep breath and glowered down toward her, "This will only take but a moment. Is this the boy's room?" Her doe eyes pleaded as she nodded silently. Barwick smiled at her, "That's a good girl, make yourself scarce." He shoved her hard causing her to tumble down some stairs before catching herself on the rail and running the rest down. Thundering into the room, sword drawn, he stopped. The room was desolate, abandoned, and slightly overturned. He turned and stormed after the clerk. He found her cowering behind a desk. "Where are they? It appears they left in haste." Tears welled up in the young woman's eyes, "I...I...I don't know sir. They left this morning, in a rush. They never said where they were going. They were paid up for the week sir." Closing his eyes Barwick rubbed his temple, "So you have no thoughts as to where the boy and the Elvan Witch went?" She shook her head. She never saw the blade coming, and she didn't get a chance to cry for help as Barwick plunged it deep up into her belly toward her heart. Shock and pain froze on the girls face as her life faded from her. "What an inconvenience." He turned and left the inn, headed into the woods.