CHAPTER 6. THE WITNESS

"Move!!" the guards who were sent by Oziel to arrest Iliana and Lance shoved the duo to the center of the town. Iliana's hand was tied together as well as her legs. Same as Lance.

"I- I didn't poison Lady Gina!' He kept yelling while he tried to defend himself but his pleas wafted away with the wind.

Iliana felt her heart drop to her stomach as soon as she sighted the stage that was already set up for execution. 

"Hurry up with the execution!" Oziel yelled angrily. His face turned red and his nostrils flared.

Few passersby who had seen Iliana and Lance being shoved to the town square all followed behind as they gossiped among themselves.

"Isn't that the daughter of the witch that was burned years ago?"

"Yeah! I thought the chief had killed her! Who would have thought that he saved her!?"

A man who stood under an umbrella sighed loudly as he adjusted his straw hat. "Chief is such a kind hearted man. I wonder why he always ends up with wicked people."

Iliana scoffed inwardly, "I wonder why you chose to be deceived."

"You bitch!! You ought to lose your tongue!!" The man spat as he took a handful of flour and poured it on Iliana who hissed.

She fixed her attention on Lance who looked extremely pitiful. His brown wavy hair had stuck to his face due to his sweat. Fresh blood oozed from the corners of his lips. His wrist had reddened and his neck as well. The man dragged the both of them to the altar where they were to be executed.

"How did we end up in this mess?" Iliana asked herself.

Flashback.

Six hours ago.

"Hey! Hey!! You witch! Get back here!" Madam Luo yelled at Iliana who sprinted out of the Tirion manor after she had changed into a comfortable outfit to hide her scars.

Iliana ignored the continuous yells and increased her pace. She ran on her bare feet for miles till she caught up with Lance. Sneaking up behind him, she smacked him from behind.

"You idiot! How could you go to the border without the king's permission?" she yelled at him while he rubbed his aching head with a frown.

"Lord Oziel sent me which is the same as the King sending me. Besides, he said he needed the fruit to help Gina to recover quickly." He explained with a frown.

Iliana stared at him blankly. "Are you foolish? Lord Oziel would never send you to the border without the king's seal!"

"Well, he did." Lance said as he took out a black note which had the carvings of a black dragon. Iliana snatched it from him and examined it. 

"It's the king's seal…" she mumbled under her breath before turning to fix her gaze on Lance. "Leave the fruit. We are heading back."

Lance stared at her, "And risk offending Lord Oziel? Nah. Not me." He pushed her away as he continued to walk deeper into the bush. "You might not be scared of him. But I am."

As soon as he said that, he turned to leave earning a sigh from her. "I'm doing this for your own good." She groaned as she followed his steps.

"Yeah, for my own good. If it is really for my good, then keep quiet and help me find the fruit for her ladyship." He scowled as he turned to leave.

Iliana was taken aback by his sudden outburst. Thinking that he was already upset with the task at hand, she kept quiet as she silently followed him.

The duo walked in silence among the tall trees and uneven grasses. A sense of unease rose in Iliana as she walked behind her friend. 

A mild breeze blew which caused a shiver to run down her spine. Not willing to take another step, she spoke up. "Uhm, Lance?"

He responded with a low grunt as he jumped over a fallen tree.

"Let's head back."

"You can leave if you want." 

Iliana was dumbstruck. Sensing her urge to protest, Lance paused in his track. "You know, rather than trying to pick up a bold font, why not go back. I can sniff your fear."

"…" She blinked rapidly at him. "Since when are you able to…" before she could continue her statement, Lance interrupted her.

"Oh! Great! The yovo fruit." He exclaimed as he pointed towards a red weirdly shaped fruit.

Iliana had never seen the yovo fruit in her life. Looking at it gave her a weird feeling. "Is that it?" she asked in disbelief. She had expected them to walk about for a long time. However, they hadn't spent up to twenty-five minutes at the entrance.

Ignoring her question, he snatched the fruit and turned to leave.

"What's up with you today?" Iliana couldn't help but ask herself inwardly. Keeping her thoughts to herself, she followed him as they walked out of the mini bush.

***

The duo arrived at the Tirion manor an hour later. As soon as they got there, Lance headed straight to Lady Gina's quarters leaving Iliana behind. However, before he left her sight, he sent a mischievous smirk her way. "Dummy." He mouthed.

"…"

Almost immediately, Miko approached her. "Lord Oziel calls for you."

A frown found its way to her face before following Miko behind. After taking several steps, a black cloth was thrown over her face.

Flashback ends.

Iliana was drawn back to reality due to a harsh slap that assaulted her red face. 

"You witch! Not only did you kill his lordship's son, you also poisoned her ladyship!" The man who held the chain that bind her spat at her as he dragged her to the stage that was already set up.

Lance on the other hand was pushed to the stage with force which caused him to hit his head against the pillar. He let out a pained hiss as he held his head.

Before Iliana could do a thing, Oziel appeared on the stage. His face was red, veins bulged on his forehead as he sent death glares to both her and Lance.

"Iliana! You wench!!!" he yelled as she slapped her across her face. The corner of her lips cracked as blood oozed freely. "I spared your life then because of the relationship I had with your mother but this is how you repay me!?"

"I- I didn't… we- we didn't…" Iliana tried to defend herself but was silenced by Oziel who angrily kicked her chest.

"Not another word!" he snarled before turning to face the crowd. "You all, be the judge."

The crowd went silent as they waited for his next statement. "Bring the witness!"