77 No One Can

AUTHOR'S POV

Lord Harlan couldn't touch his meals. No matter how freshly cooked and presentably appetizing his food were on his plate, nothing seemed to be agreeable to his sense of smell and taste. He stared at the stacked paperworks that he needs to read and sign. With his unclear mind, he fails to focus even with a teacup of chamomile. Feeling like something important is missing, he stops and pauses as he stare up the ceiling. No tea and soft biscuits could relieve his bitter feeling.

His knee doesn't hurt anymore. Due to his old age, Lord Harlan has been enduring his joint pains particularly on his right knee. As he walk around, he noticed it doesn't hurt anymore.

Lord Callaghan has been avoiding him all morning. Whenever their eyes meet, the lord would always seem like he's in a hurry. Lord Harlan even caught him going in the underground cellar the second time, something very unnecessary especially if there's no dead that needs to be buried.

Haelan is already in the palace.

Lord Harlan sighed as he worry for her being in there. Wondering how would the King react if he finds out who Haelan really is, Brandenburg will surely be blamed. He had a lot of things to tell Haelan, and dozens of questions to ask. For the meantime, Lord Harlan decided to let the day pass and wait for the perfect day to reunite with Tris' child.

The afternoon was colder with heavier downpour when Lord Callaghan went to his chambers for his nap. Since Lord Harlan didn't grew dozy, he chose to personally check the work of the priests on the apotropaic wall protection. While on his way, he noticed the door of the underground cellar was left open with a vine coming in.

Lord Harlan was about to shut the door when he heard a faint voice coming from inside. He then decided to go in and check where the voice is coming from. He made a ball of energy to light his way down the stairs. The closer he get, the clearer the voice he hears and the heavier the metals clink as if someone is struggling to get loose.

"Who's down there?", the noises stop as the sound of his voice fill the room. When he reach down, he saw a person standing in the dark along with the vines crawling onto the walls, creeping to the hanging chains.

"Lord Harlan?", Haelan widened her eyes seeing Lord Harlan. She was able to free herself with the use of her magic controlling the vines. She stared at him as she sees the orb of energy the lord is holding in his palm. Raising her hands up, she approached as near as she can get. "It's me Haelan!", she said as she cough a little.

Lord Harlan lit the entire room as he fire up the torches surrounding the cellar. It was only then that Haelan was able to see where the awful smell has been coming from, and that it isn't water that's really dripping. Covering her eyes on the bright flames of the torches, Haelan realized she was kept in a crypt for the dead, both with bodies wrapped in linen with amulets and ashes kept in urns.

The cellar was entirely made of knotted walnut planks of wood. One side of the room have shelves for the different sizes of urns, and the other side has the hanging chains where Haelan was kept captive with the containment spell. There's a table made of quartz and marble with white linens under for mummifications. Two bodies wrapped in white linen were on top of the table, fresh blood drips from the bodies in preparation for the body preservation.

"What are you doing here? I thought you're already in the Palace?", Lord Harlan looked at her squarely as he draw closer Haelan. "What happened to you?", he asked worriedly as he check if Haelan is mortally hurt.

"It's Lord Callaghan, he ermm.. I'll explain later… Lord Harlan there's a spell that keeps me from coming out. I heard the apotropaic spells are being put up at the moment.. Please Lord Harlan, please remove the containment spell!", Haelan plead in fear that she might get crushed by two strong magic spells.

"Haelan, I cannot remove the spell. The containment spells here are done by Callaghan, I cannot undo it. No one can, but him", Lord Harlan said apologetically. The containment spells were placed there to trap souls, for it is believed that healer soul travelers can still escape a body even if it has perished. Worried about Haelan, he's more worried about Yereah who have failed to ensure that the apotropaic spells should be working.

"But Lord Harlan, there's got to be a way!!", Haelan fearfully said.

"Oh my goodness Callaghan.. I'll see what I can do", Lord Harlan expressed his frustration on what Lord Callaghan just did. However, he couldn't blame him. Lord Callaghan fought in the war against the cruel mystic healers. He thought of ways how to get Haelan out as he lift the red line of containment magic on the floor. "So you're a healer soul traveler", he said. He softly whispered spells that he knew that could remove the containment. Nothing happened.

"Do you wish to kill me too?", Haelan asked as she watch Lord Harlan do what he can.

"I remember now, you saved me last night. Tell me, what is Tris' daughter doing here in Brandenburg?", Lord Harlan asked.

"You knew? I am Helena Athena, daughter of Beatrice and Gaius of Caluso", Haelan formally introduced herself as she lifted her face at Lord Harlan who knew who she is. "I soul travelled here by chance and with no particular intentions. Unfortunately, I cannot go back for some reason. I'm trapped in this body as much as I am held captive in this room", Haelan admitted with no holding back.

"Child of Gaius, you say?", Lord Harlan asked. "Do you have your crest?", Lord Harlan stared at her eyes glistening on the dim light.

"Gaius, yes. Ermm.. my crest, It isn't working.. I just found out that I need to bring my crest to Caluso to have it fixed there", Haelan said.

"Your mother must be proud, you're a Celestial Healer like her. No wonder why I see her in you", Lord Harlan held Haelan's cheeks with a smile. "It's an honor to have met the child of one of the greatest warriors I know. How is she?", he asked.

"She's.. she 's dead. I saw her in the Forest of the Forgotten. Before I soul traveled, my family come upon a warning attack with black dusts similar with what you have here. I believe it has great connection with my mother meeting her demise.", Haelan said. "I need to go back to find out what happened to her", Haelan said as tears started to flood her eyes.