Chapter 135 - The Old Man of the Hill

"Hello!"

The princess addressed the Old Man, opening an angelic smile. "I'm Alexa from Holstein. These people found me in the forest and helped me to come here. They say that I will be able to leave as soon as you say yes," that was not exactly what they said, and the pack leader looked at her strangely, but the Old Man laughed,

"So are they giving me this power? What a great news!"

The group waited for their leader to speak, and after clearing his throat, the man shrugged,

"Old man, there was a mess in the forest near the road tonight. And as we suspected, there was skirmish and death. We found this girl and her dead friend at dawn today. She claims to have come from Tanbury and ... That the Red Lady ordered the attack. She also brings the body of a young woman, and says she wants to take it to St Ewe's convent ..."

"Hm, you still have a big problem, then. And the girl has an even bigger problem. But where is my help supposed to be needed?" the elderly man coughed, shifting his body weight.

"One of us saw a flash in the woods, and decided to check it out. And he found this strange girl talking to a bird."

The old man laughed, which led to a coughing fit, "What the hell?! What are you accusing her of? Of being an angel, or a demon?"

"We are intrigued as to why the Red Lady wants to kill this woman," annoyed by the old man's irreverent behavior, the man grunted. It seemed that he was thinking that an awful idea and a waste of time coming to Cymric Gladwine's hut.

But the old man waved,

"Come in Giles. And all of you, too. This chilly wind is not doing me any good! And free the poor animal from the body it carries, let it rest!"

The princess was intrigued and wondering if she had misjudged him. The gleam in his eyes seemed to indicate that he could really know that she was unusual. But would he leave her alone, or did he just want to know more before deciding what to do?

The interior of the building was dark and smelled of soot and resin, but Alexa did not identify more details. Some food was boiling in the cauldron by the fireplace, and the princess's stomach ached with hunger. The old man sat on a stool and motioned for them to sit on a bench.

Alexa stood up, however.

"These people don't like anything that comes from Tanbury, girl," said the old man. "But can you tell them what you are?"

"After what happened, I side with them on it," she said. "As for witchcraft, I don't know this land to say whether or not the woman is a witch. What I do know is that she is treacherous and cruel. I can tell everything I saw and heard there, and how I was brought into this situation. I didn't see any flashes, just the torches of my pursuers. I hid among the leaves during the night, to escape them. And then I was found by this group, Mr. Giles' group," she had paid attention when the old man mentioned the name of the group's leader.

"Tell us everything, girl," asked the old man. Alexa looked at his face tattooed with the strange symbols, and told them part of her misadventures, from the shipwreck until her departure from Tanbury, the previous morning.

The old man had no visible reactions, unlike other people, who shook their heads as if the outcome was very obvious. The princess really felt very stupid, and admitted,

"I should have guessed that she wouldn't let Mildred go that easily."

But Alexa knew it wasn't just that, she just didn't comment.

The old man got up and served a bowl of his stew, which he offered to Alexa. She thanked him and struggled to eat with some elegance, sharing with Romeo the small pieces of vegetables floating in the broth. The mysterious hermit offered it to no one else, and everyone was watching her closely. Unfortunately, it was not even tasty, but the princess ate everything faster than she wanted.

After Alexa ate, while everyone was silent, Old Cymric, as they called him, said,

"This girl needs to rest. What was she doing of so evil? Perhaps you can tell me if this isn't the most pious act you have seen in recent times," the old man grumbled, and Alexa realized that it directly affected Giles' pride.

~ Wow, he's on our side! ~ Alexander didn't contain his relief, realizing that the old man's opinion was really taken into account. Alexa thanked aloud,

"But I have to go, rest needs to be postponed."

"Don't be rushed, milady," Giles for the first time addressed Alexa directly. "No doubt how you escaped, some scouts must be looking for you in Duncaster right now. If you get there alone, you will be easy prey."

"And how could I get there any other way, being alone as I am?" she asked.

"I will lead you to the convent tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? I need to go today!" There was not only the problem with Mildred's body, but Alexa also hoped to find Magnus in Duncaster. He must have been looking for them right now. He certainly knew about the attack, and he could go back to Tanbury ... "

"If your husband won the duel ..." Giles said as if he didn't really believe in that possibility, "Well, if that happens and he's a smart guy, he'll be looking for you and won't give up anytime soon. So we will meet with him, tomorrow or the day after. But milady must not leave for Duncaster alone. It would be your death."

Naturally, Alexa understood that Baron Brentford's fame was notorious in the region, while no one knew who Magnus von Wuttenfal was. And he couldn't help saying,

"I'm sure Baron Brentford lost the duel."

No one said anything about it, so as not to upset her, and Giles stood up. "I suppose Cymric is asking you to rest here this afternoon. I have things to do, but someone will come and pick you up later…"

Alexa remembered that it meant spending another night away from Magnus and in an unknown place, and she was immediately concerned.

"It's better for the lady to stay here where there's a roof, at least.It's clear that she will upset the women in the camp," said Cymric, standing up. "Stay here," he pointed to Alexa, "and rest."

The old man accompanied the group out of the house, without giving chance or permission for Alexa to join them. Alexa took the nightingale in her hands and spoke softly,

"You better spy on them, Alexander. I'm still not entirely sure about these people. "

He didn't answer anything and flew through an opening near the ceiling, while Alexa waited. 

She sat up and looked around. There was nothing but a wooden rosary hanging behind the door that indicated the old hermit's religion. But it didn't seem to match the symbols engraved on his face at all.

A little while later, when she heard them saying goodbye and leaving, Alexander came back and landed in front of her,

~ They clearly hear the old man because he is a converted pagan or something! He told Giles and his men to stop fearing the Lady in Red in a superstitious way, as she is neither a sorceress nor does she commune with demons. That the ancient gods died a long time ago and cannot help anyone!~ 

The old man came through the door whistling and looking particularly happy, and Alexa could not answer Alexander.

"Did your little messenger come to tell you what we were talking about, my dear visitor?"

"How would that be possible, he is a nightingale, although very intelligent," she said, immediately denying.

~ 'Just…' ~ muttered Alexander, outraged by the comment.

"I had a strange dream a few nights ago, Alexa of Holstein," said the old man sitting comfortably on his stool. "I dreamed of the gods of my childhood. It had been a long time since these figures had haunted my dreams. I wondered if it was the onions that were too acidic and caused me nightmares, but no. An old man always dreams about the past, and rarely about the future. Because the future is short, and the past, a long road…"

"I guess so," she replied with an empathetic smile.

Cymric was making no effort to be friendly, despite having offered her food, shelter, and protection. "This old man, my lady, saw when it all happened. When the ancient gods stopped listening. When the ancient priests and wise men lost contact with the sacred. They could not accept this, and looked for another ways to maintain power. Some sought out new gods ... Others pretended that the gods were still listening to them…"

"But how can you know all of this?" The princess asked, curious.

"A Christian believer wouldn't have asked me that," he laughed, and soon started coughing while Alexa's eyes widened, for have swallowed it, hook, line and sinker.

"But you have become a Christian, and I hope you are happy with that."

"I am, my little one. I even wonder if your little visit isn't the last temptation for this old man to believe again that the ancient gods of this land are alive. Or at least, they live elsewhere."

"It would honor me to have this kind of mission, and to serve as a reminder of a god to an ex-believer. But Cymric, it's not the case. My mission is selfish and I also doubt the gods. I'm not a messenger or anything," she said, her eyes firmly staring at him.

His face showed tiredness,

"I would have been happy to have been remembered, had a god been alive. Even if I refused them, in the end."

Alexa ended up laughing. It was like finding an inverted, rustic version of Blue Eyes. "Still, thanks for the generosity of not letting them kill me because I'm supposed to be an even worse witch than the Lady in Red."

The old man looked at her strangely for a moment and said,

"But I suppose you will find my dream very pertinent, Alexa of Holstein."