20 years earlier. The day after that night.
"Father, this girl is still alive!" shouted a voice close to Evora as her eyes slowly opened. Her head thumping from all the tears and emotions she had been going through. In exhaustion from it all, she must of passed out and fallen asleep on the cold hard ground.
Evora tried to sit up, it was now daylight and the true extent of the witches work on the village was more apparent.
There was nothing left. A few buildings were still simmering with fire but all it had left was an empty frame.
"Here, let me help you" her eyes followed the voice. A boy, possibly a few years older than her dressed all in black. He reached out for her hand and she quickly drew it back from him, unable to trust anyone.
"I'm not going to hurt you" he reassured as he reached for her hand, with a pocket knife in his other hand he cut the rope free from her wrist. The rope had been so tight it had sunk into her skin leaving a bloody mess as she winced in pain.
"I'm sorry" the boy mumbled as he lowered his green eyes.
"Where are my family?" She asked, as she couldn't see them lying around her anymore. It felt like a relief in one sense.
"They have been moved with the others" he almost whispered, as though the softer he spoke would hurt her less.
"Septimus!" Another voice shouted, the boy shot up and bowed his head to the man who rode over on horseback in elegant clothing.
"Go and help your brothers with the bodies" the man ordered.
The lack of compassion from the finely dressed man made Evora felt uneasy. He moved his gaze over to her as she still sat on the floor.
"What happened here, girl?" He questioned her. Evora felt nervous, how could she possibly put into words what she wished to forget.
"The King just asked you a question" one of the guards reminded her as she struggled to speak, her voice sore from screaming, her body weak.
"It was...the ancient coven of witches" she whispered.
"What did they want?" The King carried on "Why did they let you live?"
"I think...I think they wanted a witness to make sure people knew who did this. They didn't want anything but to spread fear" explained Evora as the image of Lamia flashed through her mind, sending a shiver down her spine.
"That sounds about right for them" agreed the King "You should count yourself lucky"
"I don't count myself lucky at all" as Evora felt the tears start to swell in her eyes.
The King paused at her reply and a look of compassion finally swept across his face as he asked "Do you have any other family?"
Evora shook her head, she had no one. Everything she had ever known was reduced to ashes around her. The King sat for a moment and then nodded "We will drop you at the orphanage at Wall on the way back"
Evora felt her whole world falling around her as a single tear strayed down her cheek.