Chapter 243 - Homing Birds

Lady Duvignes helped them out of the castle. Alexa looked back through the carriage window, with a bad feeling. Alexander's words had proved fateful: Nothing could really touch her inside the castle. She was sure that her life would be intact while she was there.

But, that didn't mean that other people wouldn't get hurt!

Orcaius was the King of the Dead at Holstein, she had no doubts about that.

Inside the carriage, she drank some water offered by her brother, and wet a cloth to help Father Agnello, wet his fevered lips and wipe his sweaty forehead and neck.

"What now Narses?"

"Charlotte said she has a place that can hide us for the night. We are going to leave Holstein towards Denmark. It is our best option."

Alexa nodded. It was a viable plan, and it wouldn't take them very far from Holstein. She didn't want to get lost from Magnus!

"I cannot leave Father Agnello."

"Don't talk like I'm not here," mumbled the priest.

"Let's get to the hideout, then we'll see that," her brother opened the door, while the carriage was running at full speed guided by Lady Duvignes. He joined the French woman on the ride, to defend the carriage if necessary.

Alexa closed the door and turned to the priest, worried. She had no idea what to do, but she knew that some internal injuries could quickly kill a person. The carriage jolted a lot because of the speed, and he m.o.a.ned at every bump, but they had no other option.

Alexa wondered if the guard facilitated their escape, after what happened. She had no way of knowing, just being grateful to have left that nightmare behind.

Could she really leave Holstein behind? Or eventually, would she come back? 

Her heart said yes, because Alexa could not conceive of her future without Magnus... 

°°°

Some hours had already passed, and the night fell on Holstein. They had arrived at a house in a remote area, but still within the walls. It was a pleasant house, sparsely furnished but with good and tasteful furniture. The bedroom was the best room in the house, with luxurious furniture and an especially large bed. 

And Charlotte seemed to know the place well. 

Alexa had an uncomfortable distrust of the usefulness of that house, but had to keep her thoughts because that wasn't the most important thing now.

She watched the priest in a restless, groaning sleep while her brother was downstairs.

She came down when he called her.

Charlotte Duvignes had returned with food, and warned them,

"The soldiers are searching for you in the city. The rituals of Prince Gutard's funeral are being prepared with all the pomp, which should at least distract Duke Kurt a little."

"This is something I don't understand, Lady Duvignes ... I am absolutely grateful for your support, but why are you helping me?" Alexa asked frankly.

Charlotte Duvignes smiled, handing her the plate of food,

"I could say that it's out of sympathy only, because I too was imprisoned unjustly, and they almost killed me. But it's not just that. I am a lonely foreign woman in a dangerous court. A worthless widow, without possessions, left with anything..."

"I'm sorry, but you had a patron," Alexa replied, and Charlotte opened a wider smile, showing her dimples.

"Yes, I did. My patron has reassessed my usefulness, now that no one else at court trusts me. The prison ruined my cover, so he dismissed me. I have a purse of gold to return from where I came from... But that wasn't quite what I expected... I worked for years at Holstein,. Everything I know is here... How can I leave? And, at the same time, if I go against my former master's will, can I survive?"

"So you switched sides?"

"Put it this way: I've always worked for Holstein, and that's what I want to keep doing. Perhaps my former master found a recent ally who made him think I was a worthless woman... For doing exactly what he wanted me to do… Or perhaps he always thought that..."

Narses finished chewing what he was eating to say, "I remembered that Lady Duvignes had helped Captain Gunnar with the evidence he needed against Zilda Bartolini... And today he 'forgot' the dungeon's master key to his lady friend. We can only be grateful, although at the moment there is no gold in our pockets, my lady."

"You can be generous when the time comes, in front of the Princes!" she replied, with a bow. "I'll be back if there's any other news..." the French lady was turning towards the door, when Alexa asked,

"Wait! Lady Duvignes, could you find a doctor?" she hurried to remove the pearl and gold earrings from her ears.

Lady Duvignes refused the jewelry, "No, keep it. I'm going to see if I can get a discreet person who doesn't mind taking risks... I'll be back as soon as I have something."

After she left, Narses said,

"I had no option but to rely on her… for now. But… Do you think Agnello di Borghesi will survive… I feel death prowling this house."

"Maybe he will survive ... If he can get through tonight," she voiced her concerns aloud.

A few more hours passed, and Lady Duvignes returned, but alone.

"I have good news! I found a Jewish doctor who will not ask questions. But he won't come here either. We have to get Father Agnello to his house. I would prefer not to take him alone, as I won't have the strength to carry him," she explained.

"So let's do this!" Alexa exclaimed, but Narses retorted, clicking his tongue,

"No, I will take him."

"I can stay in the house with the Princes ... After all, I can answer the door if necessary, to give her time to escape..."

"Shouldn't we all go?" the Princess asked,

"A large group will cause a lot of suspicions, Your Highness, and my ally may be angry. In this case, I can accompany your brother, but then Your Highness would be left alone."

Narses took a deep breath. Alexa knew that he could trust no one. But she needed to reassure him so he would take Blue Eyes to a doctor. 

"Please, Narses, you both should go. I can be alone."

The brothers stared at each other, and Alexa begged,

"I'm sure Father Agnello can survive if he has the necessary medical help! Please Narses! He also chose his path, but his time didn't come. We can do something for him! Take him to the doctor, I will stay here with Lady Duvignes. We will be wary!"

She would be watchful of Lady Duvignes and her actions. That was what she meant. Narses finally agreed.

ººº

The women helped Narses to put the priest in the carriage. And Lady Duvignes gave very precise information on how to avoid guard points in order to reach the Jewish ghetto, and which door Narses should knock on.

"Take care!" Narses gave her a stern look and spoke almost as Iacintho of old days would have said, and she nodded, knowing how worried he was. Her brother pulled the reins of the carriage and eparted at the same moment that, trilling loudly and clearly, Romeo landed in front of Alexa!

"My God, what is this?! He escaped, and found me!" Alexa extended her arm and the bird came to her wrist, sweetly. Alexa caressed the nightingale with joy!

At least a small reason for happiness, Romeo was with her, and somehow, it made her feel good and warm inside.

"I could have sworn ... that you want to tell me something!"

"Your Highness, we shouldn't be on the street ..." The Frenchwoman's gaze however shifted from Alexa and looked at the horizon for a moment, thoughtful, and then turned her attention to her.

"Let's go in?"

Alexa looked at the horizon too. She didn't want to be the last to know anything. All she saw were the stars and smoke in the east ...

"Does the smoke mean anything?"

"It may mean a few things, but we have no way of knowing now. It comes from the cathedral, or we wouldn't be seeing the smoke so high. The royal funeral ceremonial has probably started. It's one of its probable meanings: the funeral rites of a royal..."

Her joy at being found by Romeo faded.

When they entered the house, Charlotte took something off her cleavage.

"I was reluctant to hand this over, but here it is. I hope you make the best decision, Your Highness."

It was a small object, and Alexa soon saw that it was a small strip of paper, which had already been opened. It was a message of the kind that homing pigeons used to carry.

Curious, she read the contents, and her heart jolted with joy.

'I AM COMING HOME TONIGHT. M.'