62 Chapter 62: Her Weakness (1/2)

ELINA: Sometimes I wonder how Salem has managed to survive for so long. Especially in the profession he is working in. Maybe he was a lucky man. Always in the right place at the right time. But I had a feeling his luck was starting to run out.

Towards sundown, he didn't notice anything strange. Which was the first mistake. He should've been able to notice it. The odd tension in the air. The lack of animal life. The total silence.

We were less than a day out of Larose. We should've seen plenty of other travelers. But we saw almost none.

By the time we made camp, I knew that something was wrong. The ground was wet. Salem said there was rain in this area. I knew there wasn't. None of the trees were wet. Only the ground. But he didn't notice.

And then: the smoke.

Smoke from a fire that shouldn't be there. At least not without magic. I sniffed the air. Something in the air. Something strange.

Salem got up. Told me to stay put. He went into the forest, into the darkness.

What to do…should I trust his luck?

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Salem: I realized that I didn't know his name. We had shared drinks, shared stories. But I never asked for his name. He didn't ask for mine either.

I quickly recalled the story I told him. Half truths and lies. Which made the best kind of lie. Very convincing, easy to remember.

I also recalled that he had offered to work with me. Help me kill the witch for a cut of the payment. Lower the chance of death. Increase the chances of a successful hunt. Use the money to hire a doctor for my sister.

But I rejected him.

He looked at me. I looked at him. Recognition on his face. He opened his mouth. For a moment no sound came out. Then he said, ”You're the witch hunter from Larose.”

I said, ”And you're the man hunting for that witch. You said she had silver eyes. What was her name again?”

Was he following me? Did he know that I had captured Elina? I felt the dagger at my side. Ask questions first. Then decide if I had to kill him.

He said, ”Yes, Elina is her name. I have to bring her in alive.”

He gestured for me to sit down. Offered me a drink and offered me his hand.

”We didn't introduce ourselves during our first meeting. But a second meeting is most auspicious. My name is Giorgio.”

I sat down. Shook his hand and took the drink.