Colinus, who had hidden behind a rock, came forward and stood beside Jolthar. He checked if the old man was all right, and fortunately, nothing happened to Colinus.
"Can you walk?" he asked the woman.
She nodded, struggling to her feet with the child in her arms. Jolthar supported her, his eyes scanning the treeline for threats.
"I'm Jolthar," he said as they began to move. "What's your name? And the child's?"
"I'm Katerina," the woman replied, her voice strained with pain and exhaustion. "And this is Yanna. Thank you, again, for protecting us."
She asked, "Can you protect us until we leave this forest? It's important, please. I need to get this child to safety."
He looked at Colinus, and the old man said, "Young master, those creatures are dangerous, and we can't leave a child and leave. We can take her to the keep, and I can arrange for her to stay until she wants."
Jolthar nodded and agreed to her request.
As they trudged through the forest, Katerina's strength began to wane. Jolthar, noticing her faltering steps, gently took Yanna into his arms, allowing Katerina to lean on him for support.
"Jolthar," Katerina said, weak but urgent, "I need to tell you something. Yanna... she needs to be sent to my sister, her mother. It's crucial for her safety."
Until she felt it was safe and saw that Jolthar didn't question why those creatures chased after the child and what they were doing in the forest. She felt Jolthar was a good man; he may be able to help her.
Jolthar's brow furrowed. "Your sister? I thought you were her mother."
Katerina shook her head, a sad smile playing on her lips. "I've raised her as my own, but her true mother is my sister. She entrusted Yanna to me for protection."
"And who is your sister?" Jolthar asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Azura of the Blue Rose Seraglio," Katerina replied, her voice filled with a mixture of pride and trepidation.
Jolthar nearly stumbled in shock. The Blue Rose Seraglio was legendary—an elite, all-female organisation renowned for its unparalleled combat skills, political acumen, and mastery of ancient magics. They operated from the shadows, influencing the course of nations and safeguarding ancient secrets.
"By the gods," Colinus breathed. "No wonder the Nynthrals were after you. But why separate Yanna from her mother in the first place?"
Katerina's eyes darted nervously around the forest. "It's... complicated. I can't tell you the details as it involves my sister and this child."
As they talked, little Yanna had been watching Jolthar with wide, curious eyes. Suddenly, she reached up and patted his cheek with a chubby hand. "Papa?" she said, her voice small but clear.
Jolthar froze, his eyes widening in panic. "Uh, no, little one. I'm not your papa. I'm just... helping."
Yanna's lower lip trembled dangerously. "But... you protect. Like papa." Seeing how he protected her and her aunt, Yanna thought that Jolthar was her father. Katerina then said, "I'm sorry; she may have thought of you like that because of how you protected her from them. I used to tell her stories about her father, and she maybe thought that you were him."
Jolthar didn't know what to say, "Oh, is that so?"