Naya was taken to the Winslow castle, where Simon lived with his family, it was a small castle compared to where she grew up, Edinburgh was so big! and more clean than this castle she found herself, most part of it was already in ruins, and it looked too ugly, he must be broke, that was why he was jealous of her father, the thought of him, brought tears to her eyes, he was gone forever, her papa..
"If you wanted money, you could have asked him for it, he would have given it to you, without even raising a brow, she said in a voice she tried to make strong but it broke...
Simon stooped and looked at her, she was really a comely lass, so beautiful and she looks just like Philip, she also had a sharp wit, he wished his daughters were like her, "It was a thing of pride, you wouldn't understand, you are a girl.., he said and continued climbing the stairs, when they got inside their dirty and ugly looking hall, the rushes in it was so dirty and uncured for, and their table and chair were so worn out, she saw a handsome woman sipping wine, and looking like a painted fruit, she painted her lips and cheeks with red colors, and she saw three girls, not too older than her, sitting beside her, they looked just as plain and unattractive as their mother, but she hoped their insides are more beautiful than their appearance, as that is what counts...
As she approached the table,the woman eyed her scornfully, and the girls stared at her openly.., as their mother she sized her up, "who may I ask is this?, she said to her husband as she stood up and kissed him...
"You know her, she is Naya, Philip's daughter, he said looking bored...
"And why would you spare her?!, she shouted before she looked at her daughters, "To your rooms now!, she shouted and they kissed their father before going in reluctantly..
Simon stared at her angrily..
"Simon we talked about this!, she said angrily as well, "we talked about this, and planned in it extensively, she is supposed to be dead...
"We made a mistake, we should have attacked when they were on their way back and not before, that way it would be less messy, he said, and besides, I got us something better, she is great with herbs, he said..
"Simon we have a physician, we need money, not..
"She is better than those slobs, she makes soaps, potions, poisons...., he said the last word with a glee in his eyes and she stopped suddenly seeing the picture..
"How are you so certain that she will do all that for you!, she shouted at him..
"Because it is the exchange for her brother's life, so she will do it, and do it diligently.., he said and his wife's mouth hung open, what! she screamed nearly fainting..
"You have to kill him, kill them!, she shouted at him...
"Well you know how close the king was to them, if the whole family is wiped don't you think he would begin his investigation, and with that we can't take the money my cousin had, can't you see!, he shouted and the woman directed an angry gaze at her, see her to the dungeon, she shouted to the men, but Simon held out his hand, take her to a room, and give her something to eat...
The man did as ordered dragging her away, so she thought hard, she had to prove herself before the woman, so she doesn't kill Francis and Theo, she dragged her hands away from the man holding her, and searched her bag she was still with.., she got what she was looking for and she charged at Simon's wife who looked at her with horror, with the man at her heels, in hot pursuit, when she got in front of her she stopped and brought out a sweet smelling potion, and handed it over to her,
"You have toothache, she said to her, in a calm voice, and when she was quiet, she continued, put this ointment on it, it relieves the pain almost immediately, and it is totally harmless
countess Dorcas stared at her, how did she know that?, she wasn't even standing too close to her, then she looked at the potion as she was dragged to the room, she was going to try it, she seemed like she knew what she was doing...
November 1 1784
"Keep your spine straight!, the mistress voice came out in a loud shout, the girls groaned in pain and frustration, they were asked to walk with breakable wares on their head, and failure to do so without breaking something, well it's equal to being dead, the screams, and angry looks, and worst of all they were divided into sections, if you fail all your team mates would be tasked to do the dishes for three days, this was hell to the carefree girl she had always been, now she brushed her hair, all the time, because the punishment was well, way too much, she was feeling bad all the time, and wished she listened to her father more, and that her mother didn't die, or this school didn't exist, she was just tired, sweat dribbled down her back as she walked, she won't be the cause, she won't drag her team down, she held her back straight or it got them a lash on the back, she walked slowly holding her breath, she wished she could go home, she was just...
"A crash sound was heard, and everyone gasped, then hands flew to their heads,
"Now that you have broken the plates Mary, do well to clean up the mess, and of course write to your papa immediately!, the mistress said raising her voice, and shining her eyes...
The rest of the girls eyed her angrily as they knew their punishment, oh great!, she thought, her father was going to be furious which is just great! now all the girls would go back to hating her, and it would be her fault!
She wanted out of this hell hole!..
At thornwyn castle....
it's been a year.., no, more than a year, when his life changed, and it was time he returned him, although he refused to go back home when he heard the news, he was grieving, he went to the woods for a week, where he tried to come to terms with what happened, when he came out of where he had been hiding after a whole week.. , and saw the look on Theo's face, he was crushed, Theo hugged him for a while , then went back to his chair, staring at nothing, he was so wrapped up in his grief, he forgot that Theo lost his father probably because of him, because he knew his uncle Andrew would never leave his parents to die alone, he remembered the look on Theo's face when the news was delivered, he wore a painful look, then swallowed and asked in a low voice, "And Naya?, he asked in fear, hoping they wouldn't hurt a little girl, when the man who delivered the news shook his head, Francis fell on the floor, weeping, and Theo did worst, he shouted like a wounded animal, he screamed till his lungs hurt, in pure agony...
And he abandoned Theo and Tessy and ran to be on his own, seeing his error he knelt beside Theo,
"I am sorry brother, I won't leave your side again, you are all I have now, he said facing him,
Theo looked at him with cool eyes, then he clapped his shoulders firmly, "Till death!, he shouted fiercely, and hugged him...
Tessy walked in on them weeping hard, she was so sad at their sorrows...
"Don't ever leave like that, she shouted hugging him, your mother us so unlucky, why did she have such wicked fate, she was the kindest person I ever met, Tessy said still crying bitterly.. after which they all went inside.
Now Francis was ready to go back home, he only went to Edinburgh for the burial, which the king himself was present, and offered him assistance in any area he needed it, he nodded, but decided he was going to hunt down the bandits that did this to his family,
Theo's mum stayed with Francis, and her son offering them sympathy, but she herself needing it more, she told then of everything that happened before their birth, the prophesy and how lady Anne went to make things right.., when Tessy said what she knew as well, Francis decided then and there that he was going to ruin all the sorceress, and anything that has to do with them, he didn't want those with special gift in his village, or town, because they ruined homes, they made him leave his family, made an unborn child an object if hate and abomination, they made his life hell, some days later, Theo's mother fell ill, and died, the heartache being too much for her, and Naya who used to prepare potions for her was dead, Theo was down, and at his lowest, he didn't know what he would do if not for Francis, as he knew he needed him!, they left back to thornwyn in sorrow, and because of the prophesy and people not being sure about him, just for a year, they assured him, because he needed to get back and take care of his castle, as his majesty gave him the Duke title after the burial, and he accepted it..
Well..., now as he stared at the sky, and his servants packed his things, it has been a year, he was going home, finally, and returning as the Lord of the manor...
"We are ready my lord, Theo said from behind him, since they gave him the title Theo started a dressing him properly, and although it was weird to them, they had to do it, Theo insisted..
"Okay, let's start over a new life..., and Theo I know it's your duty to advice me, but I will have you know that my mind is made up, since it's a tyrant they want, a tyrant I will be!, he said strongly..., he felt that it was the prophesy that took his parents away, if he wasn't at thornwyn they won't travel to meet him, and won't be attacked by bandits, he was asked to leave his home, some days after the burial as well, just because of that prophesy, well, he owed it to the prophesy to give them hell! and he will understand if Theo doesn't like it, or go along with it, as long as he stays out of his way!
"Try to keep up with my tyranny if you can, and I won't stop you I will join you, he said strongly, remembering how they told him Naya died, her body was not recovered because she was raped repeatedly, and her body thrown into the river after killing her, her body washed away by the currents... "I will find those responsible...,
"And we will end them brother..., Francis completed it, and turned to look at his friend's fierce look, with the same fierceness in his eyes, now they would see the monster they made!