Awry

20

For several months, Tristan made a habit of bringing Scarlet and her mother food on the mornings they hunted together. Every few days, he’d pack up a large sack and make his way across the forest to the small hut in the shadows.

At first, he’d done it to protect Scarlet from getting arrested by the earl’s men, or killed by greedy thieves.

But now, he did it so he could spend time with the dark-haired huntress.

She was fearless and feisty in the forest, but playful and gentle with her mother. She was tough and humble, and she made him feel alive in a way that was fast becoming irreplaceable.

Sometimes after hunting with Scarlet, he would stay for a meal. Scarlet would cook while Ana told stories. They would eat and laugh and joke with one another. Like a family.

Other times, he and Scarlet would go hunting together and nothing more.

He’d underestimated her greatly. She was deadly with a bow and her arrows were fast and accurate. She knew how to use a knife without flinching and she was careful and precise. She walked through the trees like she was a piece of the forest. Lithe, beautiful and free.

And Tristan was completely enraptured by her.

He sat at the small table in Scarlet’s hut eating a bowl of soup. Scarlet was seated to his right, apologizing for how small the chairs were, and her mother, Ana, was seated across from him.

Ana was an older version of Scarlet with long, dark hair, pale skin and blue eyes. Were it not for the few wrinkles and gray hairs she possessed, the two could be sisters.

“I like it when you stay for meals,” Ana said, smiling at Tristan.

“Well, I like to eat and since you like to feed me—”

“With food you brought yourself.” Scarlet glared at him, still upset that he continued to bring them food.

Too bad. He had access to a feast in his court’s garden and he wanted to share.

He looked at Scarlet pleasantly, determined to break her pride if it killed him.

And there was a good chance it wouldkill him.

“I brought the food as a bribe.” He leaned over to Scarlet and loudly whispered, “I’m trying to get in your good graces.”

Ana bit back a laugh as Scarlet rolled her eyes and said, “You are trying to drive me mad.”

“That too.” Tristan winked at Ana, who winked right back.

He had won Ana over and for that, he was grateful. Scarlet could pretend to hate him all she wanted, but as long as Ana welcomed him into their hut he would continue to come.

Ana looked at Tristan and smiled warmly. “Without Scarlet’s father around, it is nice to have a man in the house.”

Tristan swallowed a bite and gingerly asked, “What happened to Scarlet’s father?

Scarlet shifted uneasily but Ana looked unashamed to answer. “He became addicted to magic—”

“Mama,” Scarlet warned through her teeth.

Ana looked pointedly at Scarlet. “Our story is no secret, my love. It is a lesson.” Ana looked at Tristan. “Scarlet’s father became addicted to magical blue water brought back from the New World.”

Tristan raised his brows. Blue magic water? He’d never heard of such a thing.

Ana smiled sadly. “I met William, Scarlet’s father, when we were still teenagers. We were happily married and perfectly comfortable. But then William met my brother Francis.

“Francis had just returned home from an expedition to the New World, bringing back two large jugs of blue water with him. He claimed the blue water was eternal youth from a fountain he’d discovered in the New World.

“He also told William and me of a map he’d composed, leading back to the fountain, and he hoped to gain great wealth from his discovery. He wanted William’s help selling the water to the wealthy Englishmen of William’s home country and, of course, William was intrigued.”

Ana shook her head. “I did not trust the water—or the map. I was suspicious of any magic. But William,” Ana took a deep breath, “William was desperate for wealth and seduced by the idea of eternal life. He and Francis tasted the water, growing instantly young and stronger, and knew they had found true magic.

“Delirious with excitement, William and Francis insisted we move to England to sell the water. Scarlet was a young girl and I was hesitant to leave my family, but I loved William. So we came to England.

“William and Francis sold several vials of the blue water to a wealthy family in the village and quickly made a great profit. They planned to sell more, but soon realized they were addicted to the water and could not go a day without a drop.

“They soon grew ill. The effects of the water were temporary and their bodies demanded more of the liquid to stay strong. Francis still had his large jugs of blue water and gave one to William so they might continue to feed their addiction. They decided to use their great wealth to fund a journey back to the New World, where they would use Francis’s map to find the fountain and resupply their water.

“William pleaded with me to move to the New World and make a life beside the magic fountain. I panicked. I was convinced the water was cursed and I refused to take my young daughter across the ocean where we would live in danger and poverty. William became outraged with me, threatening me, frightening me.

“So I stole their jugs of water, trying to protect William and Francis from themselves.” She took another heavy breath. “Addiction is a dangerous thing. It can turn a sane man mad and a loving man evil. William’s body began to suffer great pains without the water and he became a monster. He threatened my life, demanding the water be returned to him if I wanted to live. And then he threatened Scarlet’s life….

Ana swallowed. “I gave the water back to him and Francis and left William, stealing Scarlet away into the night.” She paused, touching a hand to a silver broach she wore pinned to her dress. “Scarlet was only thirteen when we fled. We have been hiding in the eastern woods ever since.”

Tristan sat back.

They had run away from a dangerous man; two women risking their lives in the unforgiving forest to build themselves a home that was worth fighting for.

He looked at Scarlet. “Was that frightening?”

Scarlet kept her eyes on her food. “No. I was well-trained in archery and fencing by that time, and I knew plenty about hunting and gardening. The forest was not frightening.”

Tristan tucked his lips in. “I meant, was it frightening to leave your father?”

Scarlet looked at him with vulnerable eyes and, for a brief second, she was just a girl in the woods.

Not a huntress. Not a fighter.

Just a girl.

Scarlet softly said, “Not as frightening as it would have been had we stayed with him.” She looked back down at her food.

Ana lowered her eyes as well and the table sat in silence.

Looking around the hut, Tristan was filled with admiration for their hard work. The hut was simple, but clean and efficient. They had no adornments, no fancy pieces of furniture. Their walls were thin and bare and the single room they shared was but a mat on the dirt floor. The roof was solid but wearing through at some places and the garden out front was healthy, yet meager.

They had survived out here, hiding in the trees and living as fugitives, for years without help, protecting and providing for one another.

They had little, yet asked for nothing.

They finished eating silence. After the meal, Tristan rose from the table, kissed Ana on the cheek, and made his way to the yard with Scarlet at his side.

“Why do you continue to visit us?” Scarlet’s eyes were curious.

Tristan smiled. “I enjoy your company.”

She eyed him. “You have plenty of company in your court, I’m sure. The company of beautiful women with fine dresses and real homes, no doubt.”

He smiled. “Ah, but I prefer the company of a young woman with archery skills and a sharp tongue.”

She looked at the ground. “Your care is wasted on me.”

He placed a gentle finger below her chin and tilted her head up. “My care is not wasted. You are the best part of my day and what I look forward to when I’m gone.”

Scarlet looked into his eyes. “If you continue coming here, you are a fool.”

He smiled again. “Then call me a fool.”