move to England to sell the water. Scarlet was a young girl and I was hesitant to leave my family, but I loved William. So we came to England.
“William and Francis sold several vials of the blue water to a wealthy family in the village and quickly made a great profit. They planned to sell more, but soon realized they were addicted to the water and could not go a day without a drop.
“They soon grew ill. The effects of the water were temporary and their bodies demanded more of the liquid to stay strong. Francis still had his large jugs of blue water and gave one to William so they might continue to feed their addiction. They decided to use their great wealth to fund a journey back to the New World, where they would use Francis’s map to find the fountain and resupply their water.
“William pleaded with me to move to the New World and make a life beside the magic fountain. I panicked. I was convinced the water was cursed and I refused to take my young daughter across the ocean where we would live in danger and poverty. William became outraged with me, threatening me, frightening me.
“So I stole their jugs of water, trying to protect William and Francis from themselves.” She took another heavy breath. “Addiction is a dangerous thing. It can turn a sane man mad and a loving man evil. William’s body began to suffer great pains without the water and he became a monster. He threatened my life, demanding the water be returned to him if I wanted to live. And then he threatened Scarlet’s life….
Ana swallowed. “I gave the water back to him and Francis and left William, stealing Scarlet away into the night.” She paused, touching a hand to a silver broach she wore pinned to her dress. “Scarlet was only thirteen when we fled. We have been hiding in the eastern woods ever since.”
Tristan sat back.
They had run away from a dangerous man; two women risking their lives in the unforgiving forest to build themselves a home that was worth fighting for.
He looked at Scarlet. “Was that frightening?”
Scarlet kept her eyes on her food. “No. I was well-trained in archery and fencing by that time, and I knew plenty about hunting and gardening. The forest was not frightening.”
Tristan tucked his lips in. “I meant, was it frightening to leave your father?”
Scarlet looked at him with vulnerable eyes and, for a brief second, she was just a girl in the woods.
Not a huntress. Not a fighter.
Just a girl.
Scarlet softly said, “Not as frightening as it would have been had we stayed with him.” She looked back down at her food.
Ana lowered her eyes as well and the table sat in silence.
Looking around the hut, Tristan was filled with admiration for their hard work. The hut was simple, but clean and efficient. They had no adornments, no fancy pieces of furniture. Their walls were thin and bare and the single room they shared was but a mat on the dirt floor. The roof was solid but wearing through at some places and the garden out front was healthy, yet meager.
They had survived out here, hiding in the trees and living as fugitives, for years without help, protecting and providing for one another.
They had little, yet asked for nothing.
They finished eating silence. After the meal, Tristan rose from the table, kissed Ana on the cheek, and made his way to the yard with Scarlet at his side.
“Why do you continue to visit us?” Scarlet’s eyes were curious.
Tristan smiled. “I enjoy your company.”
She eyed him. “You have plenty of company in your court, I’m sure. The company of beautiful women with fine dresses and real homes, no doubt.”
He smiled. “Ah, but I prefer the company of a young woman with archery skills and a sharp tongue.”
She looked at the ground. “Your care is wasted on me.”
He placed a gentle finger below her chin and tilted her head up. “My care is not wasted. You are the best part of my day and what I look forward to when I’m gone.”
Scarlet looked into his eyes.
“William and Francis sold several vials of the blue water to a wealthy family in the village and quickly made a great profit. They planned to sell more, but soon realized they were addicted to the water and could not go a day without a drop.
“They soon grew ill. The effects of the water were temporary and their bodies demanded more of the liquid to stay strong. Francis still had his large jugs of blue water and gave one to William so they might continue to feed their addiction. They decided to use their great wealth to fund a journey back to the New World, where they would use Francis’s map to find the fountain and resupply their water.
“William pleaded with me to move to the New World and make a life beside the magic fountain. I panicked. I was convinced the water was cursed and I refused to take my young daughter across the ocean where we would live in danger and poverty. William became outraged with me, threatening me, frightening me.
“So I stole their jugs of water, trying to protect William and Francis from themselves.” She took another heavy breath. “Addiction is a dangerous thing. It can turn a sane man mad and a loving man evil. William’s body began to suffer great pains without the water and he became a monster. He threatened my life, demanding the water be returned to him if I wanted to live. And then he threatened Scarlet’s life….
Ana swallowed. “I gave the water back to him and Francis and left William, stealing Scarlet away into the night.” She paused, touching a hand to a silver broach she wore pinned to her dress. “Scarlet was only thirteen when we fled. We have been hiding in the eastern woods ever since.”
Tristan sat back.
They had run away from a dangerous man; two women risking their lives in the unforgiving forest to build themselves a home that was worth fighting for.
He looked at Scarlet. “Was that frightening?”
Scarlet kept her eyes on her food. “No. I was well-trained in archery and fencing by that time, and I knew plenty about hunting and gardening. The forest was not frightening.”
Tristan tucked his lips in. “I meant, was it frightening to leave your father?”
Scarlet looked at him with vulnerable eyes and, for a brief second, she was just a girl in the woods.
Not a huntress. Not a fighter.
Just a girl.
Scarlet softly said, “Not as frightening as it would have been had we stayed with him.” She looked back down at her food.
Ana lowered her eyes as well and the table sat in silence.
Looking around the hut, Tristan was filled with admiration for their hard work. The hut was simple, but clean and efficient. They had no adornments, no fancy pieces of furniture. Their walls were thin and bare and the single room they shared was but a mat on the dirt floor. The roof was solid but wearing through at some places and the garden out front was healthy, yet meager.
They had survived out here, hiding in the trees and living as fugitives, for years without help, protecting and providing for one another.
They had little, yet asked for nothing.
They finished eating silence. After the meal, Tristan rose from the table, kissed Ana on the cheek, and made his way to the yard with Scarlet at his side.
“Why do you continue to visit us?” Scarlet’s eyes were curious.
Tristan smiled. “I enjoy your company.”
She eyed him. “You have plenty of company in your court, I’m sure. The company of beautiful women with fine dresses and real homes, no doubt.”
He smiled. “Ah, but I prefer the company of a young woman with archery skills and a sharp tongue.”
She looked at the ground. “Your care is wasted on me.”
He placed a gentle finger below her chin and tilted her head up. “My care is not wasted. You are the best part of my day and what I look forward to when I’m gone.”
Scarlet looked into his eyes.
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