It took them another night and day of walking to arrive at the Witch Sector. The second night consisted of Lailah being silent until Jed finally made her laugh, and suddenly she seemed to open up. Jed learned that Lailah could be a very open person if you gave her time, and Lailah learned that Jed was a lover and a fighter. He had a general love for living, for breathing, and Lailah envied that. Although he didn't fight in his own army, he fought for what he believed in, for a better world, and that was worth more to Lailah than the first option. He had told her that even though it only been a hunch that something was stirring, it was a chance, and he wasn't going to give up a chance to do that one thing he had always wanted, and that was to make a difference.
They entered the Witch Sector, and Lailah slowed her pace as what Jed assumed was a Witch approached them.
"Well, well, well, look at what the cat dragged in. If it isn't Lailah, heir to the Throne. Or are you going by Captain of the Royal Army now? I wouldn't know. People don't write letters anymore."
"Oh Brokin you always know how to make a good first impression." The two women stared each other down. Then the Witch laughed, and Brokin walked over to Lailah, who was smirking deeply, and embraced her, Lailah welcoming her. As Brokin got closer, Jed noticed that her eyes were two different colours, one was purple and the other yellow. He had thought her hair black, but it was rather a very dark shade of green, that complemented her tan skin, especially against Lailah's fair. The Witch took a step back.
"Lailah dearest, do introduce me to your human friend."
"Of course. Jed, this is Brokin of the Gypsy Magic. Daughter of the Mother Witch and my eldest ally."
"Pleasure." Jed replied.
"Is that what you are here to give me, Human named Jed?" Jed felt his cheeks heating. Not from the thought, but from embarrassment. Did virgins have a distinct smell? If he did Lailah would know for sure. Awesome. God he hoped not.
"Oh don't tease the poor thing, he's tired, as am I. Brokin, I need to talk to your mother, it's quite an urgent matter as it may seem."
"Of course, of course, follow me." And so they did. They followed Brokin through the many camps and what seemed to be villages until the came to a tent that was bigger than the rest. "Wait here." She ordered, and she disappeared into the tent.
"They will probably make you wait out here." Lailah said to Jed quietly. "Try not to get into too much mischief while I am gone."
"I will try my very hardest, Captain."
"Ugh, Please don't call me that away from the training barracks."
"I will do well to remember." She nodded at him, and was about to say something else when the tent flap opened up again.
"Lailah, you can come in, Human stays outside." Jed nodded at this, and Lailah turned and entered the tent. Jed hoped his conversation went well. As he sat outside the tent, he wished to himself he had Vampire hearing, so he could hear what was going on inside. By the time Lailah emerged from the tent, the small Witchlings, he had decided to call them, had woven copious amount of flowers and vines through his hair, and he laughed at the fact he really wasn't mad about it. Brokin lead them to two tents not very far away from the Mother tent.
"Sleep here tonight. I trust you don't need a guard?"
"I got it under control. Thank you for your help, Brokin, it is appreciated."
"You got it, are you leaving tomorrow?"
"After breakfast, your mother said she would speak to me before, tell me her answer, we could eat and then we could be on our way."
"Alright then. One does not question the Mother Witch." She said with a smirk. "Goodnight, Lailah." Lailah simply nodded. Brokin turned on her heel and left.
"So. What happened?" Jed asked before Lailah could leave to her tent.
"I pleaded about our need for allies and she listened. I told her about my dream, and about how my prophecies have never been wrong before. She was expressionless. She said nothing other than she appreciated us making the effort to come here rather than writing a letter, and she would take what I had asked into consideration over night. She said she would tell me her answer tomorrow morning."
"You were in there for alot longer than that conversation though, were you not?"
"You cannot rush the Mother Witch. When she pauses, you pause and you do not speak unless you are spoken too. She could have crushed my throat without so much as looking away from her paper if she felt it necessary." Jed knew there was more Lailah wasn't telling him, and likely wouldn't tell him until this city was well out of ear shot. Or even view. "Goodnight, Jed."
"Lailah."
"What."
"I still have flowers in my hair."
"Right." So she sat on the grass. Jed sat in front of her and Lailah sat close to him, her stomach almost flush against his back. She started fumbling around in his blond hair. She pulled out flower after flower, and when she was done she did not take her hands away. They were trembling. She rested them on his shoulders, and when he scooped her up, turned around and put her in his lap, she placed them on his chest. Blue eyes met hazel, and Lailah could hear how hard his heart was beating it, and feel it where her hand lay over his chest. Sirens were sounding in her head as she knew she shouldn't be doing this. She couldn't move. She noted that his chest was wider and stronger than when she first saw him, along with almost everything about him. She allowed herself to actually look at him for the first time. He had freckles. Everywhere. Lailah wondered what it was like to have freckles at all. She run her hands along his arms and felt all the grooves and scars that lined them. He was extremely stiff, in more places that one, and he wasn't looking at her eyes anymore. He was staring at her lips. Lailah had never felt self-conscious before, but there was a first for everything. Only this couldn't happen. Not here, not now, not at all. Not ever. She pulled away from him.
"I'm sorry, did I do something wrong, I've never done any of this before, I'm sorry."
"Jed it isn't you. You're perfect..." She trailed off. She had said to much again. Before Jed could even understand what was happening, Lailah was in her tent, flap zipped. Despite the magically warmed tent, Jed had never felt more cold in his life.
