Escape from the Witch Hunters

“Get up wench!” the guard poked Ryia.

Ryia quickly scrambled to her feet and followed the guard out of her prison cell. Today was the day. If only she could die swiftly by the sword.

If the guard left his sword alone for only a moment, that would be enough for Ryia to puncture herself and end her life.

What if the Great Father has another plan for me? What if someone saves me? Ryia sighed. She didn’t know. If I’m given a chance, I’m going to take my life. If not, then so be it.

She watched the guard carefully, making sure she was ready to act when the time came. If the time came.

Could I really just end my life if given the chance? she imagined the sword penetrating her body. Could she do it? It would be better than having her skin scorched.

She shook her head. She wished the Great Father would just take her to his peaceful haven up in the sky.

The guard led her out of the stale prison walls and out into the fresh air. “Big day today.” the guard chuckled at his own dark humor.

Ryia looked at the guard sadly.

The guard looked away uncomfortably and avoided her gaze.

They continued towards the town square in silence.

The judge fumed.

“I’m not going to let a masked man push me around.” he scowled. “Guards!” he snapped loudly.

Several guards came stumbling into his chambers. “You are not to leave my side from now on. Understand?”

The guards looked confused, but nodded all the same.

He would teach that person to not push him around.

“I want the witch whipped!” he yelled and flung his arm for emphasis.

“But Judge,” one of the guards protested, “surely she doesn’t deser-”

“I said whip the girl!” the judge bellowed, his face turned red and then he lowered his voice. “So unless you want to lose your position, I suggest you do as I tell you.”

The guards nodded nervously and one went back out the doors to carry out the judge’s orders.

He had been humiliated by that hooded figure and was not going to be pushed around like that. Absolutely no way.

Gillian couldn’t stand hearing her cries. He had just made the situation worse by visiting the judge. He shook his head regretfully. It was all his fault. And yet, he couldn’t do a thing to help her.

There were too many guards standing by. All he could do was sit in his little perch in the tree and wait until it was time.

The sound of the whip was drowned out by her cries of despair. It almost broke Gillian’s heart in two to hear her pained cries for help.

Ryia tried her best to keep her cries to herself.

The whip landed on her back again and she yelled out in pain.

“Please, stop! Please!” she pleaded.

The guard paused for a moment and looked up at the judge, seeking approval.

“Give her ten more lashes!” the judge called out from his mighty seat.

“Despicable character.” the guard muttered before he pulled his whip back again and letting it fly.

Ryia cried out again. I can’t stand this anymore Please Father, either take my life, or make this stop. Please, I’m begging you!

Another five lashes passed by.

Another man’s cry broke through the near silence. “Raiders in the next village! Hurry! They’re on their way!”

Everyone, including the judge, scrambled to get out of there.

“Hundreds of them! They have war clothes on! You haven’t much time!” Ryia turned to see a courier on a horse calling out.

Only the courier had a very familiar face. And a very familiar voice. Ryia’s eyes widened. It was Gillian. Only...in a courier’s clothing.

“Get to your homes, get your children! Get out of here!” he kept yelling. “Hurry! You haven’t much time!”

People fled from the town square and hurried to their homes where their precious children would be waiting.

After the family’s and the guards had fled, Gillian came galloping over to Ryia. “Are you alright?” he hopped off of his horse and quickly untied her hand that were suspended above the rest of her body.

Ryia nodded even though her vision was clouded by tears, and her back bloodied by the whipping.

Gillian muttered something under his breath and carefully picked her up, trying to keep his hands from touching her raw back as he lifted her onto his horse. “Can you hold onto me?” he looked up at Ryia.

“I think so.” she said quietly.

Gillian hopped onto his horse and Ryia slid her arms around Gillian’s stomach.

Gillian dug his knees into his horse. “Giddy-up!” they galloped into the woods.

Ryia held on tightly as they leaped over fallen trees and it rattled her head, making her head pound all the more.

They kept riding for several hours more until the sun was low in the sky, casting a pink hue in the clouds, beginning to sink below the trees.

“Did you want to stop?” Gillian looked back at Ryia’s rather sickly face.

Ryia looked up at the sky. “Are we out of danger?” she looked into his face. “What about the Raiders?”

Gillian smiled. “I made up the part about the Raiders, God forgive me. And we’re out of danger until they realize that I was no courier and that there aren’t actually any Raiders.”

Ryia nodded and smiled back wanly. “I’d like to rest for a little while.”

Gillian hopped down and held onto Ryia’s waist and helped her off of his horse.

“How’s your back?” he helped her towards a hollow tree and let her sit inside.

Ryia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “It hurts really bad, but it’s bearable.”

“I brought some of my medicine with me.” Gillian offered and walked back to his horse where he untied one of the many bundles and unrolled it.

“Here we are.” he pulled a small jar out and took the lid off, revealing a horrible smelling salve. He grimaced and replaced the lid.

He replaced the salve and reached for his tin flask.

“This will hurt, but I need to clean it before infection sets in.” he unclasped the lid and Ryia turned around so he could see her back.

He ripped the thin material, peeling it off of her sticky and bloody back.

Ryia let out a small yelp.

“I’m sorry.” he murmured. “This is going to hurt really bad.” he started to pour the liquid onto her back.

Ryia tried to keep from making any noise, but the pain from the alcohol made her scream loud enough to scare off all of the animals in the forest.

Gillian quickly finished pouring it and recapped the tin flask. He grabbed the jar with his salve and gently rubbed the soothing cream on her back. “This should help it heal faster.”

Once he was done he went back to his horse and grabbed on of his extra shirts and started to tear it into strips and wrapped her back up in the cloth until he reached the last of the whip marks and tied it off.

Ryia whimpered.

Gillian turned her around so she was facing him and wrapped her up in his tender embrace.

“I’m sorry.” Gillian repeated as he rested his chin on top of her head. “I’m sorry I left you.”

Ryia sniffed, trying to control herself. She wouldn’t cry in front of Gillian.

“I could kill that judge.” he whispered fiercely. “If you didn’t need someone to take care of you, I would go back and finish the job.”

“Please don’t.” Ryia shook her head. “Don’t kill anyone. I don’t want anymore bloodshed.”

Gillian looked down at the girl who had gone through so much, surprised that she wasn’t bitter towards the Judge.

“I’m going to take you to Carenthia.” he spoke softly. “By then maybe they won’t be looking for me. They can’t prove that I stole you away from them. They couldn’t condemn me even if they wanted to.”

“Carenthia?” she looked up at Gillian. “What am I going to do there? That isn’t even my own country.”

“You’ll be able to find a job there, I’m sure. You’re a talented girl, Ryia.” he brushed her hair back.

“What will I ever do without Mother, or without you?” she looked fearfully into his certain blue eyes.

“You’ll manage. You’re strong.” he tried to smile encouragingly.

At that, Ryia started to let the tears fall. “I’m not strong. I’m not, Gillian. I’ve tried to be. But I can’t be. I’m not like other girls who can stay on their own. I can’t be!”

She beat her little hands on his sturdy chest for a minute before the tears overcame her and she rested her head there.

“You’re stronger than a lot of girls, Ryia.” he held her in his arms once more. “More than you know.”

She shook her head. “I’m not. I was going to kill myself just because I didn’t want to burn. I was going to kill myself, Gillian! I’m afraid of dying. I’m afraid of being on my own.”

Gillian could feel her warm salty tears seeping into his shirt. “Shh. I won’t leave you until you’ve secured your own place in Carenthia.”

Her breathing eventually evened out, her constant stream of tears stopped, and her sniffles finally disappeared.

“Come on. We’ll stay here for the night.” he led her to the hollow and grabbed some blankets from his horse, wrapping her small body up to keep her warm.

The sun sank behind the greenery, causing a blanket of darkness to overcome the forest.

Gillian grabbed some sticks and finally got a fire going after messing with his flint for minutes on end.

"Are you hungry?" he looked back to find Ryia in a deep slumber.

Her sleeping face had a sad look to it, as if she were recalling her sad memories.

"The things I would do to make her smile again." he mused and grabbed his cold canister of water and tough jerky. It would have to do. He didn't feel like hunting for food anyway. He swallowed the tough meat and stuffed the rest back into his saddlebag.

Gillian yawned and spread his blanket on the forest floor, falling asleep within seconds.