Destin swallowed. “They didn’t say her name specifically, but they said she lives in a cottage in the woods not too far from here. Calls herself an herb witch. So…” He nodded. “I don’t know any other witches around here.”
Fear cut through the exhaustion like a blade. “I have to find her.”
She needed to be warned. No, protected until I could talk to Sereth or the twins myself.
“You have to find those twins and detain them until Sereth gets here,” I said. “I don’t care what she ordered them to do. Take care of the crew, and I’ll meet you back at the inn once I know Malia is safe.”
Destin frowned. “Are you going back?”
“He loves her, can’t you tell?” Thatcher teased. “Why don’t you just marry her, Alaric?”
“I don’t love anyone,” I snarled, the words tasting like a lie on my tongue. “She’s just a loose end that needs tying.”
I shoved past them, ignoring Thatcher’s smirk and Destin’s furrowed brows, and headed for the forest. My pulse pounded like the surf in a storm. Every moment wasted was another chance for the twins to reach her first.
As I passed the booths,I kept an eye out for a dagger to purchase. Before I left, Destin threw me a bag of coins.
Smart man. Always thinking a step ahead.
This was good.
I’d make sure Malia was safe, and I could repay her.
Butfirst… a weapon.
Unfortunately, this was one of those quaint coastal towns. Peaceful. Artistic.
Wooden and shell jewelry sat out on display. Glass art and painted canvases stretched out amongst the booths. Koa bowls waited to be bought.
There are no weapons here…And even if there were, it’d be a hefty price. I should’ve asked Destin or Thatcher if they had a dagger I could borrow, or look in our stores if we had any extras.
The banyan trees stood like wooden statues. They reached towards the sky, yet their roots and branches dangled off like skeletal fingers, taking root in the ground again.
I kept scanning the crowds, wondering if I might see the twins or the dark haired witch.
As soon as I told her, and made sure she was safe, I’d go back to the inn, stay with my men, and return to Moanalei. This whole thing would be a deal of the past.
The assassin and ambush situation would hopefully resolve itself too.
I walked through the banyan trees, finding a group of children at play. They held hands and danced in a circle, with one child in the middle. They chanted:
Ring around the banyan tree,
The witch is coming—count to three!
One, two, three!
When they finished counting, the child in the middle tried to reach out and grab the hand of someone in the circle.
I’d never heard the chant before or seen this game.
But I knew who they spoke of, and it angered me. Had anyonetriedto get to know Malia?
The children began another chant.
Hide your brothers, hide your sisters,
Or Malia will make them dinner!
