Chapter 40 - Maiden, Duke, Assassin and... a Loaf of Bread

"Hey, be careful where you… Alex ?! What?! Uh, oh, Lady Saskia?" The hands moved away from her, and Alexa realized that she had shoved her face in Duke Konrad von Schauenburg's belly, who was as young as her. Straightening her back, she grinned,

"Eh! Oh! Well, it's me, but… I'LL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING! Just get me out of here!"

"Yes, of course, that's what I came for," said the young nobleman, impressed to find the beautiful Lady Saskia in those deplorable conditions.

Alexia was still trying to figure out why the Duke himself was there, ready to take her back, but thankful that it had happened. The arrival of this escort only increased her chances of survival.

But this short break was enough for the group of sailors also to reach the ramp, already occupied by the Duke and his men.

Alexa had no choice but to report in front of everyone, briefly, that she had been hiding all night from bad guys trying to get into her room. The Duke, who kept Lady Saskia at his side all the time, did not wait for the controversy to become a festival of accusations. Duke Konrad assertively appointed Thomas and another warrior from his escort to take care of everything, while he returned with Lady Saskia to the castle, as requested by the Sovereign Prince.

Duke von Schauenburg put her in a carriage and glanced at his steed, where he had probably rode on to the village. In a second thought, he decided to come with the lady in the carriage, instead.

He searched a basket on the bench for a bottleskin of water, and handed it to her. The handsome young man seemed concerned,

"Lady Saskia, I heard of your courage and skill, but I'm impressed! These ruffians… Is there any special reason why they are after you?"

Alexa almost choked on her water, but kept drinking and drinking and drinking until she could think of something,

"Gulp gulp gulp gulp… gulp! Ahhhh!" nodding as truthfully as possible, the damsel said,

"Ah, my fiance is from an important family, it's not the first time they try to kidnap me. I was kidnapped once. That's why my travel group has been reduced."

"Ohhh!" he was thoughtful for a moment, but said,

"I see. Sir John Blackrose's name is known across much of the continent as a brave warrior, from a noble English family."

Alexa nodded, she had also heard all the stories Iain had told, though she used to think half of them were exaggerated telltales, where her fiance was described as a kind of invincible and legendary warrior.

"But Your Highness, why did you come in person to pick me up at this port?"

He replied promptly, scratching his head with a rather spontaneous youthful smile,

"As if I knew it myself...! My uncle personally asked me to come and get you, Lady Saskia. In fact from what I understand he was not aware or according to your departure.'

'The letter!' the maiden immediately remembered. The letter in which she told of a man in Occitan lands who knew the medicine that would save the Sleeping Prince, but would not be seduced by any gold or vain promise! "Damn, I wasn't supposed to be around when he opened the letter!"

"What?!" the young Duke naturally didn't understand and seemed alarmed by her use of words, but took a handkerchief from his velvety doublet and handed it to Alexa. She figured she must be very fuzzy and smelling of fish. The Duke looked friendly and possessing a gentle personality! She smiled gratefully and reached for the handkerchief.

At that moment the carriage shook and seemed to lose control for a brief moment, which made the Duke go to the window of the vehicle and put his head out.

And he quickly retreated his head and body, bringing his hand immediately to the sword in its sheath.

Before the Duke could draw his sword, the carriage door was opened and one of the assassins threw himself in, from the roof of the vehicle. The Duke reacted, trying to keep the killer from reaching the maiden, stepping between them and striking an unexpected punch to the bandit's face. Although the killer felt the power of the punch, he did not give up, and both began to fight in the narrow space inside the cabin. Alexa was squeezed in a corner, practically unable to move. She reached for the basket with food, but all it had were bread and cakes and fruit, and she didn't think she would make a lethal attack with apples and strudels.

The carriage was at full speed, she could hear shouts from outside, quickly understanding that the other killer was in charge of the reins now, as the Holstein soldiers chased the carriage. At this point, the yellow-toothed killer, much more experienced in hand-to-hand combat than the young nobleman, simply hurled him into the carriage door. The impact broke the door and the nobleman hung with his head and arms out, the killer laughing delightedly and ready to bury his blade into the Duke's chest!

What could Alexa do besides dump fruit and bread on top of the killer? She grabbed a loaf of Italian bread and in a moment of inspiration, interposed it between the knife and the Duke's chest. The blade sank into the crusty bread, dampening the impact considerably. It was a desperate move, but apparently it worked, because the killer's shock was so great that he grunted in hatred, turning against her!

Alexa hit the wicker basket in the killer's face, moving as far away as possible from the thug. The Duke reacted, getting to his feet, pulling the assassin by his shoulders, pushing him away from the maiden again.

However, Konrad was pulled out by his clothes, by the assassin in the coachman's place,

"Nooo!" Alexa shouted, seeing the young nobleman fall from the carriage at high speed. The maiden feared that he would be trampled over by the chasing horsemen, even involuntarily cringing at the thought of the violent and unnecessary death of such a lively young man.

The assassin grunted something at her, his face bleeding, but she did not understand anything of it. The maiden had to admit that he had some good reason to hate her, though.

"Hey, wait! Why don't we parley and…" she waved her hands, trying to protect herself, since she was trapped inside the carriage now.

An impact on the roof of the carriage shook the vehicle once again, and the killer looked up, as did Alexa. Suddenly, Prince Magnus's handsome face appeared where once there was a door, upside down. With a sardonic smile that didn't match his devilish eyes, he said,

"Is this passenger bothering your ride, Lady Saskia?"