They walked through the corridors of the castle, nodding to some of their acquaintances who were only now emerging from the battle. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsUCMMgcic
“Is everything alright?” a short woman asked nervously. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kFsgnLKss
“Yes, everything is fine,” Aldene said with a beaming smile. “We’re safe from the rogues for now. We just need to speak with Lord Albin for just a moment. We need a favour.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cJAJRtcYN
The woman exhaled. “Very well. He should be in his room, resting. He is still quite weak from the sickness.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zoXI3klFC
“Thank you,” Aldene said and brushed a hand to the woman’s arm. She continued on with Marcus right next to her. Some of his braids have come undone, but there were still two at the nape of his neck that were still intact. He noticed her looking at him and he gave her a smile. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡUspqYYZfGO
“Is something wrong?”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡOX1vo29epP
“No. Some of your braids are loose.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqLlJdbF9x
“Would you help me tie them back if I help you with yours?”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡR74qPnPAda
“Of course,” Aldene said with a grin. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD5SMbpAm9
They stood side by side in front of Lord Albin’s room, which was guarded by two women who nodded, having recognised them from their frequent visits to the chambers. The doors opened and they saw that Lord Albin was sitting on a chair next to a window overlooking the courtyard which was now a battle field.copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2iMUa0z9w
“My lord,” Marcus said with a slight nod. Aldene followed his lead and they waited for Lord Albin to turn to them. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaVEDrIiZi
“Marcus. Aldene.” His parch voice was calm and welcoming, as was the smile on his face middle aged face. “It is so good to see the two of you unharmed.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhMDiy2bse
“Thank you, my lord.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AQNtP8tDE
Aldene approached the table in front of Lord Albin and poured him a cup of water. “From the sound of your voice, you need some more fluids in you, Lord Albin.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg0s5I2pvC
“Quite right. I got carried away praying for my fallen men. I hope their ancestors will guide their essence easily to the other realm.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyyS4O8Bcj
Aldene nodded her head mutely, agreeing with the lord. It was important to all Enzlans that their essence left their bodies and moved on. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOeD08tvL3
Lord Albin accepted the cup from her and took a large gulp. “Marcus, I believe you will be glad to know that while everyone was busy fighting, the healer you had placed unconscious woke up. Seeing himself in chains and behind bars in the dungeon, he quickly confessed to the crime.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡppr7bCS85Q
Aldene shot Marcus a questioning look. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1Xsvrlbph
Later, his eyes told her. Aldene raised a brow and poured more water for Lord Albin.copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUReGXtpGS
“I’m relieved to hear that. Did he give the name to the one who gave the orders?”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcZQ7WX072
Lord Albin scowled into the water before downing it. “He didn’t know the person, only that the money arrived when they said it would.” He pushed the cup away. “You have refilled my cup a dozen times by now, Aldene. Surely that is enough?”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXksuk5jH5
Aldene hid a smile. “Yes, my lord.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2Ctpkxg5F
Lord Albin sighed. “Now, is there anything in particular you came to visit me for?”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCLIDbD6kj
“If we are not asking too much, would you permit us to use your magic mirror?” Marcus asked. “We would like to contact home.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmB6XoZMyn
“You have a daughter, I seem to recall,” Lord Albin said. “I understand your worry and love, as I would wish to do the same for my own children.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvoUgca3ot
Aldene’s heart was in her throat at those words. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡC64Za4v60n
“Unfortunately, my mirror was being used to survey the grounds during the battle. The great shock that came with the Ician rogue caused it to fall.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdWWou1tUN
Marcus’s face became grim as he heard the news. Aldene went back to his side and stood close enough to touch. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIo62hHSXt
“Lord Albin,” Aldene said. “We have been delayed by the battle and we are glad that we were able to help. But we are anxious to go home.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrAwASgPKH
Lord Albin nodded. “I thank you again for all that you’ve done. Your belongings were being packed before the rogues invaded, so you should be ready to go immediately. I will have your horses prepared for you.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIP3RngFV3
The two murmured their gratitude and farewells to the lord. When the doors closed, they made their way down a flight of stairs to the wing where the visiting healers had their rooms. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFzIv3YusO
Sure enough, Marcus’ bag was packed and he noted that his bag was also sitting by the bed. He quickly went through both bags and was satisfied with the contents. After changing his shirt for another green one, he slipped the blue bag over his shoulders and turned to see that Aldene was removing her light plate armour.copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdHwlXHLK0
They dropped off the borrowed armour at the armoury, said their goodbyes, and saddled their horses with fingers that long since memorised the movements, as did the rest of their body when they mounted up and started to ride toward the gate. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7IJ5Caalf
The snow had started to fall, giving the landscape a soft and cold blanket that covered all the imperfections in the world. Sounds were muted by the snow as they set their horses on a steady pace. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPukzzPiPW
“What was that you were talking about with Lord Albin?” Aldene asked after a few miles. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbLHnBehit
“One of the healers was poisoning Lord Albin even as we tried to find the cure to his illness,” Marcus replied. “Whenever we came close to a cure, the symptoms always changed.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡryDJIh4ehn
Aldene nodded. “It was as though the illness started afresh after every time we created a cure.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Swom3FRQZ
“It was Konnoly, the healer from the Southern Islands. He was bought by someone with a large sum of money to poison Lord Albin.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Tu1ua73Qt
“How did you find out it was him?”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWD67qS2eH
Marcus ducked under a tree branch. “I was in the infirmary treating the soldiers coming in with wounds. I had run out of supplies and was getting more when I accidentally knocked down a few books from Konnoly’s worktable. Some papers fell out, and I saw that they were lists of ways to counter our cures to make sure that they didn’t work.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0er3eFoxPS
“That bastard!”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKyO5RhilA
“After I hit him with a scale—”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2IrQwjwgQ
“A what? A scale?”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDacZDNclQ
“He pushed me into a stack of them,” Marcus said defensively. “Stop laughing!”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡo698eoKWDH
“S-Sorry!” Aldene leaned into her mare’s mane and tried to control her giggles. “But—scales—oh, Marcus!”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfx7RtKvAZ
“The weights that were on the same shelf fell, too,” Marcus said with a light glower but he couldn’t stop his own lips from twitching upward. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFHc8W2KxR
“I’m sorry, carry on,” Aldene said, pressing two fingers to her lips to keep them from becoming an uncontrollable smile. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ02LP4Ztlh
“I brought him to Lord Albin, who had Konnoly tossed into the dungeons until we had time to deal with him.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2fy3S6zDe
“At least he’s caught now,” Aldene said. They passed on in silence for only another heartbeat before Aldene burst out laughing. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aniWrHWWW
“What?” Marcus demanded. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tzznLcEmF
“You could have easily stopped him with your magic but you hit him with a scale!”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgqJf2ZyzP
“It’s not as funny as you make it sound.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡngUOHS22Mz
“I’m definitely telling Gerald and Maya about this.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr6go5PKGF
“Don’t you dare!”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡrO67v3ymbI
Aldene stuck her tongue out and increased her mount’s speed. Marcus shook his head and patted his own mare. “Come on, girl. we can’t let them beat us.” His mare tossed her head and raced after Aldene, whose laugh pierced through the quiet, peaceful world.copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUGYvXIsMK
They passed the village entirely, opting to continue on to reach the town. Their horses, bred for speed and stamina, would make it there just fine. Besides, with the snow falling throughout the night, it would be harder to start their journey in the morning. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0f3iz6MzO
Aldene slowed her horse to a walk as they approached the gates, which were closed shut. The torches lining the wall made shadows dance on the snow a few metres away from the wall. They stepped into the light and she shouted, “Hello!” copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡydQ946dk3H
A figure peered down at them. “Who goes?”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSeEkbdlnH
“A Healer and a scout!”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzrN4HvG0i
“What happened to the Ician rogues?”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZzkOxeIAt
“Captured or killed at Lord Albin’s castle,” Marcus said. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBlK0SstGd
There was a short cheer from the other soldiers manning the gate. There was a shout and one of the large gates opened enough for a horse to slip through one at a time. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyH3QYatrD
“The rogues didn’t even try to get through our gates,” the soldier on the ground said. “Just charged right past us and to the castle. We didn’t even have time to warn my lord.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJrAxKGqiN
“They didn’t try to hide their attack from us,” Marcus said. “We saw them coming hours away and were able to prepare.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5Do8y6ida
“Really?” the soldier scratched his chin. “That’s damn odd of them. What were they thinking? That is suicide.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHWLA1IKlj
“Apparently, someone told them we would be weak and few in numbers,” Aldene said coldly.copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIPQCmZOSL
“Do you have a hot meal and a bed for us?” Marcus asked, wanting to drop the subject in case there were eavesdroppers. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡefpTWkJXfz
“Of course, just go straight down that road and you’ll see the Pumpkin Inn.”copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcRPzfb4Gr
Many houses along the road had their windows and doors covered until only a sliver of candlelight peered through. Not a single house was asleep. Not on this night, so close to the end of the battle. News wouldn’t have reached them so soon about the outcome but they’d know soon enough. Marcus planned to be out of the town by dawn, knowing that they would want to know everything that happened up in the castle. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rxk36pgTj
“It certainly looks like a pumpkin,” Aldene remarked. Marcus looked up and chuckled. The inn they were to stay at was build with light coloured wood that, in the torchlight, looked slightly orange. The walls to the inn was also rounded, most likely helped to be that way by magic. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvQ7j3kUfw
“Do you think they have pumpkin soup?” Marcus wondered. copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0kzEFz1NI
“Let’s find out.”387Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzpAwcTdQZ
copyright protection383ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GfudtHZsv
