The Baron and his Lady

Fifteen: Green river

We reached the edge of the forest where we stumbled upon the river. Tristane sat near the bank and washed his face with the cold water.

I looked around and settled in one of the rocks. No one was around, we should be safe. The cold was back, I hugged myself absently.

"Are you hurt?"

I shook my head. Lucian was true to his word and meant no harm to me.

Tristane sat across me, his face drenched from the water. He looked fine for now, but by morning he'll be swollen and bruised.

"What happened back there Tristane?"

He pursed his lips.

"Why did you hurt him?!"

"He was hurting you Krista! I had to do something!"

"No, he won't hurt me. He never did. I came to the forest to find him, I came for Lucian!"

"That was not him, Krista."

"And how do you know? We both saw his portrait."

"A boy of ten, not the adult Baron Lucian. For all we know it was some sick guy who was stalking you."

I gaped at him, what's wrong with this man? Seriously?

"I knew it was him Tristane. I've seen him before, it was Galbraith. And you hurt him."

He let out a heavy sigh and stood up, pacing towards the river bank.

"I didn't mean to. He was.. he was not suppose to be out. I put him back where he belonged."

"What do you mean? How could you do that? What... are you exactly?"

He turned and faced me but his eyes were somewhere else.

"My family had witch blood. It was passed down but often skipped a generation or two. My Dad, he got it and I did, too. He taught me magic." He gestured towards the river, "I insisted we come here so I could tend my injuries, the water has healing effects. It was his element, too."

His jaw tightened again, the memory of his parents are still painful.

"When you called...him, I knew he was covered in magic. Dark magic. He was not supposed to be out, he was trapped. I can't explain how but I just knew."

I continued to gawk at him, Tristane's a witch? And he knew magic?

"I swear Krista I didn't mean harm, my magic is good. My Dad made sure of that. What I did to him, it was to put him back where he was kept. If I didn't do it, bad things could happen."

"What bad things?"

"The spellcaster.. he or she, would know if the prisoner escaped. If the prisoner keeps wandering away from the barrier the spellcaster would return and strengthen the spell once again."

"The more that we need to set him free! You see Tristane, Lucian never disappeared. He was captured!"

"We can't just do that Krista."

"Why not?" I walked towards him, face serious, "Or you mean you won't?"

"I can't. I'm not strong enough."

My shoulders slumped, not his fault. Its hopeless.

"Then how... how was he able to come and talk to us? He threw you a punch!"

"I'm baffled as well. Wether the spell is wavering or someone is helping Lucian break free for a short time." He touched his jaw, "It bloody hurts you know, the guy could hit like a rock."