Chapter 3

Isabelle walked for a long time before arriving at the small village. 

She had to go through the busy market first and as she walked along, the cap of her garment was over her head. 

She kept her head down the whole time, trying as much as possible to avoid the gazes of others because she knew she'd be in trouble, if her face gets seen by anyone. 

She was the most wanted person in the Kingdom at that moment. 

She was able to pass the market successfully and after a longer walk,  she finally got to the small door and knocked on it. 

There was no reply.

She looked around and knocked again.

Damn it! Just open the door! She grumbled in her heart and almost immediately, she heard the door opening. 

It opened creakily until the face of the 'opener' was finally revealed.

She gasped as soon as she saw the confessor. 

"Isabelle???" She wanted so bad to scream the name, but ended up whispering it. 

Although, her eyes still explained how shocked she was. 

"Emily" Isabelle called lowly. 

"Please, let me in".

Emily's eyes drooped. And in a more discrete tone, she asked:

"What're you doing here?"

Her hands were still holding the door, standing in the way. 

"We can't talk out here, Emily. Please, let me in" Isabelle answered, her voice pleading. 

She looked around to be sure no one was watching. 

"But....".

"Emily!" She snapped and a brief silence ensued between them. 

Giving it a quick thought, Emily decided to take a little risk and ushered her into the house. 

She shut the door as soon as they were in. 

"Where have you been, Isabelle? And what're you doing here?? The King's looking for you!" She growled, making her fear obvious.

"I won't take long, Emily. I promise. I just....I just need to treat my wound" Isabelle replied and lifted the tip of her dress, so Emily would see the wounded spot on her leg. 

Her eyes blinked rapidly,staring at the wound. 

"How...How did you get that?" She asked heavily and Isabelle released the dress, covering the wound back up.

"Few hours ago. I was chased by some guards and....they shot at me" she replied with a hard gulp. 

"Oh! Goodness, Isabelle. You're wanted by everyone in this Kingdom because there's a 100 silver bounty on your head. If anyone gets to know I.....I...helped you,I'll be....."

"I know. I know, okay? And that's the reason I promise not to take long... Please" she added the last part with a little reluctance. 

Emily had been an old friend and she knew there was no way she could reject her in that state. She felt she was safe with her. 

"Come over to the table" she said with a sigh, and Isabelle followed.

As Isabelle followed her to the table, she took out time to gaze round the room and that was when she spotted the little boy - Owen - sleeping on the long wooden chair. 

He had a wet cloth over his head and it was obvious, he wasn't fine. He was Emily's son. 

"What's wrong with him?" Isabelle asked as she sat on the table, facing Emily. 

"He's sick - terribly sick" Emily replied dolefully, lifting Isabelle's dress, so the wounded leg be exposed.

"There's been no money to take him to a healer" she added. 

Isabelle just stared quietly and wished there was something she could do. Everything was so complicated for her at the moment.

Emily untied the wound, so she could examine it. 

"I don't think it's infected yet" she said as she touched the surface. 

"But its deep. 

"We'll need to....add some heat to it"

Isabelle just nodded slowly, knowing what that meant.

"Hold on" Emily mumbled and left, then returned shortly with a bowl of water, and a little napkin.

"I'll just clean it off first" she remarked and started using the water and napkin on the fresh wound, wiping off the blood and dirt.

They were silent for a while.

"Whatever happened, Isabelle?" She broke the brooding silence.

"Why did you and your sisters enslave the King and his men for so long?" 

Isabelle felt a cut in her heart as soon as she mentioned the King's name. 

The King. 

She didn't say a word, but stared away. 

"You should look for a way to go far from here" she continued.

"Far from this land, Isabelle. Because it wouldn't be funny if the King gets a hold of you".

"I'll leave, once I find Tabitha" Isabelle replied coldly, and Emily paused to look into her face. 

"Tabitha?" She scoffed.

"Tabitha's dead. She's been missing for months now".

"Then, I need a body to bury!" Isabelle was almost tempted to yell.

She exhaled deeply , when she realized.

"She might be dead, but I still need to find her body, at least. I need to know what happened to her" she said 

Emily didn't comment, but slowly resumed what she was doing. 

"Besides" she continued.

"Even if I wanted to leave, that's impossible because the King has placed guards on every exit of this land. There's no way I can leave without being caught" 

"Oh...Isabelle. You're so ruined" Emily shook her head. 

They didn't say any other thing as Emily rounded up the cleaning of the wound and stood up with the bowl and napkin. 

"Come with me. Let's go to the fire place" she titled her head to the side and started walking away and Isabelle followed. 

She had to drag her leg along, because she still felt slight pains. She saw it as a miracle she was able to endure it while walking to Emily's house. 

She followed Emily to the kitchen and took a seat, while Emily set up the fire. 

She watched blearily.

"But why is it so important for you to find Tabitha, huh?" Emily asked as she fixed a knife into the fire. 

Isabelle didn't reply, but when she turned and shot her a stare, she did. 

"I just need to find her body" was her casual reply. 

"But why? She's been dead for long now. Her body would've probably decayed" Emily said .

"I just....I just need to find her. She was....." Isabelle had almost spilled the word, but restricted herself. 

No; she couldn't say it out. 

Emily removed the heated knife from the fire and approached Isabelle.

"She was what?" She asked as she squatted in front of her, staring into her face. 

Isabelle looked at her without saying a word, and she asked again. 

"She was what, Isabelle?" She asked, curiously.

"Its nothing" Isabelle mumbled and looked down at the knife, signalling her to go on with it. 

Emily sighed and brought it closer to the leg.

"Hope you're ready?" She asked and Isabelle nodded.

Then, getting herself prepared, she finally placed the hot-red knife on her leg and a sizzling sound was heard.

Isabelle shut her eyes to endure the pain. It hurt like hell. 

She clamped her mouth shut and made fists with her hands, and as soon as Emily pulled the knife away from her leg, she gasped.

"Sorry" Emily muttered and stood up, going to return the knife. 

Isabelle looked at the spot and took in deep breaths. Gosh! That had been painful.

But hopefully, she'd feel better in no time. 

"I'll go get you some herbs right away" Emily said. 

"As soon as I use them on you, you'll feel a 100% better".

Isabelle just nodded and muttered a "thank you".

"I'll be on my way now. Make sure you stay indoors, okay? Please, don't get me into trouble" she said with pleading eyes and left.