13

I saw horror written all over the Princess's face when she saw the same thing Allesio did and my fear knew no bounds, I was tempted to jump up once again or look down to see what it was.

"What is it?" I asked but neither of them responded.

"Just remain the way you are," He instructed me and I couldn't take it anymore, I looked towards my feet and the sight was terrifying to me, but it wasn't such a bad rodent at least that was my thought.

"It's just a rat," I uttered confidently even though my body trembled due to my hatred for those things, its distinct features allowed me to see it properly in that dark forest.

"Not any type of rat, it's a poisonous rat Sage and even the skin touching you could have terrible consequences," Said Allesio. What confused me more was why the rat stood there without moving or running away.

But just when I thought of it, it began to walk close to my left foot and I placed my hand over my lips to stop myself from screaming, before I could get myself together Allesio slit the rat in half with his sword and its bloody content spilled on my feet and I shivered in disgust.

"Let's go, you'll wash your feet once we get there, it's not so far away," He said to me, turned around, and continued his duty as our leader, I kept my eyes on the ground most of the time to avoid more rodents creeping up on me without my consent.

It was true when he mentioned that our destination wasn't far anymore because I saw a cottage up ahead, I was able to see it thanks to the light emitting from the inside making me wonder if someone was there already.

When we approach the cottage my heart came to rest, Since the fortress was to keep us safe from the battle outside. Speaking of the war, I became worried about my parents, and their safety worries me but there was nothing I could do about it since I had pledged my alliance to the kingdom.

Allesio knocked lightly and I could hear stumping footsteps towards the door, I was anxious to see who it was but almost freaked out when the door opened up to reveal an old lady, thanks to the light that reflectedon her, I saw the white hair and ripples that were visible on her skin.

"Greetings wise one," Allesio saluted her and I and the Princess bowed our heads in respect before we entered the cottage.

She walked faster than I expected for an old lady as she ushered us inside. I had heard of the sorceress in the woods and tales of her superficial abilities but I never knew she was the one.

She didn't respond of our greetings and h

didn't speak as much as a word when we arrived, her dark tin and extended pupils made her appear like a serpent in human form.

"Welcome," She finally spoke up and her voice was unexpectedly soft and soothing like that of a high-pitched musician.

She directed us to sit next to the fire pit by the corner of the room, the flame had a distinct green color which I found strange, its smoke had a good fragrance that probably covered the stench from the pile of animal bones at the corner.

That environment looked repulsive and wasn't worthy to accommodate any of us with the cobwebs which hadn't been cleaned for who knew how long, that old lady seemed agile but I didn't get why she let her little home look like garbage?

"Care for a drink?" She asked us but we all shook our heads in rejection, then I understood that I wasn't the only one who found this apartment irritating.

"Alright then I'll show you where you'll stay," She announced and asked us to follow her in. She led us through a long passageway which surprised me because for such a small house in the woods, I wondered how it had such a long pathway?

We came to a stop in front of a door towards the end, she took the key from the bag she hung on her shoulder and handed them over to me and gave Allesio another key to the door opposite ours.

I opened our door and expected to see a dirty room but to my surprise, it was decent, and I mean spotless, it looked just like a room in the royal palace and I wondered how that was even possible.

"You act very surprised," The Princess uttered and I stared at her and asked,

" Aren't you?"

"I am not," She said.

"She is a powerful sorceress and my father has told me about her pledge to the royal family, she promised to keep his children safe in times of war, I never believed this tale until now," She added.

"Oh!" I exclaimed in shock,

"But why does she keep the entrance so dirty?" I inquired to which the Princess responded,

"According to his story, she does this to mislead those who come here, they'll think she is some dirty witch and let her be, no one would know or suspect that she hid anyone here."

That got me angry for some reason, the royal family got to hide during a war and let the people suffer, it was unfair but no one could do or say anything about it. While I listened to her, I felt a sharp pain in my foot, I looked down and saw marks on the areas where the content from the rat has touched.

It was swollen, and it burnt on the inside, I bent over to touch it and it felt fragile like it would pop any second letting the pulse escape.

"Are you okay?" The Princess asked but the pain was excruciating, she ran out of the room and returned shortly with Allesio who gasped at the sight of my foot.

"We should have washed this off earlier," He exclaimed.