"-is this the house?
-yes." Ray jumped down the horse holding Mal on his back while Howin tried his best to walk ignoring the pain in his broken leg.
"-Andrew! Open the door! Andrew! And…
-what do you want pe…?" the witch froze once he saw Ellie and the miserable state of Ray.
"-Get in quickly…on the couch." The brown-haired boy didn't waste another minute and put the injured girl genteelly in the couch, she whimpered in pain and tried to move.
"-don't move, here take this it will help you sleep and you won't feel anything." Andrew said firmly but his words hid softness that Ellie took it with a grin, even though, she was in terrible pain.
Few moments later she drifted in deep sleep before Andrew resumed his talk:
"-for god's sake what happened? Can't you stay away from trouble for a while or you guys have a death wish?
-it was a trap…they tried to assassinate the king and we were looking for the one behind it but we end up…
-almost dead…didn't that bustard reach the mad king palace to marry the spoiled princess.
-you'd better watch your mouth when you talk about the prince and the royal family." Howin warned and his eyes spitting venom at the occupied witch cleaning his friend's injury.
"-hold on, who are you? And what are you doing in my house? I didn't say you are welcome inside.
-I am…
-he is the prince loyal dog.
-that explains the rage." Andrew commented eyeing him up and down and rolled his eyes before going back to his work.
-at least I don't wait for a woman command to tell me what to do.
-that woman will slice your throat in no time if she heard you spit garbage about her." Howin cowed before he added:
"-awe…you can't slice my throat for her because you are a coward.
-at least she will go easy on you but I won't.
-I'd love to see you do your best then.
-you both better shut up…by the way, where is Mal? Don't tell me she stayed to guard that jerk?" Howin glared at Andrew who didn't care about his existence at all.
"-well…it's a bit complicated…
-she is going to marry his highness soon.
-what the fuck!" Andrew shouted at Howin sudden interruption and his unfazed smirk that drove Ray nuts.
"-she is going to marry who?
-are you deaf or what? I told you she is going to marry his highness.
-if you say any other annoying comments or speak when it isn't spoken to you; I will assure that your other leg is broken more than the other." Howin's eyes widened in disbelief before he muttered:
"-how did…
-it's not that hard to notice a broken leg that you shouldn't be walking on moron.
-how is Ellie?
-Leave her alone and she will be fine." Ray glared at Howin sending him shiver, Andrew didn't bother to get involved but Howin felt...scared.
Strange.
"-leave.
-what?
-leave and inform the castle. Your king's assassin is outside walking free and you are here barking with that dumb head.
-if you ever call me dumb head I swear I will smash yours till you got your senses back." Ray threatened Andrew who just rolled his eyes and mouthed 'whatever' while Howin felt it was the best idea to leave or Ray would kill him with cold blood. Andrew stopped him and take something from the shelf and ordered:
"-eat this and try not to use your leg too much before reaching for the nearest doctor…take care." Howin just nodded and muttered thank you and left with Ray's intense eyes following him. He hardly got on his horse and went back to the castle to inform the commander.
Andrew was stitching Ellie's wound while Ray was walking back and forth with his arm closed and his eyes didn't left Andrew for a moment.
"-can you sit?
-why am I making you that nervous, that you can't finish your job quickly?
-I am doing my job perfectly and since when you care?
-I start to care since you can't stop touching her and hurry the fuck up!" Andrew chuckled making Ray more angry and asked:
"-you know…I should have cleaned today.
-Don't change the subject!
-I am done.
-get away from her or you still want to stare at her back. Because I will pull your eyes if you kept looking.
-you mean that you are the one staring at her like a savage animal who found his prey.
-you really can't keep your mouth shut, can't you?
-better than you." Andrew stood up and walked to wash his hands while Ray stayed next to the sleeping girl with a huge stitched wound all over her back and covered with some cream to fasten the healing process and avoid infection.
Andrew put a wooden chair in the middle of the hallway, between the kitchen and the living-room and walked to the amber-eyed boy who was playing with Ellie's hair locks.
"-I petty her…she got a pretty face that makes anyone fall for her but she is lying here…in my house…almost dead... I would give my life to kiss those lips. Don't you think so…Ray?" Andrew said out of nowhere with a smirk on his face.
"-I dare you to because you will pay your life for trying.
-it won't be hard, at least I am not a dumb hunter who can't take one right decision in his life." The brown-haired witch stopped and a grin found her way on his face then started to caress the red fiery hair of Ellie playfully yet mildly and Ray formed his hand into a fist, till his knuckles turned white with every word he uttered.
"-How sad…she is stuck with some dumbass all day that he almost got her killed." He finished and traced his fingers all over her back and Ray had enough that he jumped to punch him.
However, Andrew dogged his attack with his arm behind his back.
"-you can't even fight for her and knock a poor witch…she really deserve better." Ray was driven with rage that blinded him. He kept attacking Andrew however the other was dodging effortlessly. The witch got bored and he hit the madman hard enough that he loosed consciousness and fell on the ground…