Chapter 7: Lovers
The morning sun washed across Nathaniel’s face. He opened his eyes to the world, though his head throbbed. For a moment he thought the stinging pain was due to a hangover, then he realised he hadn’t been drinking. He hadn’t passed out drunk in the forest, as occasionally happened. He’d found and killed the witch, and he’d been hit in the head as he made his escape.
He sat up, clutching his hand to the wound on his forehead. With some great effort, he managed to climb to his feet, almost hitting his head once more on the branch that had claimed him the previous night. A small spot of blood on the branch confirmed the fact.
Then he remembered Ferdinand. He hurried through the forest, looking at the position of the sun to get his bearings. He adjusted his path slightly, a
