13 The Manor

"When we crossed the creek, we decided to tie the horses near the bridge, afraid to warn of our presence with the trample of horses. We made our way down the bricked path, from the old bridge to the mansion, with the torches in hand. 

"The cold fog emanated from the ground, and we discovered the place looked prosperous and well kept. If by day, it seemed lively and welcoming, we had no way of knowing for, under the nightly shadows, it seemed the most inhospitable and haunted place. We wouldn't be behaving like thieves in the night, walking cautiously around the impressive manor, but to find our fellow and alert the Flemish entourage. There was no sign of fire or lit torches around the house. In our defense, we suspected that a vile plan could endanger the lives of the bride's entourage. Also, our friend was missing after coming to this location.

"The glimpse of a body reclining on the edge of a well, its legs in a strange and twisted position was the first thing I saw. And I had to cover my mouth to prevent a scream from sprouting from my lips!" Alexa rubbed her eyes with her wrists, drying the moisture from them, "by coming closer, I confirmed what was evident from afar: that person was no longer among the living. He was one of the guards in Kielstadt's uniform. His livid face still showed the horror of his horrible death, and there were traces of bloody foam on his mouth and chin. The eyes of that poor soul were still squinted in pain, and Master Locke said to me,

"Lady Saskia, poison killed this poor warrior! He was undoubtedly induced to ingest some, and dined and drank happily earlier tonight, not expecting this would be his last meal…! A plan to get rid of this entourage is at work! Our friend is in danger!

I shivered and cried, taken by sudden terror!"

°°°

"What a bitch! What the hell did he think, to come to a well and drink water after drinking poison?" muttered Locke impatiently, pushing the corpse with his boot. Lex tugged his arm, annoyed at the lack of respect toward a deceased one,

"Don't do it!"

"Looks like he's looking for his own way to hell!"

The maiden just shook her head in disgust, figuring Locke was very upset and at worst of his humor, but that still didn't give him the right to mock the dead.

"Listen, Little Bougie. It has more to do with some living trying to get rid of the Ugly Lady and her friends. Just a few leagues from the Kielstadt border, to make things a bit more interesting. Let's find the living, because they killed Iain."

The mercenary's logic made perfect sense, and Alexa shook her head in agreement when they heard some screams, followed by loud, hollow thuds. They came from the opposite side of the manor.

"People are locked inside the house," Locke noted.

"Look!" Alexa noticed the movement before Locke did, and soon both spotted a cart coming out of the stables. The warrior did not wait, and stooping a little, advancing quickly in the same direction. 

The maiden followed him as best she could, but the clothes she wore did not allow as much agility as she was most used to. She stumbled a few times until she managed to discover how to run with a dress, as Locke swiftly reached the wagon and leaped at it. 

Noticing there was not much to do about it, and trusting that the warrior would beat the wrongdoers deservedly, Alexa proceeded to the main door, which was being ravaged from within by people desperate to escape.

°°°

"Crying and screaming mingled in a complete cacophony. People inside the house were completely panicked, and their words were unintelligible to me. When I arrived at the main door, I found signs of fighting and a lot of blood, and two warriors dead…! Please don't make me describe the horror of this vision!"

The men nodded to her request, and she continued,

"Well, the massive wooden door lived up to the size and stature of the house, and there was no way for those people to break in without a battering ram and some coordination. A heavy lock had been set, and a chain perhaps as thick as my wrists kept it sealed. Alone, I couldn't do anything either.

So taking a helmet that I found lying down, I knocked back on the door to get their attention, and shouted that I would seek help, and they had to stay calm. There was no use to keep doing that!"

"And that worked?" asked the priest. Alexa put some thought on it, and replied,

"I think so, but only partially. Because a man's voice answered, asking me to help them, for God's sake. But I think other people were overwhelmed with terror and unable to understand.

"So?" This time it was the Captain who questioned her.

"I was scared, but I needed to help those people. I said I would look for an easier way out. I even thought of fetching the horses to help break down the door, but it seemed like a quite Herculean task to me. It had to be otherwise."

°°°

While trying to communicate with the crying hysterical people of the Flemish entourage, without much success, the maiden looked here and there near the dead guards, thinking of perhaps finding something that might help. 

She felt rather than saw the presence looming behind her, and instead of turning to face whatever it was, the maiden slid to one side in time to avoid having her head crushed by a spiked mace.

She leaped behind the bushes surrounding the mansion's entrance, and turned in time to see the mace rising again, and the massive bulk of a huge man wearing an executioner-like leather mask, moving in her direction.

She thrust the torch into his face, which flinched in fright, trying to get rid of the flames.

Alexa didn't afford to scream. Then she spared her breath to grab her skirts and lift them as high as she could, and run at top speed, figuring only speed could be an advantage against such a strong man. This man wasn't a ghost, but a fleshed person. Just the kind of enemy Alexa didn't have many weapons to fight against.

At least everything she learned from her brother Narses and also from Locke was of use for her now! She went around the house, looking for somewhere to hide, knowing she could hardly handle this giant man with her little strength and size. At least she'd have to hide until Locke came to her rescue... again.

Sneaking through the wall of the mansion, she would hand feel the way as the maiden sought to remain hidden in the darkness, since, as like most humans, the 'executioner' couldn't see her in the dark. Her hand reached and touched the rough wooden surface of a door… Which opened shortly after she withdrew her hand, with a slight creak.

The maiden sensed that the supernatural was acting, but she couldn't know whether to help her or to lure her to death.

But Alexa had no choice but to enter.