The bird of Providence part 2

Along the cold and dimly lit upstairs corridor of the church, Carlos and Bennett carried George as they followed the three priests. Making sure he wouldn't be heard, as he looked forward, Bennett said quietly, " Isn't it kind of strange?"

"What is?" Carlos asked.

" I never thought they would accept to let us in so easily."

" They have not accepted anything yet, Benny. There is probably a superior who's going to decide if we can stay or not."

" How can you be so sure?"

" I'm not really. But never in my entire life, have I seen a superior be the first person to answer the door."

Bennett shrugged nonchalantly and said, " That's logical."

The priests entered a small room, most probably, the attic of the church and one of them held the door open for the travellers to enter.

Carlos took a look at the dingy room with sealed windows and saw a round, wooden table in the middle with a stack of maps and papers scattered on its surface. Bending on the table, were two other men studying the maps and documents carefully. One was a handsome middle-aged Knight and the other, a well-built older man with fashionable clothes and defined cheekbones. His bright silver hair, lean figure and mysterious attitude gave him a mildly intimidating look.

While studying the two strange men, Carlos noticed a third stranger silently watching the scenery of the cemetery from behind the windows. At that moment, as if the stranger had felt carlos's eyes on her, she looked over her shoulder and her lips stretched for an affectionate smile when she saw his face. That smile was awfully familiar...

Before Carlos could remember her face, he realised who she was looking at by the exhilarating rate of his own heartbeat. She was a young, tall woman with innocent brown eyes and black, mermaid hair that reached below her waistline.

Carlos averted his eyes and tried to catch the attention of the two men at the table.

"My God, what's happened to the prince? He looks so pale! Has he been infected?"

The young woman came up to George, brushed his sweaty, red hair out of his pasty face with her hand and said, " Well, it's good that he doesn't have a fever."

Bennett stared at the girl and replied, "He hit his head somewhere. He's been unconscious for hours. At first, we thought he was getting better, but then, he just moaned and closed his eyes again."

The young woman opened the prince's eyes with two fingers and carefully studied each iris.

"Can you help him?"

Carlos had finally, mustered up the courage to speak. But he was still not looking at her face.

The woman gave him a brief look and replied, " Yes. But you have to leave him with me. I'll take him downstairs. We have enough medicine here to treat him. You don't have to worry."

" I'll help you." said Bennett, almost immediately.

He, the three priests and the young woman, carried George out of the room and left Carlos alone with the men at the table.

He took a few, firm steps toward the table and stood in front of them. They were still deeply immersed in a heated discussion and did not notice his presence.

The knight pointed at a yellow part on the biggest map and said, " The infection must have reached the Eastern Islands by now. Sparrownest is in danger. And so are Oysterlock and Calista."