They walked through the corridors of the castle, nodding to some of their acquaintances who were only now emerging from the battle. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1rbFKxG23
“Is everything alright?” a short woman asked nervously. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXu5nS31UV
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg8g1DGJd9
The woman exhaled. “Very well. He should be in his room, resting. He is still quite weak from the sickness.”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡapbCARn8xp
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxmGCKyGLt
“Is something wrong?”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDJLULoAvC
“No. Some of your braids are loose.”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡKF1ViCNFKk
“Would you help me tie them back if I help you with yours?”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VSqBuaabW
“Of course,” Aldene said with a grin. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNAnyu9X4E
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOkAKCdyhX
“My lord,” Marcus said with a slight nod. Aldene followed his lead and they waited for Lord Albin to turn to them. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlTLMugXFr
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡTietGMXPK2
“Thank you, my lord.”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjROUCq7aI
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡ433XOQs4N8
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGqKa7x7Wh
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqB1evDECN
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHRqFGg8K3
Aldene shot Marcus a questioning look. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡggKH1UOy2K
Later, his eyes told her. Aldene raised a brow and poured more water for Lord Albin.copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcardpWR4z
“I’m relieved to hear that. Did he give the name to the one who gave the orders?”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡErgvRWb84W
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡckdX1fRPOU
Aldene hid a smile. “Yes, my lord.”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡzE7K5k92ce
Lord Albin sighed. “Now, is there anything in particular you came to visit me for?”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQFSmxPyFT
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRdJPfYG4M
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡBErIpw3zzf
Aldene’s heart was in her throat at those words. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡNb6s3sZT1F
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxx0gmff3j
Marcus’s face became grim as he heard the news. Aldene went back to his side and stood close enough to touch. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EYtnn0qXz
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKKMdOfdHg
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡStNqt4MJkP
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mu1PRpPin
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX79JlXYyF
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr83RC8Dms
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpOXrEPRt7
“What was that you were talking about with Lord Albin?” Aldene asked after a few miles. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS5l1PHZOf
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3GN7yqfbM
Aldene nodded. “It was as though the illness started afresh after every time we created a cure.”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFcwCDbsuF
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIxE4zuLzi
“How did you find out it was him?”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dmI1tgrJs
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡer7qYK49cy
“That bastard!”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMhmrmWV7v
“After I hit him with a scale—”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9JARK47cN
“A what? A scale?”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡArfHSdsWnE
“He pushed me into a stack of them,” Marcus said defensively. “Stop laughing!”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcrMzS8vOg
“S-Sorry!” Aldene leaned into her mare’s mane and tried to control her giggles. “But—scales—oh, Marcus!”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02pKChuGpH
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ8JH0X9Xl
“I’m sorry, carry on,” Aldene said, pressing two fingers to her lips to keep them from becoming an uncontrollable smile. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsyff78oDW
“I brought him to Lord Albin, who had Konnoly tossed into the dungeons until we had time to deal with him.”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEZ4oClTjK
“At least he’s caught now,” Aldene said. They passed on in silence for only another heartbeat before Aldene burst out laughing. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡANKJxrKuBH
“What?” Marcus demanded. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpaoEpwNN9
“You could have easily stopped him with your magic but you hit him with a scale!”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsNJwclS5E
“It’s not as funny as you make it sound.”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGsnqZPauq
“I’m definitely telling Gerald and Maya about this.”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkP2Jusghf
“Don’t you dare!”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1HdLdq66w
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJcd6DdVOH
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG2bJMFb2X
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsY8GJm6Qs
A figure peered down at them. “Who goes?”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCbPQis3dg
“A Healer and a scout!”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzXOKHBpTD
“What happened to the Ician rogues?”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk5lsM5PSW
“Captured or killed at Lord Albin’s castle,” Marcus said. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuytjpMMsZ
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ez03jIEJB
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6Vnso9ye2
“They didn’t try to hide their attack from us,” Marcus said. “We saw them coming hours away and were able to prepare.”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡuww30QsMCV
“Really?” the soldier scratched his chin. “That’s damn odd of them. What were they thinking? That is suicide.”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFalGdEpRn
“Apparently, someone told them we would be weak and few in numbers,” Aldene said coldly.copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09uVwWkGuy
“Do you have a hot meal and a bed for us?” Marcus asked, wanting to drop the subject in case there were eavesdroppers. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZ4f355wRI
“Of course, just go straight down that road and you’ll see the Pumpkin Inn.”copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDoCY5PDuH
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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uQvqnsK3X
“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 protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMXn10s6wk
“Do you think they have pumpkin soup?” Marcus wondered. copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYYdBXirAM
“Let’s find out.”212Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLcv9dvCk2
copyright protection208ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CgY8HmAsp
