Chapter 26 Steps

The soldiers' horses stopped in front of the decayed cottage near the market. The sign that read "Healer" half-hung from the ceiling and swung with the breeze. The commander approached to the shabby door and called the witch's name: "Lilura, open the door in name of King Ataro! This is the Black Armada that came to arrest you for commiting the crime of witchcraft!" But no one replied. Only the sound of the wind howling through the nearby birches branches was heard.

The guard in front of the door opened it with a single kick. It fell hard on the floor making a loud noise and lifting swrils of dust as it hit the ground. As they stepped in the living room, the smell of mold and dust filled their nostrils.

The cottage was empty. It seemed that no one had inhabited that place for years. Spider webs hung from every corner. There were only dusty shelves and nothing more. They looked at each other. They were given confidences that Lilura was working in that cottage as a "healer". But they didn't find a witch there... Or anything else. Failing in their witch hunt, the soldiers left the cottage and mounted their horses back to the castle.

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"What is that you are taking her out of the castle? You have no right..." The prince broke into the room the duke was occupying in the castle. But Lord Roderick rapidly cut the prince's outburst with defiance.

"No! You have no right! You are the improper person here. Let me remind you, Your Majesty, that you are engaged to a beautiful noble woman, and now it is formal. You are the heir to Abhainn throne and she is a maiden from a village in the woods. thats an inappropriate relation, is that what you seek for. In my case, I am single and I love her. Am is not of your concern anymore. I spoke with the queen and I told her I was going to take Am with me as soon as she was able to walk, and thank the Gods, that happened this morning. Tomorrow we are leaving the castle and that's a direct recommendation given by the Queen."

"I don't know what you and my mother had conversed about, but I won't let you take her out of my castle, Roderick!"

"Don't make me laugh and pity you. Watch me depart with her tomorrow morning, Alasther. I am not going to play these games anymore with you. Am will be my wife and you will witness that for we are going to be married soon, maybe before you get married with Lady Katharina of Cadocia. Now please, leave my room. I need to get dressed. I will go to see my love, Amalthea."

The prince left the room with fuming and slamming the door behind him. The duke stared to the closed door. his thoughts lost in the carved details of the wooden door. It was imperative to take a final determination and soon. He needed to take Am as soon as possible out of the castle. Now that he knew it was certain the prince loved her, he had to make sure she was as far as it could be from Alasther. He needed no more opponents in the quest for her love. And Alasther was a tough one. Am had to be his and only his.

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Am was improving slowly. She was walking with more ease that after noon. The frail maiden wandered around the hall with the aid of her mom.

Walking down the corridor, came the queen and Lady Katharina.

"It is wonderful to find you so recovered, Am." The queen told the maiden as they met on the hall.

"I was so worried for you my friend. I thought you were going to die... And it is a shame you haven't recovered your beautiful voice yet. I was telling the queen I wanted so bad you could sing in my wedding with the prince. I will pray for your promptly recovery." Lady Katharina spoke with hypocrisy to Am, placing a kiss on the red-haired's cheek and smiled.

"Thank you, Lady Katharina." Jocelyn spoke for her voiceless daughter.

"I've heard you leave tomorrow. Are you feeling better?" Lady Katharina questioned expecting the desired answer.

"Oh yes, Lord Roderick will take us home now that Am is better. We don't want to cause more molests."

"Oh, please, Jocelyn, don't say that. You are no burden to us. For the contrary, you are like part of our family since Anibal was alive. It is a vow we made to him before he died. And Am is so charming and kind. Everyone in the castle just love her. All of us were preocupied for her health condition. I feel extremely happy for your rapid improvement, Am... Oh, I forgot to inform you that there is a witch hunt released by royal decree. The sorceress responsible for poisoning you will pay. You don't have to worry anymore. The King will solve this and that witch will pay!"

"What? You found out it had to do with witchcraft? Who told you?" Lady Katharina spoke and her face turned white as snow.

"Oh, I haven't told you dear. A witch named Maev came and healed Am. She woke her up and she told us it was a spell that was casted on Amalthea..." Katharina reflected distress on her face. The queen noticed how her countenance sunk and her face appalled. "What happened Kat, are you feeling sick? You look if you had seen a spirit."

"Oh, I'm fine. It is just that theme of spells and witches make me nervous." Katharina stuttered nervously.

"Oh, don't fear. We will find the persons responsible for this atrocity. Witches or not we will chase them and catch them."

Then, both the queen and Lady Katharina dismissed. Am and Jocelyn continued walking on the hall. For Lady Katharina this was not good news. She just prayed the witch vanished away and no one could find that the person responsible for the poisoning was her. All her plans would be ruined if she was discovered. Now she had to walk with firm steps and move the wedding plans forward promptly.

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The next morning Am, Jocelyn and the duke left the castle. Am fell asleep during the journey, resting her face on the duke's shoulder. He caressed her loose red hair. Jocelyn contemplated the scene. The duke conversed with Jocelyn and told her how much he cared for her daughter. Now Jocelyn could understand the predicament and confusion her daughter had. Three handsome men were after her Am's heart. It was a tough decision for Amalthea. But who did she realy love?

They finally reached the village. Everybody came to receive Am and Jocelyn... Everybody including Maik. Now the duke faced Am's best friend again. For Lord Roderick, making Am his wife was not going to be easy...