Iuliān, looking at the house in ruins, agrees with his cousin "I think so too."
"I know I can be random most of the time, my cousin, but I mean well. I owe her family just as much as I owe yours. I can't leave her knowing she'll be in more danger to herself and others than she is without anybody who can be with her." he said as he remembers his mom telling him stories of Lady Madelra and her kind fortune. They were also the ones who kick-started his job.
Iuliān envisioned as well the possibility of the situation getting worse. Imagining those events Lord Phraselm said, already haunted him. It could also get worse if Sir Herelph would know. After all, they still don't know if he could trust him.
"But we could try." Lord Phraselm said looking at his cousin and back to the house.
Iuliān took off his muddy layered vest and left with his high-necked sleeved top.
"Let's go, now," he added. Iuliān nodded as if he were waiting for Phraselm to tell Geiyra they are leaving.
But the Lord looked at his cousin and tilted his head quickly toward the lady like he is saying 'you tell her her' just shook his head and wrinkled his brows implying that he denies his gestures.
They may be on Lady Geiyra's side, but both still get weak in the pit of their stomach. They don't know much about her just yet. Who knows what triggers her impatience?
Geiyra stopped murdering the root and is now back at hugging her legs and biting her lips — sometimes grabbing her hair.
The two sat back down on the ground. They couldn't bring themselves to disturb her tantrums.
Iuliān hissed after the irregularly shaped bark of the tree hits his side. "That hurts," he said as he close his hands into a fist.
"Tell her." Phraselm whispered and hit his side with his elbow, "Aw,... no" Iuliān glared at him while holding his probably already bruised up backside.
"I didn't hit you hard," he responded almost apathetic.
Phraselm did just a gentle tap with his elbow. Iuliān was feeling a little dramatic.
By the second they sat, Geiyra finally talks to them "Don't you think I should get away from here?" she said biting her lips and feeling ashamed in front of these men, "I don't want to hurt anybody." she added looking down with shame.
In an instant and unison, both were on their feet agreeing with her.
"We were about-" Lord Phraselm was supposed to tell her they were also thinking about it, but Iuliān interrupted him.
"You are certainly right. Let us go now," he said as he pointed straight ahead and walked forwards.
They were only walking for about ten minutes and it was getting dark when Lord Phraselm decided to leave their camp and gather food and a few clothes to layer themselves. The night can get chilly.
So he did and left the two. When Iuliān noticed Phraselm has been making decisions by himself he looked at him like he is spitting daggers with his eyes.
Iuliān is rather salty that he'll be left alone with the lady.
Geiyra saw Lord Phraselm leaving and got frightened all of a sudden. Where is he going?
"He's getting us food!" Iuliān said in a voice she could hear when he saw her stand and tilted her head quizzically.
She looked at Iuliān and hearing what he said, she silently sat back on the ground. She thought they are both leaving her behind.
"There are fruits in the right garden and chicken eggs in the small barn. There are also cloaks two rooms away from the back door... that's where my mother sews our winter clothes." She said to Lord Phraselm half shouting.
Although she's been condemning herself, she only has these two men to keep her in check. It felt like she needs it the most. And also, she's never used to being alone, and although being like a prisoner meant being alone, she never felt greater loneliness than today.
Iuliān decided to get a little bit closer to her and said, "Wanna gather some firewood with me?"
Geiyra could hardly believe they never left her. She's thankful enough but she too is afraid of herself, how can these two not? Little does she know the cousins are as frightened as others would.
They are a lot more understanding if they are compared and had their reasons to be in her presence.
"Yeah." she looked at him thankful for his kindness. She agreed and fixed her burnt jacket for comfort as she stood.
Geiyra can't wait to wear a coat Lord Phraselm would find. Her jacket is getting uncomfortable. If only she could remove it she can't. She'll feel naked with only her underdress tunic.
"My father usually gets firewood a little further over here," she said trying to help him find good woods.
"Let's go then. But we shouldn't be too far. My cousin might lose us if we camp far from we parted." Worrying about Phraselm, he said as they walk where Geiyra leads him.
Meanwhile, Lord Phraselm reached the house and stealthily sneaks into the back door. There are still officials who are investigating the house.
The back right of the house wasn't destroyed too much that he could still reach the second door easily.
He covered his face with his arms from the leftover smoke and the dusty air.
He picked three winter cloaks Lady Geiyra was talking about — it's not even winter just yet, and almost immediately what he heard from the officials stunned him for a second.
"Only two sets of bones were found and one was burned so much there were no remains; human ashes were believed to be found," the investigator said as he flips his parchment.
"Seeing these townspeople's bodies out here, it's safe to say the witch made her escape." he continued frightened and uncomfortable.
With no time to lose, he gathered fruits, chicken eggs, and a few more things he can carry that he thought will be needed and returned to the forest giving a detailed effort to not get caught.
There should be six bodies, he thought to himself. But they only found two. Lord Phraselm finally cleared his assumption that somehow, somewhere, Lady Radelaine is safe.
That she's just somewhere taken by those knights he knew not of but has placed his trust in as of now. Heretofore, that's the only conclusion he can believe and likes to believe.
As woeful as it can be heard two bodies inside the house were found, it could be Lord Derktse and Lady Madelra, who else would it be if not, there is a relief that Iuliān and himself saved one, Lady Geiyra.
At the same moment, Geiyra is having a hard time twisting a twig from a small tree.
"Lady Geiyra, we'll be needing dead branches for firewood anyway let me do it." Iuliān snapped the twig and stacked it in the pile.
Frustrated as it is, she whispered to herself, "I'm useless."
"You're not useless. What are you talking about? I'll be scared alone in the woods, you're a good company Lady Geiyra." he smiled as he snapped another branch from a dead bark. He is trying his best to keep the lady in good faith as much as he can.
He didn't want her to be too sad, for who knows what was going to happen.
"Don't call me a lady anymore Lord Iuliān. I don't have a noble family with me anymore," she said as she kneeled toward the pile of firewood and placed it in her arms to carry one by one.
He looked at her with his heart suddenly beating so fast. Is she going to cry and scream again? Thinking about it made Iuliān fret.
'Cousin you better come back right now, I can't handle this', he thought to himself not knowing what he has to do.
Worried that she may cry, he came close to her, and at eye level, he said, "You are a noble lady no matter what happens. I am not though, but I am a cousin of Lord Phraselm, a nobleman." he laughed in his synthetic chuckle hoping for a good reaction.
In Iuliān's relief, she smiled but it was a smile in pain.
"Can you tell me what happened to my sister during the banquet?" she asked as she swallowed in fear that it was that horrid.
Iuliān doesn't want to tell her. As much as possible he wants her to stay away from any negative simulation. He is already scared and unsure as he is.
"Lady Geiyra,..." he calmly said and was hesitant to say his refusal.
"Don't call me that please." she interrupted him. She hates how it sounds now that she has become so miserable.
"Geiyra,..." he corrected, "... you know for yourself you can be capable of great and frightful things. Please help me help you not turn to the girl we are scared of." he pleaded with eyes that long to see her happy.