Chapter 128 - Divide

The Princess woke up with a pleasant feeling of being nestled in a soft and warm place. But then the sensation passed to a slight panic, when she felt constricted, as the other time when the damsel was wrapped in a shroud about to be thrown in a pyre.

Then Alexa realized that they tucked her in a blanket in the Tanbury castle room. Rolling to one side, her body came up against a barrier. 

Disengaging herself from the blanket and recovering her movements, Alexa sat on the bed. She noticed that she was wearing the same clothes as the previous day, which was a good sign. 

Looking around, she found out the 'barrier' was in fact a wall of pillows and blankets dividing the bed into an eastern and western portion. On the other side of the wall, The First Prince slept with his back to her. She also saw, at the foot of the bed, Mildred sleeping peacefully. It took her a long time to spot Alexander, who was also sleeping in a kind of nest made out of a twisted pillowcase.

'Oh, Magnus dotes on him, look at that. Alexander even has a princely nest, considering the conditions!'

But she wasn't going to spoil him like everyone else. Alexa got up silently and took the little nightingale's nest. She, noticed the lazy bird taking its little head out from under the feathers, while its luxury nest was being taken out of the room.

Bringing her face close to the bird struggling to wake up, Alexa said, energetically.

"Sing, nightingale! Sing!"

Romeo shook the feathers, then stood up blinking and hurried,

~ But what is that, you…?! How dare you!! ~

"Nightingales sing at night and at dawn. Keep the cover up," she teased, raising an eyebrow. "I can't have the only nightingale that wakes up late," placing the nest on a windowsill, she stretched.

"Hm, you may be right," Alexander said thoughtfully, and tried to sing, but it was clear he wasn't very excited. ~Ah, Alexa, how are things going there?~

The Princess considered for a moment, as the news was not good. The plague had reached Holstein. Alexander and Magnus' stepmother was possibly a necromancer witch, which was the most terrifying thing Alexa could think of. 

But they were interrupted.

"I don't know what you guys are talking about looking at each other so seriously, but you definitely shouldn't be doing it where you can be seen," Prince Magnus made himself heard, behind them. He was lounging at the bedroom door. "But I hope he is telling you about what happened to Mildred in his absence," he approached, still speaking in a low voice, "I arrived just in time to find a maid threatening Mildred, and saying that she would die if she told something to you, Alexa. I pretended I didn't understand the context, but it won't be easy to keep her with us any longer. So it's decided, we must take her to that convent. But I won't go with you."

"Won't you?"

"No, I won't. The duel will take place tomorrow in the middle of the day, as reported by the messenger that Lady Gwen sent. But I will come to you as soon as the duel is over and I can leave. So wait for me in Duncaster. By my calculations, I'll be able to arrive a few hours after dark. Johannes and Ulrich are going with you."

"No! You cannot be alone!" Alexa exclaimed, refusing to accept this strategy. "Don't be consumed by your arrogance, Magnus! It's a duel! You might get hurt! We must be by your side! It's better to postpone our departure!"

"Why, thank you very much for the trust you have placed in my skills!" his mouth became a thin line, while he was sarcastic. "I thought you already had enough evidence about my skills."

"You don't understand!" the Princess's eyes filled with tears as she remembered her brother Michalis killed treacherously by supporters of the general. Perhaps the First Prince's eyes shone when he noticed how Alexa's lips trembled when he spoke, but he armored himself, crossing his arms,

"They already have my orders, and it will be done. You will take Mildred away tomorrow. But, if that's just an excuse to see me dueling, I appreciate the curiosity. It will be merely technical, no passions involved, this time. And it won't be until death, of course."

Alexa couldn't be sure of that after the scene she saw in the cliff, in Magnus' last duel.

~ He's right, Alexa. And it will be the perfect excuse for him to leave soon after. If we stay, I imagine we'll be a few more days late, ~ said Alexander. The Princess wasn't convinced, however, and left them. 

It wasn't the first time that she had to make decisions like this and her experiences had never been good. But of course, no one Alexa had met before had a heart of stone in his chest. Maybe she really had nothing to worry about. Magnus was doing everything he could to leave as quickly as possible.

Later, while she was cleaning Mildred's wounds, Alexa gave her the good news. The blind peasant commented,

"I don't know you well, my lady, but I feel that you are concerned about this brief trip. But I believe it'll be for the good of all, including your friends. Zand, for example, ... probably needs an actual doctor. He always says he's fine, but I know he's in pain. Just last night, I heard him m.o.a.n and cry."

Alexa widened her eyes, astonished,

"Was he crying?"

"Yes. I didn't know where in the room he was. Milord slept heavily, as did milady."

Alexa looked at her hands, not knowing what to say. Mildred spoke again, unsure whether her approach to the subject was being welcomed or not. "Well, some monk can help you, my lady. I heard that monks know many herbs and treatments. But please, don't trust anything that the people of Tanbury offer as a remedy. I promised the milord not to talk about it anymore, but please, don't let Zand take any medicine they offer!"

Alexa nodded, but then remembered that Mildred couldn't see her and said out loud,

"You'll also get help at the convent, I am sure. But Mildred, didn't Zand say anything else?"

"I haven't talked to him about it, my lady. I don't think he knew I was awake." 

All Alexa wanted to do was to leave that place as quickly as she could. She didn't doubt that soon everyone would be at risk here. She had to agree with Alexander that at least their departure for Duncaster would help them get out of the region without unnecessary friction, while Magnus kept his foolish promise to the Red Lady. Turning to Mildred, Alexa whispered,

"Why does Lady Gwen wear that red cloak and why do they call her Red Lady?"

Mildred shivered, but also replied in a whisper,

"They say she's the bride of a demon, The Horned One. They chose her when she was still a maiden, by the devil himself, to be possessed by the demon queen. And the devil takes possession of a man every year to breed with her ... It's how the people here live, my lady. She's powerful because she's like a goddess to them."

Alexa had a broader knowledge to suppose that Mildred's version was tinged by her beliefs, but that they interpreted the facts that she knew.

"So there are priests and prophets, I suppose."

"Yes, they live in Brentford. The Baron of Brentford listens to them. He's the man your husband will duel tomorrow, milady. The man who lends his body to the Horned One every year ... Red Lady's children are his, not Lord of Tanbury's, poor thing. He was an innocent who ... God forgive me, died who knows how, not long after she married him."

That information got tangled in the Princess's head. Alexa looked for the First Prince in the castle, and as soon as she managed to talk to him alone, she blurted out Mildred's version at once.

Magnus gave a condescending smirk when Alexa finished speaking, and looked at him, distressed,

"Lady Gwen told me the reason for the duel last night. Or at least, her version. Do you want to listen to it?"

"Ah ..." a little confused by his reaction, the Princess nodded.

"Lady Gwen married Lord Tanbury, who soon became Brentford's vassal. Lord Brentford has always harassed her, and her husband's death in battle has always been suspect to her. Shortly after his death, Brentford came to collect the taxes and forced her to lie with him. Gradually, without her having a choice. So, she had two children out of wedlock. Despite her embarrassing situation, Lady Gwen at least hoped that her son could rule Tanbury and regain Tanbury's pride one day... But one day, Brentford came and the boy was hostile to him. The Baron, annoyed, decided to take his son with him, so that the boy could learn and get used to him. The situation continued for a few months, until Lady Gwen defied his honor, and after several minor situations, they established the duel to resolve this dispute. That's how the duel came about."

Alexa narrowed her eyes, 

"Don't you think this story is too weird?" If true, it was sad and sordid, the accurate portrait of a beautiful woman's unhappy fate. Lady Gwen was a strong woman, there was no doubt, but Tanbury was a small, isolated place with no influence. Her version was plausible, yet...

"Yes, I do," replied Magnus, shrugging. "But why would there be a duel if they are actually demon's pawns?"

"But if he's a demon's pawn, he could be a much more dangerous opponent than you expected, Magnus."

"In this case, perhaps he will be surprised to meet an equal," said the Prince, turning his back on her as he walked away.

What could she do about it? Alexa wondered.