Chapter 88 - The Prince's Man

Despite realizing that people had gathered around her, Alexa felt herself being lifted with care, and taken quickly from the church. With a confused conscience, she only heard sounds and screams, felt the wind lashing, and the storming skies raging over Holstein.

When she woke up again, the Princess heard the comfortable crackle of the fire in the fireplace, and she was wrapped in heavy, warm fur. It was night, as only the light from a chandelier illuminated the room. The rain continued, with a strong wind, stinging against the walls in waves.

But the wooden beams on the ceiling where a yellow cat lazily wagged its tail, told her she wasn't in the castle. Alexa raised her hands, and saw them bandaged expertly with clean linen.

Looking to the side, she saw Balbo Cerdán's back at the table. From the smell and noise he made, Balbo was having dinner.

"Is your Highness hungry?" he asked without turning.

"Is your cat trying to eat my bird?" she sat down, a bit alarmed. The maiden wasn't feeling so bad, just a familiar feeling of accumulated fatigue. Quite distinct from the impression Alexa had at the cathedral, that this was her last day on earth.

"No, Romeo is here at the table, eating bread balls. Are you sure you needn't rest anymore? You slept little," he commented, scraping the bottom of the ceramic bowl with his spoon.

"Why was I brought here?" she asked, realizing that she was at Cerdán's house.

"I wasn't sure what they would do to you, so I brought you here. I assumed it was better that way. The people were terrified and chaotic. It has been raining for hours, and the city main streets are flooded."

"Wait, weren't the witches burned? Did the storm interrupted the trial?"

"I didn't stick around to see it, to be honest," the swordsman turned and moved to a trunk, scrabbled until he found a shirt, which he smelled before handing it to her. "I'll wait in the hall. There's nothing for you to bathe in here, Your Highness. I usually use public baths."

Balbo lived rather well in a large and well-furnished room, Alexa realized. There was no sign that anyone other than him lived there.

Alexa was taking off her filthy and bloody clothes, when she looked at the nightingale, on the table, staring at her,

"I don't believe it! You are peeping on me!" she hastily covered herself with the fur.

~ What's the matter? I am your rightful husband! ~

"Turn around!" she ordered, pointing her finger at him to face the exit door.

~ Do you think that's fair? ~ Alexander complained, sulking.

"Don't you think you have more important things to do than that?"

~ But at the moment it would be a pleasant thing to do, ~ he ventured, but at her furious expression, he turned away, as demanded.

~ If I was myself right now, I would help you change, so you would spare your hands, '~ he commented. Alexa changed, keeping an eye on him.

"I'm already used to it. I mean, getting my hands hurt like that. This is my birth gift," there was no point in hiding it from Alexander, since he had seen it all. "I am sorry about your mother. Shades that remain in this world invariably become rancorous and go mad."

~ I thought she was good. Magnus told me she was joyful and good to him. That she was a lovely stepmother who used to take care of him and enjoy his company. Even better than his own mother. But then I saw those drawings and sacrifices and everything ...! ~

The Princess sat on the bed, sighing, "Alexander, there are many religions different from Christian. That was her religion. But not! There is something more important now. Between the two of us, let's talk frankly. Today you are on a bird, because you drank an elixir that would take your soul along the paths of the underworld. For the kingdom of Hades. If you did so at your own accord, you were also abjuring the Christian faith. And venturing into kingdoms that Christians consider demonic. Why did you do that in the first place?"

~ To find you, ~ said Alexander.

A firm knock announced the return of Balbo, and Alexa stood up. The soldier was carrying another bowl of steaming soup, which he placed on the table,

"Do you need help to eat, Your Highness?"

"No, I'm used to it, but I accept wine. Or beer!" the Princess ran for food as if she hadn't eaten in ages. Balbo had a good laugh, fishing for a corked jug from a cupboard,

"I'm glad the Princess has good stamina. Hours ago it looked like you were going to die!"

"My body is aching, but my stomach hurts more," she said. "Exorcising the White Queen was the most difficult thing I have ever done. I didn't think I could, actually. I think the big Christian ritual has weakened her," she confessed, as she dipped bread in the soup. Romeo came close, attracted by the soup bowl, and Alexa pushed him carefully to the original place,

"Nightingales eat insects, not soup. Get out."

~ I am not an ordinary nightingale! ~ Her husband protested angrily, flying to the ceiling. But when he got there, he saw the tabby cat and returned, landing on the table again! Alexa contained her laughter.

"Your Highness knows that Romeo is not an ordinary bird, do you?" Balbo asked.

"Do you know it too?!"

~ Yes, Balbo knows. He's very perceptive! Now give me some soup, ~ Alexander pecked the linen from the bandage in her hands, trying to force her to offer him some human food.

"I know Your Highness Alexander rather well, and Romeo came to me trying to communicate," replied the warrior. "I should never have told you the things I did, about our cult, Your Highness. Nor should I have talked about the elixir."

"So you gave it to him? So… does that mean you have the antidote with you, Balbo?!" it seemed confused that Balbo had not yet tried to dispense the antidote, if he had it, however.

"No, Your Highness. The Elixir of Orpheus is a tool of the trade. If you know what I mean. I know the myth, but it never occurred to me that the Prince…"

~ I admit it! I came here and got it on my own. ~ Alexander rushed to say.

"He's admitting that he stole it, Balbo."

"Can Your Highness speak to the Prince?" the warrior exclaimed in surprise, with a smile. Alexa nodded, but felt a deep bite in the head, at the same time that the nightingale thrashed its wings and trilled, sounding choked,

"Alexa, they are ... trying to kill me!"