118 Beorg Mountains
BACK IN BEORG MOUNTAINS
Alesso left the palace despite the rains continously savage the roads. Traveling with no delays, he passed through the secret and fastest passageways of the archers all the way to Beorg Mountains. As he take the reins, the paladin archer started to connect all the dots and looked to more into the blurry lines of truth entangled together.
It finally made sense to Alesso why General Rowan never participated in every battle they fought. Clearly, the general made no investigations in all dark healer attacks because, he's not just only involve in all those forms of violence… but he is a traveler himself too - a soul traveler in the works with a few accomplices for some obscure motive he's dying to find out.
As much as Alesso is aware of, the general made frequent visits to Lord Callaghan, which makes the lord a person of interest in his suspicions on Rowan's accomplices. Moreso, since Rowan is the general, he is acquainted with the royals naturally. And so, the paladin archer pointed his surmise to King Silvius, Queen Isavelle, Lord Callaghan and Prince Galen. So far, it is clear to Alesso that a witch also worked with Rowan, thereby disabling the apotropaic spell protection in succession. Rowan is eliminated because he's no longer of use, Alesso thought.
Alesso then treated all the words of Rowan lies. Thus, the paladin archer wonders why Rowan pins down Haelan for the murder of Lord Harlan, something that doesn't make sense if true. Haelan, an inexperienced fighter and yet a new uprising paladin from Brandenburg, has been known to be the only person who could vanquish dark healers, and at the same time, seeks the Southwing Tower about travelers - a certain fact that gives a very questionable facade on Haelan's true intentions in the palace. What bother's Alesso more is the beautiful innocence in Haelan's face that doesn't match the accusations against him.
As the paladin archer feel the sharp gusts of the wind on his face, his thoughts weren't swept away even a single second. He thought that if Haelan is indeed a traveler, he must have become a dark one anytime soon after killing the lord of Brandenburg. Worrying for the safety of Stellan, the Prince, and the people of Beorg Mountains, the paladin archer couldn't be more anxious to find Haelan as early as possible.
The storms didn't slow the archer down. No stronger winds could stop him. Halfway, he sensed a few horsemen tailing him. Further along, he counted six palace knights on war horses. Seemed to him, the message from the hawk has been passed along. Alesso suddenly had a thought why the palace knights were still very committed on the dead general's orders, regardless he's a traveler. His suspicions were aroused. Instead of confronting them, the archer chose to ride ahead of the palace knights who weren't even on stealth. Positively, he made sure to arrive in Beorg Mountains first before anyone else.
Alesso arrived just in time. He alerted the archers for the arrival of some palace knights following him without making themselves known. Bothered, the paladin archer prepared for the most awaited arrival of Stellan and his company. He couldn't even speak of anything about what he knows with Lord Axis, who's surprised on his sudden appearance.
Come sundown, Alesso stood by the battlements at the side mountain of Beourg. The palace knights, who were following the paladin earlier, were interrogated and entailed they meant no harm. Reassuringly, they just wanted to accompany the archer to Beorg Mountains for his safety considering the scattered rainshowers badgering the kingdom.
Everyone stood in position.
Moments later, Prince Galen, Stellan, and the others mushroomed at a discernible distance from the battlements. Alesso watched Haelan and the others whispering to each other. They all looked like they've gone through some fiendish fortress. As he observe more, the archer was surprised to see Umbriel seemingly unafraid in the presence of his so called captors.
Suddenly, the palace knights seemed wary of the guests who just arrived. They pulled out their swords and trudged their way down the battlements to the entrance of the mountains. Looking closely, Alesso caught the drift to whom the knights were aiming at.
Positively, Alesso aimed with five energy arrows. He yelled at Stellan who was about to walk past the palace knights. Then, he released his arrows towards the swords of the knights, disarming them of their weapons.
Stellan, Gallanthe, and the prince were all startled at the very warm welcome Alesso gave them. However, they were much more surprised when Alesso ordered the arrest of Haelan, Ottis, Jacomus and Atrius. They all conceded without resistance. The wounded priests, Bertram and Elijah, were immediately taken in to receive proper medical asssistance. Father Elijah woke up from his consciousness, and expressed the need for food and water. Umbriel, on the other hand, was held seperately for questioning. Fear stormed in him that his chest never stopped beating like a drum.
LATER IN THE SOLAR ROOM
The prince was too furious to start the conversation. Despite forcing adjure to earnestly release Haelan, Alesso still advanced on carrying out what he called an imperial order. While Haelan and the rest were apprehended and imprisoned in the oubliettes, Prince Galen demanded an explanation with a will to release Haelan from Alesso's custody. Alesso invited Stellan and Galen to the solar room to fill in the gaps of what they have missed so far, given that both of them have been pestering him with tons of loud questions like a plague.
"Why is Haelan with you? I thought you were on your way to some imperial mission?", Alesso started to ask that's filled with curiosity as he offer seats to Stellan and Prince Galen. Stellan took the offered seat, while the Prince remained standing across the long table of twelve seats. Even from the end of the table, Alesso could see overflowing anger in the prince's eyes. Notwithstanding, he remained calm while he ask the servants to prepare some tea.
"Shouldn't it be me who's asking questions?What kind of worm have slipped through that thick head of yours for you to fearlessly aim with your bows at my presence? I am in the amity of these knights that you just unlawfully arrested", Prince Galen furiously said as he slammed the table.
"Alesso, this has got to be a mistake", Stellan uttered. But knowing his friend, there must be quite a good reason he's all ears to hear.
"Stellan, something's up. And Haelan might be connected to all of these", Alesso said as he sat close to Stellan. The servants quickly served tea to the gentlemen engaged in a serious meeting.
"Haelan? What does it have to do with him?", Galen creased his brows as he shook his head. In the back of his mind, his fear of having Haelan discovered as a celestial healer is rising.
"Is there anything strange going on with him during the times that you were together?", Alesso asked, wondering if Haelan is turning to a dark healer.
"Strange? Anything in particular that I should find odd in Haelan?", Stellan asked as he tilt his head to the side, trying to fathom where Alesso is leading to.
"You still haven't answered my question, Alesso", Prince Galen placed his arms across his chest as he start to lose his patience.
"Fine", Alesso stood up as he brush his silver hair back. He walked to the window and saw a glimpse of the palace knights clumping in cluster. Then, he looked back at Galen and Stellan waiting for him to explain. "Haelan and the three other men he's with shall all be taken to the palace, directly to the King. Not to mention the retrieval of Priest Umbriel, I am just following the orders made by the late general, Rowan", Alesso started that left Stellan and Galen at a loss. "They are arrested for arson, robbery and abduction of Priest Umbriel.", Alesso enumerated.
"You've got to be kidding me", Stellan uttered in disbelief.
"…and the murder of Lord Harlan", Alesso continued.
"What?", Galen knew in an instant that Haelan is being framed for a crime she didn't do. He believed that he is Haelan's only way out of this jeopardy.
"He was brutally murdered in Brandenburg ", Alesso swallowed a lump as he entail the death of the well loved lord.
"Hold on… You're saying Haelan and these boys killed Harlan, and they took Umbriel with them as a captive?", Stellan squinted his eyes as he put Alesso's thoughts into words. Alesso could only nod in affirmation. Somehow, Stellan could feel remorse for not being there for Lord Harlan.
"That's nonsense, Haelan cannot do that", Galen shook his head as he sit down. "Release them, I assure he's innocent", he said.
"That's that", Alesso strongly insist.
It was hard to believe for Stellan. Judging from how Haelan and the others were like, it's far from being connected with such crimes. "They wore convenient clothes, with no baggage… not one horse, no food and not even weapons.", Stellan made clear what he saw in Haelan and the rest. "It's just absurd", he said.
"I see that", Alesso nodded in approval as he start to disagree with the allegations against Haelan.
"Then, release them. Haelan and these bunch of men wouldn't dare do such a horrible thing. I've been with them and I never felt threatened nor unsafe a hundred percent of the time. I can attest to that, and I'll deal with father", Galen said.
"Besides, Umbriel never looked concerned for a hostage. In fact, he's sheltered around these men", Stellan continued as he remember how caring Umbriel is towards Haelan.
"We'll investigate. Of course I would still like to hear everything in Haelan's words", Alesso said.
"And what about Rowan? He's… dead?", Stellan asked to clear what he just heard.
"He claimed Haelan as a soul traveler who killed Lord Harlan, and held Umbriel captive to escape. You see, last night, the queen was attacked by a dark healer. General Rowan and High Priestess Yereah died saving her Majesty." Alesso said. "During the funeral tribute today, we all found out that Rowan is a traveler himself. What's more, Yereah was sent back home to Wicce", he added.
"What!? Why didn't you say earlier?? How's my mother?", Galen asked worriedly.
"I apologize, but she's getting better now. She's in the care of the imperial physician. They say there's another witch hanging around the queen looking after her, perhaps. So she's keeping up", Alesso calmed the worried prince.
"That tells a lot", Stellan pursed his lips as he exhale. "So many deaths lately", sadness reflected at the corner of his lips.
"And father?", Galen asked.
"No show. He's been in his chambers for a while now. Vesta is in charge of the palace's security", Alesso replied.
"I'm relieved then", Galen exhaled sharply as he pinch the bridge of his nose. "Alesso, if Haelan is a traveler who stained his hands with the blood of an innocent, he should've been a dark healer by now. He isn't, obviously", he said.
"That is what I'm trying to figure out, whether he is a traveler or not.", Alesso said. "The King reiterated the capture of Haelan, alive. I'm just following orders", Alesso said. "Haelan could still possibly orchestrated murder, you know", he considered.
"Is that what you believe in?", Stellan asked as he look beyond the doubts behind Alesso eyes. "What I don't understand, how can they specifically tell that Haelan is a soul traveler?", Stellan asked.
Alesso took a long pause. At some point, he trust in the goodness in Haelan. "I'm here for answers. Haelan, Umbriel and these knights know something.", he stated. "And those palace knights who followed me here, I've never seen them before. Earlier, they were aiming at the priest. Not Haelan, nor the knights", Alesso said in a serious tone.