The moon was lit over the hush horizon. Fine powder was rich beneath the soil grounds. The smell of charcoal and mud loomed around—earthly eyes were long gone from the souls and creased into a hell, the killer that could not be seen. I could smell it around me, the death that mocked with laughter, the disease that combed the air which people breathed. This eerie feeling hit my chest as I now pondered that eyes were watching—they always were.
I left the dungeon with something I did not expect to, it was trust. The girl Anna had seemed to see past the blocking hole that clouded my chest and in return she favored trust in me. I owe the honor, no matter how big the trust loomed. I arched forward striking the right move to cross, I pasted both eyes then rushed to the clearing, bolting right up the steps and further down into the room. I released air that clenched my lungs, it filled them so sweetly. I fell onto the blankets clouding my body and closed my eyes. There I felt nothing, my body erased, my soul flowed from the shell within and I felt—free.
I was walking on soften grass; it was green as the valley before the plague. I wore a long white skill dress, and my hair followed to my breast. It felt light, like air on a cloud. I ran my hands through the leafed gallows, drinking the sweetest water of life. Creatures of all came to play, drinking and filling life's joy. "Siera…" a soft voice called. I turned back and stuck with weakness, "M-mother…?" I felt hot tears peer into my eyes, witnessing the most beautiful things imaginable. Long shinning hair that curved little curls into the ends, eyes that gleamed green ferns.
Doves passed as they flew into the bluest sky. I did not move but awed in the painting in front of me. "Siera, come my love." I smiled and hesitantly stepped forward, "come my light of stars." She said as it flowed with such beautiful passion. I rushed into her arms and cried, "please don't leave me Mother." I faded into her collar. She reached my head to hers, "listen to me." She began her voice stern. This shook me.
Suddenly the bluest sky faded into heavy thunder, the wind picked up roaringly, I felt the space break apart, I reached out, "Mother!" I stammered.
"You are in danger…beware the monster!" She reached for me but like glass she began fading as she reached her hand out, I fell to grab it…
"Mother!" Panting loud, I awoke in my own sweat. Strands of hair were stuck over my face. I felt my hands quiver as I attempted to stand up; I looked around and moved to the window. Out stood my Father and Markus, they were talking with two men, whom struck me as peasants. I grabbed a long blue dress Cardinal D'Ambroise picked out and tied my cloak around as well. I grabbed my bow and placed it over my shoulder. I turned to leave when a soft knock came and in stepped Kay.
"Sorry to trouble you miss but Cardinal D'Ambroise wishes you speak with him." He looked tried, as even the bags under his eyes seemed wry.
"Tell him I will be there," a long awkward pause passed each glance before he turned to leave, "why do you not call me my name?" I called out. He stopped and turned placing his hands behind his back, very gentlemen like.
"I am to show respect to you miss." I shrugged looking the other way, then I turned again moving past him.
"When a baby cries taking its first breath, do you not call it 'life' or by the name written from the mouth?" I asked quirking my smile, as it his.
"You have spunk, which doesn't surprise me, but do you fear that it will get you in trouble?" He answered back.
"I fear nothing."
He was sick, and it didn't surprise me. He laid week in his death, coughing and weeping until he wanted to give in. Die and be with rest, but I curse it's long…and painful. "You will not go alone." He began as this shocked me. Cardinal D'Ambroise had something in mind, and it wasn't difficult to decipher. "You will be taken to comfort the female…surely you did not mean to fight?" He tried to laugh but wheezed into a loud hacking cough. I smashed my lips together—surely my prone attitude did catch his attention. I hid down the evil glare burrowing inside.
As I turned to leave clacking noses of horses wined. Aeton, I hurried down the steppes lacking my grip from the wall an out onto the open yard, seeing Aeton being pulled and yanked by his snout. My browns burned down, "enough!" I pushed the man whose face was invariable. "You wretch! Dos' thou on life mean nothing? Then hurting the life of an animal?" The ugly man looked up, raising his hand only to be caught by a firm grip. Behmen.
"Hagamar, apologize."
"My humble apologies." He didn't mean it, the scowl told me so.
"Come, we must head west by night fall we shall reach the forest." Behmen, the one who seemed so coy, even around me. I didn't quite understand how he put up with me, but, neither did others. People only raised their hands, and spilled drinks, but that never kept the words inside. I hoped on Aeton feeding him a bright red apple and clicked forward following behind the cage within the witch was held. They booed her, threw rotten dun, but the glassy sorrow in her eye said so much more. She seemed frozen, lost into another world.
"Siera," her voice vociferated, that seem to cry for help. I looked around and road up faster.
"I shall keep you safe. No one will lay with you." I will keep that as a promise.
By nightfall we reached the dim ivy forest. Stopping to make fire and clean up. I'd sat in silences and ate. The chillness took and I wasn't by the fire. "Here." I looked up to Felson wrapping a wool cloth over my body. I nodded and took in its sweet smell.
As I closed my eyes they were opened quickly. I shot up gripping my bow and stepped forward. She was crying, "why do you spill tears?" She looked back shocked.
"I wish to leave." She began, "open the gate. Let me be free." I looked at the lock slowly turning open the bark. She jumped down edging her way over, almost cat like.
"I will spare you," I took a step back, watching her run into blackness.
"What have you done?" I turned seeing the munk Debelzaq running up rising the back of his palm. I fell to the grown seizing in pain. Behmen, Felson and Hagamar running from the grounds.
"What the hell is going on? Shut her up." He motion Hagamar to cover my lips.
"Where is the witch…" Behmen looked back and forth, but his eyes landed on mine.
"This whore let her escape." Debelzaq pointed at me, feeling the wrong.