Chapter 23

It hadn't been particularly hard to get out of her duties for the day. Of course, Piper had waved it away as no trouble at all, but Miss Dodds had put up a bit of a fuss about it. Still, a quick white lie about Piper needing her for something had been enough to make the woman give in. Hazel didn't feel particularly good about that, but resolved to just make up for it the next day by trying to help more than normal.

Leo was waiting by the back gate when she arrived, grinning when he saw her. He was quick to lead the way out of the gate, and soon enough they were surrounded by trees. Hazel couldn't help but smile as they walked along the forest paths, and even if she could have, Leo's energetic conversation and light jokes would have made it impossible.

They had been out for awhile when Hazel noticed someone else walking towards them. That wasn't odd, plenty of people had to use the paths for various reasons. What was odd was that she stopped when she noticed them, crossing her arms and leaning against a tree, waiting for them to approach her. Odder still Leo grinned when he noticed her.

Hazel looked between them in confusion, but before she could voice a question, the girl spoke up, calling over to them, or more specifically Leo "What are you doing so far away from the castle at this time of day Valdez? Aren't you usually hold up in the forge at this hour?"

"Usually, yes, but I'm always happy to find an excuse to leave if it means spending time with a beautiful girl," Leo replied evenly. Hazel was still looking between them with slight confusion, but also felt herself blushing slightly when he said that.

"You never sacrifice blacksmith time to go on walks with me," the girl pointed out.

"Would you like me to?" Leo raised an eyebrow.

"Not really," She messed up her face a bit at that, making Leo laugh.

He finally turned to Hazel, still grinning a bit "Hazel, this is Nyssa, she's part of the same druid group as me."

"Jesus Valdez, do you tell every pretty girl about that?" Nyssa asked, rolling her eyes.

"I haven't told anyone except her," Leo replied, rolling his eyes in return "Besides, Hazel's not going to tell anyone."

"You're to trusting for your own good," Nyssa shook her head before glancing at Hazel "No offence, but you really could be anyone."

"I understand," Hazel assured nodding a bit at the comment, before adding "But I promise I'm not going to tell."

"I'm sure you believe that," Nyssa replied, and really Hazel couldn't blame her for how sceptical she seemed about all of this. She wouldn't have wanted some random stranger to suddenly know about her secret either.

Leo just rolled his eyes "Excuse Nyssa, she's crazy paranoid about everything."

"It's okay," Hazel assured Leo, and after just a moment of hesitation she reached down and pulled up her sleeve, revealing the mark on her wrist for Nyssa to see "But Leo only told me because my mother was also a druid."

"Your mother?" Nyssa repeated looking at the mark for a moment before back up at Hazel. Leo was just looking over at Hazel in surprise, clearly having not expected her to just show the scar like that. "But not you?"

"I was when I was a kid. Not anymore," Hazel stated matter of factly, lowering her arm and sleeve again.

"Yeah, you are," Nyssa said after a second, looking at her curiously "You can claim you're not, but it doesn't change that if someone found out you had that mark you would be grouped in with us. You're a druid, like it or not."

"Enough Nyssa," Leo replied, rolling his eyes as he did so, and Hazel let out a slight sigh of relief, having had no idea how to reply to that "Did you actually want something or did you just come to annoy me?"

"I didn't come out here looking for you at all, happening upon you was just a happy coincidence," Nyssa shrugged a bit "I'm heading back to camp if you want to come say hello."

Leo seemed to hesitate, before shaking his head "That's alright, I'll be around soon though."

"We can go if you want," Hazel said quickly as she looked over at Leo, the look on his face having made it clear he had wanted to say yes "Or- you can go and I'll go back to the castle. I can find the way from here."

"I'm not going to leave you in the woods," Leo replied, hesitating before adding "Are you sure you don't mind going? It's okay if you don't want to."

"I'm sure," Hazel replied, smiling at him "We just need to be back to the castle a little before dinner so I can help Piper prepare."

"Alright," Leo grinned at her for a moment, before looking back at Nyssa "Lead the way."

Nyssa raised an eyebrow, but if she had any reservations she didn't share them, instead just starting down the path again. A little ways down she veered off, heading deeper into the woods, Leo and Hazel close behind. They walked for awhile, until Hazel finally started to hear the sounds of people ahead, and soon enough the camp came into view.

A boy who was playing near the edge jumped up when he saw them, running excitedly into camp. Nyssa ignored him, though a man coming to meet them only a little ways in, undoubtedly told about their approach from the boy.

"Nyssa," he smiled kindly at her, before looking over at the other two "Leo, nice of you to stop by. And I see you brought a friend with you?"

"She's a druid too," Nyssa replied quickly.

"I'm not," Hazel replied before she could really think about it. Quickly she turned back to the man "Your secrets are safe with me though, you have my word."

He raised an eyebrow, though continued to smile as he looked over at her "Well, either way you are welcome here. Though I will admit I'm curious what could lead to the disagreement, if you are willing to share."

"I- um- it's a bit of a long story-" Hazel replied, though the smile was reassuring.

"One I would be happy to hear," he agreed, but seeming to sense her hesitance added "But first, Leo please get your guest some lunch, you two must be hungry. I'll be around if you wish to find me later to share your story."

"Course," Leo grinned, turning back to Hazel. To her surprise he grabbed her hand.

"Right, thank you," Hazel nodded to the man, before returning Leo's smile. Then he was leading the way farther into camp.