Will's horse's hooves thundered, smashing into the ground, sending bits of dirt flying. His pursuers were hot on his feet, and he wasn't about to go to prison. Not for a long, long time. He'd already been there once, barely escaping with his life.
Will steered Tug, and the small horse leaped over a fallen tree. He was starting to pull away from the guards, their giant battle horses just couldn't maneuver in the thick undergrowth.
"We'll get you Treaty! You're a traitor to the crown, one we'll not stand!" His pursuer shouted as Will sped away. Will only grinned. They'd never catch him.
*Imma line break*
"Will Treaty!" Alyss thundered as Will walked into their cottage.
"What? I'm safe and free, so what the deal?" Will asked, spreading out his hands.
"What's the deal? What's the deal?" Alyss repeated, her voice rising. "The deal is," she started, "that you almost. Got. Captured!" She said, pointing a finger into Will's chest at every word. "And where would that leave us? Starving? Dead? Hunted down like wild animals?"
"You know that I will never get captured, and neither will you." Will said easily. "Plus I got us dinner." He finished, holding up a bag. In it, Will knew, was several loaves of bread and three ducks. It would feed them for the next three days, maybe four if they managed it well. Not that Alyss cared.
"Does it look like I give a single fuck about that?" Alyss asked. "No. You nearly got caught!"
"Yes," Will started, cutting Alyss off, "but I didn't. We both knew we were taking a chance when we fled, proving which side we're on. We both knew we would be taking a dangerous path." Will stated. Alyss paused her fuming, seeing Will's logic.
"Just, be more careful next time, will you?" Alyss asked.
"I will." Will promised, smiling.
"Daddy! You're home!" a young voice cheered.
"There you are my evening star!" Will said, sweeping the child up off her feet. He pulled her into a hug, and she giggled. "How are you, Oakleaf?"
"Fine, now that you're home! Look, I got blueberries." Oakleaf said, holding out a small fistful of blueberries. Will smiled and took one, popping it in his mouth.
"Delicious." He declared, and set the girl down.
"Well, if you're quite done, we've got to get diner ready." Alyss said, forgetting her earlier anger.
"Yes, we are 'quite done.' " Will said smiling. He then went to ready a duck, grabbing it and bringing it outside.
"Don't forget to clean your saxe before you start!" Alyss called.
"Yes ma'am!" Will said, mock saluting. Alyss just grinned and shook her head.
"Ok Oakleaf, we've got to make this 'mortal bread' into food for the faeries!" Alyss said, using an old game.
"Will they come this time?" Oakleaf asked, her eyes wide.
"Maybe, if we get it right." Alyss said. Then she lowered her tone to a whisper. "Or, if we eat it ourselves we could be able to get Magiks." Oakleaf's eyes grew even wider, and she gasped.
"Really? I could get my Magiks early?" Oakleaf cried. Alyss grinned.
"Maybe." was all she would say. Oakleaf scrambled to the kitchen section of the cottage.
It had been this way for all of the little girl's life, as far as she could remember. But it was not always constant hiding. Once upon a time, the kingdom was ruled by a fair king, King Duncan. Then Morgarath, a jealous baron, grew angry and overthrew him. Anyone who had been loyal to King Duncan had fled or been killed. Anyone who protested this, was also killed. King Morgarath-for the was what he was now called-ruled with an iron fist and anyone who disobeyed him hung.
Needless to say, very few of Will and Alyss' friends are now alive. Horace was somewhere in Skandia, though his whereabouts were unknown, Gilan was on the run, and no one knew where Halt and Lady Pauline were. Cassandra was killed along with her father. Arald was playing along, hoping to find something to destroy Morgarath with.
Will hadn't seen any of them in quite some time.
"Mommy, where's the faerie dust?" Oakleaf asked.
"I believe it's in the spices cupboard." Alyss called back. Faerie dust was what they called poppy seeds. It had started as a mere game, but now it stuck. There was already enough of the Magiks in the world, why not introduce it to the girl?
Alyss went outside to get some kindling for the fire, passing Will along the way. He was nearly done with the duck, and the feathers were in a semi-neat pile near the stump which Will used for cleaning the meat.
Her heart nearly stopped as she heard a piercing scream from the house.
"Mommy!" Oakleaf screeched. "It hurts! Magiks hurt!"
"No. Please, no, no." Alyss murmured, dashing for the house. Will joined her, and they found their daughter in the kitchen, poppy seeds everywhere. A ball of black light surrounded her, and a fierce wind whipped the cabin into a mess.
"Help!" Oakleaf shrieked.