Chapter 227: 227
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Alexa looked back at Magnus, feeling so cold that she shivered and hugged herself. At the same time, she felt a strange tingling in her body, and in desperation she looked at the cracks in the door, where the first lights of dawn entered.
As much as that horrible revelation was shocking and painful, Alexa threw herself into Magnus' arms, and he held her tightly, smashing her against his chest.
There was no time for words, or promises. Or even a kiss goodbye. Only the sensation of dissolving in his arms, as if it had never existed, as if it were made of dream's stuff.
"NOOOOO!" Their voices mixed, not really wanting to let go of each other's arms. But the magic was much stronger than them.
ººº
Alexa woke up feeling the smell of smoke, and something small and light moving about her. Instinctively she took her hands to protect herself, and found the little feather ball!
"Romeo!" She sat up, looking around. The surprise was replaced by the thought that Romeo had returned with her because the poor little thing had also been part in the whole body swaps. Was the poor bird free at last? Alexa hoped so!
She was beside the big fire pit in the top of the lighthouse. But the fire pit had no high flames.
Still, the heat was still enough to bother and make her eyes sting. The heat was already making a few drops of sweat appear on her face, and she walked away as quickly as possible and headed for the stairs.
The place had been without its caretakers during the day and night. They were dead. She felt their spirits and wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Now that she knew she couldn't invoke the Light, Alexa was afraid.
Only when she reached the stairs did she look at herself, protecting the little bird against her chest. She was n.a.k.e.d, as she was moments ago.
One moment she was in her husband's arms, and the next she was miles away. This time, however, her own body had come with her. All Alexa could do was trust that Magnus would be back as soon as possible. And run to the castle to find out what had happened to Alexander!
But first, she needed clothes. Where to find?
She heard voices, but the sound of the fire crackling did not really let her hear the words. Were they voices of the living? From the dead? Were they new janitors?
One night had passed after the massacre at the lighthouse. The fire was almost extinguished, due to lack of maintenance.
Just like herself, Alexa concluded with a tightness in the chest.
However, at that moment, her instinct spoke louder. Looking around quickly, the princess decided to hide. She would have a lot of work to explain what she was doing there, and on top of that, n.a.k.e.d. People were going up the stairs.
His first instinct was to enter the open door of Sigrid's cell, but he immediately regretted it. It was obvious that they were coming here.
Looking around, she found an old, dirty shirt, really disgusting for being so long abandoned there.
But she had no choice but to wear it, and quickly.
Alexa barely had time to do this and hoist herself up on one of the beams on the ceiling of the room, feeling her bandaged hand ache with the effort. Even with Iacintho's remedies, she was sure Emmeline had unscrewed her wrist.
Romeo flew to the same beam. She loved that little bird, but her heart froze at the thought that the poor nightingale would give up her whereabouts if she sang and someone looked up.
Luckily, they weren't even the only things alive perched on those beams.
Jette's sonorous voice echoed in the tower-shaped building,
"Answering your questions, that's how I learned that she disappeared at that point, and that all the people who lived and worked here, had died. And as the Prior can see, it happened again. "
The door leaning against Sigrid's cell was ajar, and Alexa held her breath, as if it helped her hide better. Under the beam where Alexa was lying and stretched to the maximum, four people entered. Jette's red hair stood out, and she was able to recognize Prior Ruben Van de Velte immediately. She didn't know that he was going slightly bald on top of his head, quite naturally. The other two people were wearing hoods and holding torches, Lex was sure that one of them was her brother Narses.
If Narses had noticed that there was someone else in that room, he gave no clue.
"And here, was there a witch imprisoned? Reuben went over to the scrawled, soot-blackened walls, and one of the men with the torch quickly illuminated what he wanted to see. Alexa wondered if the prior was aware of the secrets recorded by Gisela's mother.
"Many of these things, as far as I could understand, are related to the myth of the demon Orcaius," explained Jette. "My epic is almost over, if I want I will be happy to show it later."
"Hmmm ... Are you sure that your narratives have the necessary moral background to stop being an apology for paganism, and that they are edifying so that a Christian reader is not horrified?" Reuben asked, with barely veiled disdain. Jette fell silent.
'Then that's it? Is the troubadour writing her supposed masterpiece, which is based on Holstein's legends? And now, afraid of Alexander, who Jette thinks is possessed by a witch _ me _ ran and allied with the Inquisitors? ' Alexa even wanted to be impartial in thinking that Jette was just thinking about herself, but it was too late. Unfortunately, the bard's interference was very dangerous for her and Alexander.
"Jette, I must confess I wasn't very convinced with your flowery story about the Prince Regent being possessed. But the massacre is really a supicious thing. The Prince's attitudes have been excentric and erratic lately, according to some reports. "
Alexa wondered if Reuben knew what had happened in the Forbidden Garden.
"To claim that my sister is a witch is very frivolous of you, troubadour," Narses, who was closest to the door, spoke at last. "You never thought that she could be a victim?"
Jette was confused for a moment, turning to face her interlocutor. Narses took off his hood so she could see his face better.
"Ah, I see! Your sister is missing, my dear. Yes, it is better to think so, then. She is a victim, and something took her body, and then she took the body of the Prince Regent! But I am handing the case over to those I believe are God's servants prepared to investigate and judge the situation. My observations are product to what I saw and learned: The Prince Regent is possessed. Holstein is in danger. "
A loud crack at the top of the lighthouse interrupted the conversation, while all four looked at each other.
"What's up there?"
"I think only the lighthouse."
"Shall we take a look or would you prefer to stay here?"
Reuben nodded, "Yes, brother, let's see what else we find. This demonic environment is not healthy, we must get out of here before it contaminates our spirits. "
Alexa thanked him for thinking so, she also didn't like that place, and wanted to get away so she could run away. Only when she realized that their voices had departed did she grab Romeo and step down from the lock, slipping down the staircase. Near the exit door she saw an oilcloth coat hanging from a hook, which she immediately covered herself with. There were also wooden clogs, unfortunately no pair as small as her feet, so she abandoned them because they would only get in the way.
As she left, she saw the horses tied up, and wondered if she should get one. But he decided that this was only going to be a future problem, and he just went the same way he had arrived the first time, avoiding looking at the bodies that were in the same place where they had fallen the day before.
It would be tiring, but it was her most sensible option.
"Come on, Romeo. Didn't you miss Holstein? " she whispered, placing the bird on her shoulder.
Alexa was arriving at the small isthmus that connected the continent to the piece of land with the lighthouse, when she heard behind her,
"HALT! STOP!"
And it was not Narses' voice.
'Ah, of course. I underestimated the fact that a lighthouse is basically a tower, and if someone were up there looking around, they would easily see me. '
She wasn't exactly sure what she was supposed to do now. If she stayed, even if she had Narses by her side, she would have to answer questions she couldn't, and she didn't want to answer right now. On the other hand, if she ran away, she was assuming she was guilty of something, wasn't she? And that would only hinder her fragile relationship with the church.
She took a deep breath, turned to the lighthouse, and smiling, waved to them!
"You are alive! Thank God!"
Internally she preferred to run a thousand times and not talk to Reuben, but apparently it would not be possible to avoid it.
Narses was the first to come through the door, and ran to his sister, lifting her off the floor to look at her with eyes full of happiness.
"LEX!"
She smiled a little, and whispered, "Help me! I just got back! "
He nodded, and as he put her down again, he kept his arm over her shoulder, turning her to people who were coming out of the lighthouse.
"Alexa! What are you doing here?"
"I ... Who are these people?" she asked, to buy time.
"Ah, yes, let me introduce. Alexa, these are Reuben Van der Velde, my mentor and Prior of the Dominican Order in this region. Bernard, my order brother. And the woman is Jette, an artist who claims to be friends with your husband, my sister. "
Wow, Narses was really fast! The dismissive tone towards Jette was ostentatious.
"Your Highness, it is an honor!" Jette was the first to bend over elaborately, and to face Alexa's bare feet.
'Damn it!'
Reuben and Bernard did the same, but only with the necessary emphasis, and when Reuben looked up, he had a puzzled look in his eyes,
"Princess? What happened, and what brought you to this horrible place?"
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Alexa looked back at Magnus, feeling so cold that she shivered and hugged herself. At the same time, she felt a strange tingling in her body, and in desperation she looked at the cracks in the door, where the first lights of dawn entered.
As much as that horrible revelation was shocking and painful, Alexa threw herself into Magnus' arms, and he held her tightly, smashing her against his chest.
There was no time for words, or promises. Or even a kiss goodbye. Only the sensation of dissolving in his arms, as if it had never existed, as if it were made of dream's stuff.
"NOOOOO!" Their voices mixed, not really wanting to let go of each other's arms. But the magic was much stronger than them.
ººº
Alexa woke up feeling the smell of smoke, and something small and light moving about her. Instinctively she took her hands to protect herself, and found the little feather ball!
"Romeo!" She sat up, looking around. The surprise was replaced by the thought that Romeo had returned with her because the poor little thing had also been part in the whole body swaps. Was the poor bird free at last? Alexa hoped so!
She was beside the big fire pit in the top of the lighthouse. But the fire pit had no high flames.
Still, the heat was still enough to bother and make her eyes sting. The heat was already making a few drops of sweat appear on her face, and she walked away as quickly as possible and headed for the stairs.
The place had been without its caretakers during the day and night. They were dead. She felt their spirits and wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Now that she knew she couldn't invoke the Light, Alexa was afraid.
Only when she reached the stairs did she look at herself, protecting the little bird against her chest. She was n.a.k.e.d, as she was moments ago.
One moment she was in her husband's arms, and the next she was miles away. This time, however, her own body had come with her. All Alexa could do was trust that Magnus would be back as soon as possible. And run to the castle to find out what had happened to Alexander!
But first, she needed clothes. Where to find?
She heard voices, but the sound of the fire crackling did not really let her hear the words. Were they voices of the living? From the dead? Were they new janitors?
One night had passed after the massacre at the lighthouse. The fire was almost extinguished, due to lack of maintenance.
Just like herself, Alexa concluded with a tightness in the chest.
However, at that moment, her instinct spoke louder. Looking around quickly, the princess decided to hide. She would have a lot of work to explain what she was doing there, and on top of that, n.a.k.e.d. People were going up the stairs.
His first instinct was to enter the open door of Sigrid's cell, but he immediately regretted it. It was obvious that they were coming here.
Looking around, she found an old, dirty shirt, really disgusting for being so long abandoned there.
But she had no choice but to wear it, and quickly.
Alexa barely had time to do this and hoist herself up on one of the beams on the ceiling of the room, feeling her bandaged hand ache with the effort. Even with Iacintho's remedies, she was sure Emmeline had unscrewed her wrist.
Romeo flew to the same beam. She loved that little bird, but her heart froze at the thought that the poor nightingale would give up her whereabouts if she sang and someone looked up.
Luckily, they weren't even the only things alive perched on those beams.
Jette's sonorous voice echoed in the tower-shaped building,
"Answering your questions, that's how I learned that she disappeared at that point, and that all the people who lived and worked here, had died. And as the Prior can see, it happened again. "
The door leaning against Sigrid's cell was ajar, and Alexa held her breath, as if it helped her hide better. Under the beam where Alexa was lying and stretched to the maximum, four people entered. Jette's red hair stood out, and she was able to recognize Prior Ruben Van de Velte immediately. She didn't know that he was going slightly bald on top of his head, quite naturally. The other two people were wearing hoods and holding torches, Lex was sure that one of them was her brother Narses.
If Narses had noticed that there was someone else in that room, he gave no clue.
"And here, was there a witch imprisoned? Reuben went over to the scrawled, soot-blackened walls, and one of the men with the torch quickly illuminated what he wanted to see. Alexa wondered if the prior was aware of the secrets recorded by Gisela's mother.
"Many of these things, as far as I could understand, are related to the myth of the demon Orcaius," explained Jette. "My epic is almost over, if I want I will be happy to show it later."
"Hmmm ... Are you sure that your narratives have the necessary moral background to stop being an apology for paganism, and that they are edifying so that a Christian reader is not horrified?" Reuben asked, with barely veiled disdain. Jette fell silent.
'Then that's it? Is the troubadour writing her supposed masterpiece, which is based on Holstein's legends? And now, afraid of Alexander, who Jette thinks is possessed by a witch _ me _ ran and allied with the Inquisitors? ' Alexa even wanted to be impartial in thinking that Jette was just thinking about herself, but it was too late. Unfortunately, the bard's interference was very dangerous for her and Alexander.
"Jette, I must confess I wasn't very convinced with your flowery story about the Prince Regent being possessed. But the massacre is really a supicious thing. The Prince's attitudes have been excentric and erratic lately, according to some reports. "
Alexa wondered if Reuben knew what had happened in the Forbidden Garden.
"To claim that my sister is a witch is very frivolous of you, troubadour," Narses, who was closest to the door, spoke at last. "You never thought that she could be a victim?"
Jette was confused for a moment, turning to face her interlocutor. Narses took off his hood so she could see his face better.
"Ah, I see! Your sister is missing, my dear. Yes, it is better to think so, then. She is a victim, and something took her body, and then she took the body of the Prince Regent! But I am handing the case over to those I believe are God's servants prepared to investigate and judge the situation. My observations are product to what I saw and learned: The Prince Regent is possessed. Holstein is in danger. "
A loud crack at the top of the lighthouse interrupted the conversation, while all four looked at each other.
"What's up there?"
"I think only the lighthouse."
"Shall we take a look or would you prefer to stay here?"
Reuben nodded, "Yes, brother, let's see what else we find. This demonic environment is not healthy, we must get out of here before it contaminates our spirits. "
Alexa thanked him for thinking so, she also didn't like that place, and wanted to get away so she could run away. Only when she realized that their voices had departed did she grab Romeo and step down from the lock, slipping down the staircase. Near the exit door she saw an oilcloth coat hanging from a hook, which she immediately covered herself with. There were also wooden clogs, unfortunately no pair as small as her feet, so she abandoned them because they would only get in the way.
As she left, she saw the horses tied up, and wondered if she should get one. But he decided that this was only going to be a future problem, and he just went the same way he had arrived the first time, avoiding looking at the bodies that were in the same place where they had fallen the day before.
It would be tiring, but it was her most sensible option.
"Come on, Romeo. Didn't you miss Holstein? " she whispered, placing the bird on her shoulder.
Alexa was arriving at the small isthmus that connected the continent to the piece of land with the lighthouse, when she heard behind her,
"HALT! STOP!"
And it was not Narses' voice.
'Ah, of course. I underestimated the fact that a lighthouse is basically a tower, and if someone were up there looking around, they would easily see me. '
She wasn't exactly sure what she was supposed to do now. If she stayed, even if she had Narses by her side, she would have to answer questions she couldn't, and she didn't want to answer right now. On the other hand, if she ran away, she was assuming she was guilty of something, wasn't she? And that would only hinder her fragile relationship with the church.
She took a deep breath, turned to the lighthouse, and smiling, waved to them!
"You are alive! Thank God!"
Internally she preferred to run a thousand times and not talk to Reuben, but apparently it would not be possible to avoid it.
Narses was the first to come through the door, and ran to his sister, lifting her off the floor to look at her with eyes full of happiness.
"LEX!"
She smiled a little, and whispered, "Help me! I just got back! "
He nodded, and as he put her down again, he kept his arm over her shoulder, turning her to people who were coming out of the lighthouse.
"Alexa! What are you doing here?"
"I ... Who are these people?" she asked, to buy time.
"Ah, yes, let me introduce. Alexa, these are Reuben Van der Velde, my mentor and Prior of the Dominican Order in this region. Bernard, my order brother. And the woman is Jette, an artist who claims to be friends with your husband, my sister. "
Wow, Narses was really fast! The dismissive tone towards Jette was ostentatious.
"Your Highness, it is an honor!" Jette was the first to bend over elaborately, and to face Alexa's bare feet.
'Damn it!'
Reuben and Bernard did the same, but only with the necessary emphasis, and when Reuben looked up, he had a puzzled look in his eyes,
"Princess? What happened, and what brought you to this horrible place?"
Alexa looked back at Magnus, feeling so cold that she shivered and hugged herself. At the same time, she felt a strange tingling in her body, and in desperation she looked at the cracks in the door, where the first lights of dawn entered. As much as that horrible revelation was shocking and painful, Alexa threw herself into Magnus' arms, and he held her tightly, smashing her against his chest. There was no time for words, or promises. Or even a kiss goodbye. Only the sensation of dissolving in his arms, as if it had never existed, as if it were made of dream's stuff. "NOOOOO!" Their voices mixed, not really wanting to let go of each other's arms. But the magic was much stronger than them. Alexa woke up feeling the smell of smoke, and something small and light moving about her. Instinctively she took her hands to protect herself, and found the little feather ball! "Romeo!" She sat up, looking around. The surprise was replaced by the thought that Romeo had returned with her because the poor little thing had also been part in the whole body swaps. Was the poor bird free at last? Alexa hoped so! She was beside the big fire pit in the top of the lighthouse. But the fire pit had no high flames. Still, the heat was still enough to bother and make her eyes sting. The heat was already making a few drops of sweat appear on her face, and she walked away as quickly as possible and headed for the stairs. The place had been without its caretakers during the day and night. They were dead. She felt their spirits and wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Now that she knew she couldn't invoke the Light, Alexa was afraid. Only when she reached the stairs did she look at herself, protecting the little bird against her chest. She was n.a.k.e.d, as she was moments ago. One moment she was in her husband's arms, and the next she was miles away. This time, however, her own body had come with her. All Alexa could do was trust that Magnus would be back as soon as possible. And run to the castle to find out what had happened to Alexander! But first, she needed clothes. Where to find? She heard voices, but the sound of the fire crackling did not really let her hear the words. Were they voices of the living? From the dead? Were they new janitors? One night had passed after the massacre at the lighthouse. The fire was almost extinguished, due to lack of maintenance. Just like herself, Alexa concluded with a tightness in the chest. However, at that moment, her instinct spoke louder. Looking around quickly, the princess decided to hide. She would have a lot of work to explain what she was doing there, and on top of that, n.a.k.e.d. People were going up the stairs. His first instinct was to enter the open door of Sigrid's cell, but he immediately regretted it. It was obvious that they were coming here. Looking around, she found an old, dirty shirt, really disgusting for being so long abandoned there. But she had no choice but to wear it, and quickly. Alexa barely had time to do this and hoist herself up on one of the beams on the ceiling of the room, feeling her bandaged hand ache with the effort. Even with Iacintho's remedies, she was sure Emmeline had unscrewed her wrist. Romeo flew to the same beam. She loved that little bird, but her heart froze at the thought that the poor nightingale would give up her whereabouts if she sang and someone looked up. Luckily, they weren't even the only things alive perched on those beams. Jette's sonorous voice echoed in the tower-shaped building, "Answering your questions, that's how I learned that she disappeared at that point, and that all the people who lived and worked here, had died. And as the Prior can see, it happened again. " The door leaning against Sigrid's cell was ajar, and Alexa held her breath, as if it helped her hide better. Under the beam where Alexa was lying and stretched to the maximum, four people entered. Jette's red hair stood out, and she was able to recognize Prior Ruben Van de Velte immediately. She didn't know that he was going slightly bald on top of his head, quite naturally. The other two people were wearing hoods and holding torches, Lex was sure that one of them was her brother Narses. If Narses had noticed that there was someone else in that room, he gave no clue. "And here, was there a witch imprisoned? Reuben went over to the scrawled, soot-blackened walls, and one of the men with the torch quickly illuminated what he wanted to see. Alexa wondered if the prior was aware of the secrets recorded by Gisela's mother. "Many of these things, as far as I could understand, are related to the myth of the demon Orcaius," explained Jette. "My epic is almost over, if I want I will be happy to show it later." "Hmmm ... Are you sure that your narratives have the necessary moral background to stop being an apology for paganism, and that they are edifying so that a Christian reader is not horrified?" Reuben asked, with barely veiled disdain. Jette fell silent. 'Then that's it? Is the troubadour writing her supposed masterpiece, which is based on Holstein's legends? And now, afraid of Alexander, who Jette thinks is possessed by a witch _ me _ ran and allied with the Inquisitors? ' Alexa even wanted to be impartial in thinking that Jette was just thinking about herself, but it was too late. Unfortunately, the bard's interference was very dangerous for her and Alexander. "Jette, I must confess I wasn't very convinced with your flowery story about the Prince Regent being possessed. But the massacre is really a supicious thing. The Prince's attitudes have been excentric and erratic lately, according to some reports. " Alexa wondered if Reuben knew what had happened in the Forbidden Garden. "To claim that my sister is a witch is very frivolous of you, troubadour," Narses, who was closest to the door, spoke at last. "You never thought that she could be a victim?" Jette was confused for a moment, turning to face her interlocutor. Narses took off his hood so she could see his face better. "Ah, I see! Your sister is missing, my dear. Yes, it is better to think so, then. She is a victim, and something took her body, and then she took the body of the Prince Regent! But I am handing the case over to those I believe are God's servants prepared to investigate and judge the situation. My observations are product to what I saw and learned: The Prince Regent is possessed. Holstein is in danger. " A loud crack at the top of the lighthouse interrupted the conversation, while all four looked at each other. "What's up there?" "I think only the lighthouse." "Shall we take a look or would you prefer to stay here?" Reuben nodded, "Yes, brother, let's see what else we find. This demonic environment is not healthy, we must get out of here before it contaminates our spirits. " Alexa thanked him for thinking so, she also didn't like that place, and wanted to get away so she could run away. Only when she realized that their voices had departed did she grab Romeo and step down from the lock, slipping down the staircase. Near the exit door she saw an oilcloth coat hanging from a hook, which she immediately covered herself with. There were also wooden clogs, unfortunately no pair as small as her feet, so she abandoned them because they would only get in the way. As she left, she saw the horses tied up, and wondered if she should get one. But he decided that this was only going to be a future problem, and he just went the same way he had arrived the first time, avoiding looking at the bodies that were in the same place where they had fallen the day before. It would be tiring, but it was her most sensible option. "Come on, Romeo. Didn't you miss Holstein? " she whispered, placing the bird on her shoulder. Alexa was arriving at the small isthmus that connected the continent to the piece of land with the lighthouse, when she heard behind her, "HALT! STOP!" And it was not Narses' voice. 'Ah, of course. I underestimated the fact that a lighthouse is basically a tower, and if someone were up there looking around, they would easily see me. ' She wasn't exactly sure what she was supposed to do now. If she stayed, even if she had Narses by her side, she would have to answer questions she couldn't, and she didn't want to answer right now. On the other hand, if she ran away, she was assuming she was guilty of something, wasn't she? And that would only hinder her fragile relationship with the church. She took a deep breath, turned to the lighthouse, and smiling, waved to them! "You are alive! Thank God!" Internally she preferred to run a thousand times and not talk to Reuben, but apparently it would not be possible to avoid it. Narses was the first to come through the door, and ran to his sister, lifting her off the floor to look at her with eyes full of happiness. "LEX!" She smiled a little, and whispered, "Help me! I just got back! " He nodded, and as he put her down again, he kept his arm over her shoulder, turning her to people who were coming out of the lighthouse. "Alexa! What are you doing here?" "I ... Who are these people?" she asked, to buy time. "Ah, yes, let me introduce. Alexa, these are Reuben Van der Velde, my mentor and Prior of the Dominican Order in this region. Bernard, my order brother. And the woman is Jette, an artist who claims to be friends with your husband, my sister. " Wow, Narses was really fast! The dismissive tone towards Jette was ostentatious. "Your Highness, it is an honor!" Jette was the first to bend over elaborately, and to face Alexa's bare feet. 'Damn it!' Reuben and Bernard did the same, but only with the necessary emphasis, and when Reuben looked up, he had a puzzled look in his eyes, "Princess? What happened, and what brought you to this horrible place?"
