A witch

"You have my word. I'll help you as long as you keep my identity secret," Diana vowed, her voice steady despite the unease in her eyes.

Maxilin met her gaze and then spoke the truth he had withheld until now. "It's not my birthmark," he confessed, revealing the intricate mark on his chest. The moment Diana saw it, her expression shifted dramatically from wary cooperation to deep suspicion.

"Are you a hunter, Mr. Maxilin? Or are you lying to us?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

Maxilin frowned, caught off guard by her sudden change in demeanor. "What exactly do you mean by that?" he asked, confusion and irritation creeping into his tone.

Diana's eyes narrowed, her voice turning cold. "You're not a hunter, are you? You deceived us."

"Why would I lie to you?" Maxilin shot back, frustration evident in his voice. But before he could say more, Diana's gaze hardened.

"You are a demon," she declared, her voice firm, her eyes piercing through him with a stern accusation that left no room for denial.

"What? Stop your nonsense. Just tell me what this symbol means," Maxilin demanded, his voice edged with impatience.

Diana looked at him with a mix of fear and resignation. "You will be the reason for opening the gate," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Maxilin's eyes widened in shock. "What?" he asked, his tone startled, unable to comprehend the full weight of her words. Before he could press her further, the door to the cabin unexpectedly swung open. Will stood in the doorway, his expression shifting from concern to confusion as he looked between Diana and Maxilin.

"Are you—" Will began, his voice laced with suspicion, but Diana quickly stepped in, cutting him off with a reassuring smile.

"I'm OK, hubby," Diana said, her voice calm and soothing. She reached out and touched his arm, the gesture meant to put him at ease. The tension in the room seemed to dissipate, if only slightly.

Maxilin turned to face Will, his expression contrite. "Mr. Will, I apologize for misunderstanding your wife. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience," Maxilin said, his tone sincere.

Will studied him for a moment before nodding slowly. "Mr. Maxilin, it's OK, but don't make the same mistake again. I understand that your job is to protect us, but you need solid evidence before accusing someone," Will replied, his voice firm but not unkind.

Diana stepped closer to her husband, her smile gentle. "Let it be, honey. He's not a bad person," she said softly, her words a quiet reassurance to both men. Will seemed to relax slightly at her words, the lines of worry on his face easing.

The conversation shifted after that, moving away from the tense subject of the marks and symbols. They exchanged casual small talk, the atmosphere lightening as they steered away from the dark undercurrents that had threatened to engulf them moments before.

That kid spent the entire journey with Hawki.

**

Wyiner was on his way to the training center to observe the knights, his mind occupied with the day's tasks. Evan was in the midst of assisting Benneth with his practice rounds, offering pointers and encouragement. As Wyiner engaged in conversation with one of the knights, his attention was suddenly drawn to Yean, who appeared out of nowhere.

"My lord," Yean greeted him with a sense of urgency.

"Yes, do you need anything?" Wyiner asked, his tone neutral but attentive.

"It's an urgent issue from the north," Yean replied, his expression serious. Wyiner's eyes flicked to the knight beside him, giving a subtle gesture to dismiss him. The knight nodded and quickly departed, leaving Wyiner and Yean alone.

As Yean delivered his message in hushed tones, Evan watched them from a distance, his keen eyes never leaving Wyiner. When he saw Yean depart, a sense of unease settled over him. He turned to Benneth, his tone suddenly more intense. "Benneth, keep doing what you're doing, okay? And remember—never underestimate your opponent."

Benneth nodded, taking the advice to heart, and returned to his practice, oblivious to the storm brewing in Evan's mind.

Evan stayed in the training center just as long as Wyiner did, his mind racing. As soon as Wyiner left for the fort, Evan made his move. He hurried after him, though his destination was not the fort's entrance but Wyiner's office.

Once inside the fort, Evan ascended the stairs to Wyiner's office with determined steps. When he reached the door, he paused, glancing around to ensure no one was watching. Taking a deep breath, he slowly pushed the door open and slipped inside.

"I'm sorry, Uncle. But I need to know," Evan thought, his resolve hardening.

Evan began rifling through Wyiner's desk, his movements quick but methodical. "Damn, where did he keep the letter?" he muttered under his breath, frustration growing as each drawer and compartment yielded nothing of interest.

He knew the letter was crucial—it could hold the answers to the suspicions that had been gnawing at him for days. But as he sifted through all the critical documents in Wyiner's office, it became clear that the letter wasn't there.

His frustration peaked as he squeezed his brow, trying to think. If the letter wasn't in the office, then it had to be somewhere else. And there was only one place left that made sense.

Without hesitation, Evan left the office and made his way to Wyiner's private quarters. His mind raced with possibilities, but he was certain of one thing: the letter had to be there. He couldn't afford to fail now, not when he was so close.

Maxilin was often struck by Diana's cryptic statements. Each word seemed to hold more meaning, but asking her directly in front of her husband wasn't an option. They were nearing their destination, and Maxilin could see that they had left from the same station.

As Maxilin approached his horse's wagon, preparing to depart, a voice called out to him. He turned around to find Diana standing there, her gaze steady and her expression calm.

"Mister," she said, drawing his attention.

"What are you looking for now?" Maxilin asked, his curiosity piqued.

She smiled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "You know, you should be more polite to a girl. Anyway, I'd like to say something to you about that mark." Her tone was serious, and Maxilin could sense the weight of her words.

He stared at her, eager to understand.

"You stated that it isn't your birthmark. But I think it is," Diana continued. "Maybe it was hidden and only revealed itself when you gained a certain sense of power. I'm sorry, but I can't help you further with this. When I first saw you, I sensed a frightening dark power around you. I have a child and a husband, and I can't risk involving them in this."

"Okay, I've figured it out," Maxilin replied, mounting his horse. "Mrs. Diana, I appreciate your help."

Then Maxilin added one last piece of advice.

"However, I have a suggestion for you. Your son has a remarkable ability, and I'm sure you are aware of this. If you don't allow him to develop it, it will be a loss for us all."

With a final nod, Maxilin urged his horse forward.