Reborn, Its Time To Save My Family And.. My Enemy!
Chapter 222: You Are Caught

Chapter 222: You Are Caught

Four hours ago.

"This is making no sense." Oriana stared at the closed door again. They had visited three houses already, asking about the missing people. Most doors had been slammed in their faces. Like it had been the work of a witch. But if they asked about the witch, once again they did not have any reply.

It had been hours like that. Finally, a gaunt woman with bloodshot eyes had spoken to them near the bakery. Only to tell them that they should leave or they would be killed. It was all in a never ending loop.

"Do you think they were forced or injured?" but they did not have any wounds. And to force so many of the villages was impossible.

"I think we should return and send more knights to investigate." Olivia could tell Rhistel was worried about her safety. Everytime a door opened, he would cover her with his own body.

"But you always come here in disguise to understand their issues. I want to help. How about we go to the inn and ask the servers." Thistle looked back at the inn. His eyes were gloomy but he nodded.

It was small, cramped, but warm. The tavern-keeper gave them cautious glances but didn’t question their stay. They ordered a few simple dishes and drank beer.

"I never knew you have a high drinking tolerance." he looked at the two empty glasses and then at her surprised.

Oriana flushed embarrassed.

"You do not know a lot of things about me, your grace." she hid the flushed look and smiled at him. But he nodded seriously.

"Indeed we need to know a lot of things about each other." he took a sip of his drink. Oriana looked away. She called the waitress and took out a silver coin.

"This place is so empty while there was a large crowd outside, did something happen?" the waitress looked at the coin with her eyes gleaming.

"Yes, the kids disappeared last night. Though this is not the first time, kids had disappeared, this is the first time it happened in broad daylight. Most of the time, kids only disappeared when they went to woods or nearby. But now, the witch has reached home." she whispered softly as if she was afraid of being caught.

"And the people would just let it go? If I had been a mother, I would have burnt those witches who took my kids." Rhistel winched and her rutlessless expression but she ignored him.

The waitress sighed and nodded.

"That is the plan. Though not everyone is speaking about it, I heard they will catch the witch by tonight and burn her on the stakes. The Cloindire family had promised that no criminal would be set free."

The waitress hesitated when Oriana asked about the Cloindire family. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her apron, eyes darting to the other empty tables, as if making sure no one else could overhear.

"They take care of the land well enough," she said finally, voice low. "They are the one hunting for the witches too for us."

"They’ve taken charge of the hunt," the woman said grimly. "They rode out this morning with dogs and men. They have promised that they would find her before nightfall." She leaned in closer. "One of the young lords, Lord Elric, swore she would be caught by sundown. He promised they would drag her to the square before she could curse another soul."

Rhistel’s jaw clenched. Oriana could feel the tension radiating from him. "And what if she’s innocent?" he asked quietly.

The waitress gave him a pitying look. "There’s no room for ifs, my lord. Not when children are missing. If she’s not the one? Then why did she live in the woods?"

No one’s been caught yet. But if the Cloindire men are back already..." She trailed off, her expression turning worried.

Rhistel rose from his chair in one smooth motion. "We need to leave. Now."

Oriana nodded, standing with him, her appetite forgotten. "Which way did they go?"

The waitress pointed toward the eastern path. "If they find her, they’ll bring her to the square."

Oriana and Rhistel didn’t wait another second. They left a few more coins on the table and rushed out of the inn. The sky outside was beginning to bleed orange and crimson, and the air carried the bitter scent of burning wood.

"We’re too late," Rhistel muttered, eyes scanning the horizon. "She said ’dragged to the square.’"

Oriana’s breath hitched as they broke into a run. "Rhistel, we should not have left Olivia alone. Do you think they could force her here?" Rhistel’s face was red. He could not believe that he was used.

"It could not be. The manor had good security and they did not have any proof yet." he confirmed but his own voice was fading."What if they have proof!?"

"Even so, they need my permission before burning someone on the stake. Come with me, we will find the truth." Oriana nodded and followed Kristel back toward the plaza where the crowd was getting collected.

Rhistel was walking too fast and the crowd was constantly pushing them. Orina was facing difficulty in following rishtel.

Just when he took another turn, Oriana bumped into someone, before she could respond, she felt a cut on her arm.

"You should walk carefully." the man hissed before Leaving. Oriana winced but she covered her wound. It was not life threatening. The noise near the plaza was deafening. The crowd was dragging a woman near the stakes.

Oriana noticed that her dress matched hers. And though her face was covered with a cloak, her hair was red just like hers. Oriana frowned. The girl looked more like hers than Olivia.

"There is something wrong here." She frowned as she tried to stop Rhistel but as she looked around, she could not find him anymore.

Frowning, she looked around but Rhistel was not there. The voices were slowly fading as her mind swirled and she fell on the ground, dizzy.

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