The Trio of Trouble

Chapter Eleven, Witch House

Chapter Eleven, Witch House

     "Marco, I don't know what your trying to pull here, but it is not funny!" I whispered harshly. 

     Jacos, Marco and I were all crouching behind a patch of bushes, desperately trying to quiet our loud, shaky breathing. Everything was dark and eerie in the thick woods, trees looming over us like threatening enemies with their twinning twisting branches. 

 "I'm not pulling anything!" Marco protested. "But if you don't follow me, we'll get caught." 

    As if on cue, a loud howl echoed from somewhere close by, followed by harsh angry shouting.

 "Marco-"

 "The two of you need to stop it right now." Jacos cut in. "Jack, if we don't follow Marco, we will get caught. And after what you did to that prince, I say we do everything we can to stay away, or its the axe for us indeed." 

    I grit my teeth. I hated it when he was right. 

 "Thank you." Marco said sarcastically and started crawling out from the bush.

    Jacos nodded at me solemnly and gestured to the bush. I scowled at him. He smirked and didn't move. Rolling my eyes I followed Marco through the bush, twigs smacking me in the face. We followed Marco on the ground for a while, stopping every few minutes when a man made sound would blast through the air. 

     Marco stopped suddenly, making me almost bump into his rear end. "Marco!" 

     Marco quickly got to his feet and grabbed my wrist. "Come on!" He urged excitedly, practically dragging me to my feet. 

     He pulled me though the darkness, until he ran into something large; a tree maybe? I squinted in the darkness, trying to make it out. It looked like a giant, gnarled tree that had been bloated and pushed out. I caught my breath. 

 "Marco..." I breathed. I knew where we were.

 "What are you guys doing??" Jacos climbed up, behind us.

    Marco, knocked on the wood and started pushing on it.

 "What is he doing now?"

     Suddenly, the tree opened up, light piercing the darkness making me blink. Marco fell forward inside, ripping my arm after him. I was just able to grab Jacos' arm and pull him in too before all of us tumbled inside the tree. I slammed onto the ground, Jacos' narrowly missing landing on top of me; I unfortunately coldn't move for Marco and I landed on his legs. I heard the creak of the wood door closing behind us, and someone with light soft footprints walked near our faces. I looked up to an older woman, with long brown hair that almost touched the floor, streaks shinning white in the brightly lit room. She wore a plain, tan dress, and tied leather boots. She looked down at us quizzically with forest green eyes, her hands on her hips. I caught my breath, I knew her. 

 "Who are you? What are you doing snooping around my house?" she demanded crossly. 

    Marco scrambled to his feet, kicking me in the process, and cleared his throat, looking at her nervously. "I-It's us...Marco, and Jack..." he replied softly. 

     I slowly pulled myself up, my skin still numbing with pain, and nodded at the woman. 

 "By the stars...." The witch put her hands over her mouth and stared at us. 

 "Alright, what is going on?" Jacos stood up. "How do you know this person?" 

 The woman, Serena, blinked and stumbled forward, pulling Marco into a shaky hug. 

 "Jacos, this is Serena," I explained slowly. "Before we met you, she helped us figure out Marco's gifts. She's the one who gave us the staff and bow." 

     Serena, smiled at Marco, her eyes glistening with water. "Your so much bigger...I hardly even recognize you, my boy. If it wasn't for those eyes and the sense of magic I feel...Why, I'd toss you back outside!" She laughed and quickly turned to me hugging me tightly. A little unsure, I awkwardly patted her back, my body rigid. 

 "And who are you, young man?" She asked Jacos after letting go of me.  

     Jacos clearly liked being called a 'young man' and he squared his shoulders respectfully. "Jacos." 

     I rolled my eyes and a smiled again at Serena, grateful for a familiar face. 

 "Well its very good to meet you Jacos. I know if your a friend of Marco or Jack that your a good lad." Serena nodded at Jacos and turned on her heals towards a small fireplace carved into the wood walls, and grabbed a worn kettle. "You all must be famished." 

     She began shuffling around the room, pulling out bread and herbs from pots and boxes on shelves that lined the wall. 

  "And I happen to be in the mood for a good story." She smirked at us, before gesturing to a thick rug in front of the fireplace. "Have a seat, and tell me of your travels. It's been quite a while hasn't it?"

     Serena was a very productive, fast moving sort of person, and always got straight to the brief point. But, she was also a very curious, learned person, and wouldn't let us rest until she had heard our entire story up to that point. We talked for hours, explaining how we met Jacos, started raiding, and our many, many adventures on the road. The three of us where all exhausted yes, and Jacos ended up falling asleep before we finished the tale, but being around Serena's light, outgoing personality seemed to wake my senses up. Seeing her kind, mother like expression made me forget all about the dangers chasing us, and the pain in my body from running and fighting. I actually felt calm and safe for the first time in quite a long time. 

    Though, I wouldn't be entirely surprised if it was a spell Serena had cast secretly on me to relax me; the last time I had stayed with her she had constantly set a enchantments on me to relax my constant high strung nerves. I don't even remember falling asleep that night, only I woke up on a soft mat, fully rested and well fed. I sat up blinking, watching Jacos, Marco and Serena chat softly by the fireplace, casually eating a morning meal. 

 "Well good morning," Serena smiled, feeling my gaze. "We were just talking about you." 

     I crossed my legs, staying across the room on my mat. "What about..?" I raised an eyebrow. 

 "About how you wouln't approve of the three of you staying here for a couple days." Serena replied with a small smirk on her lips. 

 "Oh really?" I looked over at Jacos and Marco who refused to meet my gaze. "Why would you think that?" 

 "Wasting too much time." Jacos said. 

 "Losing too much ground." Marco spoke after him. 

 "Inconveniencing Serena." 

 "You don't like us doing what we choose." 

    I had tolerated the other jabs, but the last sentence by Marco stung. "Don't give me that ramulyus rine." I snapped. "I let you do tings you like all the time. We just went to the swamp because you requested it. And the Inn because Jacos suggested it." 

 "But-"

 "No." I cut off. "No, I'm completely fine with us staying. If Serena's alright with it, I would be relived too." 

     All three of them grinned at me. 

'Little-' I cursed at them mentally, realizing they're little scheme. 'Very clever, goading me into it. I'll get you back, I swear to-'

 "Jack, are you angry with us?" Serena asked with a smile.  

    I rolled my eyes in response and looked away. 

 "My, your bold attitude hasn't changed I see." she chuckled. 

 "You have no idea..." Marco muttered and smirked.