Winter Witch

Chapter VI

"Hello!" Lucindra called out. "Hello! Earth to you!" Lucindra was impatient. Markel wouldn't answer her. She knew good and well he could hear her. He was only ignoring her. "Answer me, human!" She kicked snow at him.

Markel stopped suddenly. Lucindra slammed into his back. She could feel his armor beneath the exterior of clothing.

"Ow! Hey! Why'd you suddenly stop?" she demanded.

Markel sighed. He glared at her over his shoulder. Lucindra shivered in fear.

"Look here, elf! I don't answer to you or anyone else. Understood?"

"I only wanted to know where on earth you're dragging me to?" Lucindra stomped her foot. Elves were naturally light on their feet, so she was able to walk on top of the snow with ease.

Markel inhaled deeply and slowly. "To answer your question," he finally replied with control of his emotions, "we're going to the town not far from here to help save that girl you wounded and poisoned. Did you forget already?"

Lucindra pouted. "I didn't forget. I only wanted to know the name."

Markel stared at her. "Alastria. It means 'Sea of Stars'. It's a very beautiful town where the skies are so clear at night you can see nearly all the stars. I've traveled around a lot, so I learn things. This town is my favorite."

Lucindra felt there was something familiar about the name of the town. Alastria. Sea of Stars. She pondered on the name for a while.

"Let's keep moving. I want to make it there by nightfall." Markel moved forward. "Don't fall behind."

Lucindra snapped out of her thoughts just in time to see Markel had gone ahead quite a ways already. She ran to catch up. "Hey! Wait for me!" she called out.

They walked about another hour in silence. Markel suddenly stopped again. Lucindra slammed into his back once more, being knocked to the ground, from not paying attention. She had been looking up at the giant canopy when Markel had stopped.

Markel turned to find the elf lying in the snow. He went to her and offered his hand to help her stand. "You keep stopping suddenly like that and you'll give me a concussion," she complained.

Markel pulled her up, so she was on her feet again. "If you pay attention more and daydream less, you might not run into me so much."

Lucindra rolled her eyes. "Thank you for that wonderful advice."

"You're welcome." Markel walked toward a tree and sat down.

Lucindra was bewildered and exasperated at the same time. How dare he sit down while I have to stand?! Here I was, thinking he was a gentleman! Hmph!

Markel opened one eye and looked at the elf. "Are you coming to sit down and relax or what?"

Lucindra couldn't believe what she'd just heard! "What do you mean sit down and relax? I thought you wanted to get to Alastria as soon as possible? What happened to that idea, huh?"

"Quit your griping and just sit down already!" Lucindra sat as if she were a child having a tantrum. "Besides," Markel continued, "I have something I need to ask you."

Upon hearing those words, Lucindra stood and walked over to Markel, sitting beside him. She waited for him to say something. He remained silent for a long time. Lucindra pouted, wondering if maybe the man had fallen asleep.

She leaned in for a closer observation. She blushed a little at his sharp, handsome features. Markel opened his right eye, looked at her, and she screamed. "By the gods! You scared me near to my death! I thought you were sleeping."

"Well, I wasn't. Satisfied?"

"You said you needed to ask me something," Lucindra remarked.

Markel looked at the elf for a few seconds then sighed. "I was thinking of how to ask it. My question is: can you use magic?"

"Eh?" Lucindra was confused for a moment. Why would this man be asking if she can use magic?

Seeing her confused expression was all Markel needed to answer his question. "Never mind. It's not a big deal. I was just wondering is all."

Lucindra was even more confused. She wondered why Markel was even asking.

Markel stood quickly. "Come. We need to reach Alastria before nightfall."

"You said that earlier as well. We still have plenty of time before then. Why don't we take time to eat something?" Lucindra proposed.

"I have some dried fruit in a pouch with me if I feel hungry," Markel replied without hesitation. "Besides, I want to heal that girl as soon as possible."

Lucindra's stomach growled loudly, complaining of not having eaten all day. Markel sighed. He tossed a pouch of dried fruits and nuts at her. "Here. Eat this. It'll fill you up."

She was hesitant to eat it at first. When she saw the way he was watching her, she quickly opened the pouch and stuffed her face. "Thank you."

"You shouldn't speak with your mouth full. I thought you were a lady."

Lucindra pouted and glared at Markel. She kept stuffing the food into her mouth. She was too hungry to care, and the fruits and nuts were so rich and sweet, she couldn't help herself.

"We've still half a day of travel so try not to eat the entire thing at once. We won't be stopping again until we get to the village."

Lucindra stopped with her hand in the pouch ready to grab more. She slowly moved her hand away and hurriedly closed the pouch, stuffing it into her outfit near her breasts. If he tried to take it away from her, he'd have to strip her first. If he did so, she would slice his head off without a moment's hesitation.

"You can relax. I'm not going to take away food from someone when they're hungry. If you try anything funny though, I will not hesitate to tie you up and starve you."

It was a warning and a promise. There was no threat in his statement. He always meant what he said. She was lucky her wrists were the only part of her bound.

She didn't understand. She was confused by his actions. Was he being nice, or was it all a con, so he could make her lower her guard for an easier strike at her later on? This man before her, holding the rope tied to her wrists, pissed her off so badly, she literally cried out from frustration.

It caused Markel to stop and look at her. "What's wrong now?" He was annoyed at the noise she'd made but was still concerned about her. It confused her all the more.

"I'm fine." She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. "Sorry. My mind likes to wander."

Markel sighed. "If that's all it is, then let's keep moving. Try to keep quiet. This part of the woods can be dangerous. We don't know what we'll run into."

Lucindra bit her lip hard. This man was frustratingly strange. A dangerous part of the woods? He didn't know what dangerous was even if it smacked him in the face. Then an idea came to mind. She grinned widely and followed Markel willingly to the village.

She had a plan. She knew just how she would kill him. He wouldn't even see it coming.