44 The Apotropaic Protection

"Don't tell me you don't trust him too?", Haelan asked. With both of her hands leaning on the door, she sensed General Rowan's aura until it has completely disappeared, same thing with the dark aura of evilness that she sensed earlier too.

"I only trust my bow", Alesso said as he patiently wait beside Haelan.

"But he's your commander", Haelan looked at Alesso and thought it's unusual for a Paladin not to trust Rowan. After all, they fight battles side by side.

"I have my reasons.", Alesso said with a straight face as he rest his arm on the door and lowered his face to Haelan. "As for you, why don't you trust Rowan? I'm sure you haven't known him as much as I do", he asked.

"That's exactly my reason. I don't know him at all. My instincts never fail me.", Haelan said as she push Alesso to the side to slowly open the door. Haelan is convinced that Rowan speaks with a powerful evil lurking in the shadows, that she no longer wonder why the general have a dark aura surrounding him. "You said you were looking for me, Sir Alesso?", she asked as she step out.

"You're quite famous today. I heard you killed a mystic healer. Excellent job, Tiny", Alesso followed Haelan out. "The King wants to meet the Paladin who saved his son", he said as he gently tap Haelan's head.

"I didn't.", Haelan protested. "Prince Galen was the one who held the sword and killed the entity. I just watched him do it on my knees", she said as she walked back to the hallway leading to the tower.

"Did he?", Alesso said with a face of disgust. "Did you know what he did last time when he was attacked by a mystic healer? I'm sure not", Alesso said as he follow Haelan.

Haelan tried to read Alesso's expression. She could tell it was not a pleasant situation, but she didn't bothered to ask the Paladin Archer. As they walk further, she stood frozen at the part of the hallway where she sensed the dark aura earlier. 'Why was it here and why was it speaking to Rowan?', she pondered.

"Sir Alesso, is the palace protected?", Haelan asked inquisitively as she look at Alesso eye to eye.

"What do you mean? It's always protected, we have palace warriors all around.", Alesso asked as he was surprised with Haelan's out of the blue query. "And stop calling me sir, you're a Paladin. We're equal now", he smirked as he place his hands on his waist.

"Equal? We'll never be equal. You, Sir Stellan and Lady Vesta will always be miles away from me", she answered with humility. "Anyway, I saw Brandenburg's embellished walls. I thought they were spells for protection. I never saw one in the palace", Haelan said.

"Oh that's what you meant!", Alesso bewilderedly exclaimed. "Well, of course the palace have so many protective rituals and barriers. They are invisible to the naked eye, because it's embedded with great magic.", Alesso placed his palm on the stoned walls. "But if you look closely, the spells are in there. Same protective spells as the ones in Brandenburg, Hesam, Aria and Beorg. See? These barriers does not allow evil souls in, especially soul travelers", Alesso explained as he show the glowing spells on the wall. "The mystic healer was only able to roam the courtyard, open spaces aren't really protected.", he added as he face Haelan who seemed to dumbstricken.

With disbelief, Haelan realized something may be wrong with those barriers, because as a soul traveler, she could get into Brandenburg and the Palace freely. And now that she sensed some evil aura inside the palace walls, there's no doubt those barriers aren't serving its salient purpose, she thought.

"Remember the steam from the pots used by the priests during your oath taking? Those are apotropaic vapors that ward off evil. They are often used when there are palace guests, or incoming new warriors", Alesso explained.

"Do they work all the time?", Haelan asked as she doubted the walls and the apotropaic vapors.

"Of course, with the royals' lives", Alesso confidently claimed. "After the war between soul travelers and the kingdom, the palace made sure that anything evil, wicked and vile will never enter the palace.", he said as he lean back on the walls.

"Who made those barriers?", Haelan continously asked.

"It was the high priests of the kingdom. But of course, only Yereah, maintains it now.", Alesso answered openly.

"Does she now..", Haelan come up with a scarcely credible idea. With a trusted general who speaks with an evil lurker, and a high priestess that seemed to have disabled the apotropaic protection of the palace, the fall of the kingdom is quicker than the blink of an eye.

As indifferent as she have always been, Haelan started to worry for the people of Nether. For Haelan, it felt like everyone will be sleeping with knives on their necks. Certainly and fearfully, the toyal family is sleeping with an enemy.

"She's been the high priestess for centuries. She may look young, but she's damn old like the trees in the forests", Alesso smirked. "Don't tell me you have eyes for older women? And why do you keep asking about the barriers?", he asked with squinted eyes.

"I have no attraction for anyone. I apologize for asking, I just wondered if the palace is still safe for the King. You and I are certain that the ones who kept attacking, will come back again", Haelan looked up ahead the open arched passageway to the tower. "Enemies arrive when you least expect them", she warned despite convincing herself over and over that she only cares in finding her way back home. But honestly, she indeed have eyes for Rowan and Yereah.

"Don't worry too much, Tiny.", Alesso read between Haelan's lines. As he lightened up the mood, he grinned at Haelan for having attraction at no one. "I knew you're like Umbriel, boring and knows nothing but his precious books and scrolls", he clicked his tongue as stood up on his feet. "Speaking of… where are you heading? Are you still looking for those books?", he asked as he notice Haelan's eyes fixed on the corridors.

"Absolutely not", Haelan denied as she shook her head.

"Then, let's go", Alesso held Haelan's slender arm and pulled her towards the tower.

"Where are you taking me?", Haelan creased her brows as Alesso drag her away.