The Oreans

Chapter 37

Chapter 37
Rafim's Solution

A week had already passed since Rafim had freed him, yet Adrien and Divan were still in prison. Rafim had left the very day he was released so though he had an idea where she was he could not assure the two about the progress of her plan. Fortunately, Adrien was taking a positive view of things. He said that the absence of news could only mean one thing: Rafim was making headway with her plan.

But what could this plan be? He wished he could help. He thought that when Rafim had taken him out of prison, she was intending to take him along. But then, Rafim might be considering his age a disadvantage.

Making him feel worse were his nightmares regarding her. He could not exactly remember each of them, but they always ended in the same scenario: Rafim being chased and trapped but fighting with all her might while laughter rang in the background. He prayed that they were just that—dreams—and not visions of something going on or omens of what was to come. Many of his dreams just had the vicious habit of turning into either.

Adrien and Divan had been called to four trials, and he had been in each of them—only as a witness, being excused from the charge by his young age. As Rafim had asked, they remained consistent in their testimonies, sticking to bare facts saved for those that could give a hint as to the princess' whereabouts and withholding their suspicions. But for all the good it did them. Nobody seemed to be willing to believe them. There was no Lord Melvil to stand up for them as he was not allowed to attend their hearing.

A couple of times, the Circle had called on Adrien and Divan individually for an interrogation. But from the looks of his friends it seemed their story had just fallen on deaf ears. Alen learned that most of the ministers were eager to know of only one thing: the princess' location, something which the friends refused to disclose but to the commander.

Only the people who showed them support sustained the friends' spirit somehow: the commander, who, despite his seemingly poor health condition, went with Alen for a visit almost every afternoon to look after his two men's needs; Madam Liana, who had dropped by the prison once with some books and a game and Adrien's house twice to check on how Alen was faring; Old Shem and Rinea, who saw to it that Alen never neglected his meals; and Oreans, who kept Alen company in the camp in place of the three masters. With their help, he felt cheered and more optimistic about the future.

That morning, however, the commander could not be found anywhere in the camp. Bruno said he had left early that morning in haste upon receiving a note. It meant he would have to resign himself to going alone to Santille for a visit. He could not miss this one, for what with the prospect of another trial the next morning, he was sure Adrien and Divan—though they would not admit it—were both feeling rather low. It was left for him to console them.

He was riding what now was a customary road towards Santille when he heard hoof beats fast closing on him from behind. Then, a voice calling him to a halt... It was Rafim, hardly recognizable in a shabby black cloak.

"You're going to see them, aren't you?" she said as they pulled to a stop side by side.

"Yes—about the only good I can do." Barely able to bite the bitterness off his voice, he hastily went on to explain, "The fifth trial will be held tomorrow; and if we are unable to present a new evidence or they don't get hold of you at the least, a sentence will be passed to Adrien and Divan...."

"Don't worry. That won't happen if everything goes well today. Can you come with me?"

"Where to?"

"First, to the Palace of Flowers."

"What!" Alen exclaimed. "But the Argentines are all over the place, and you know that they want nothing better than to capture you."

"They won't be able to." Rafim looked confident. "They're no match for me."