The Maiden's Song (draft-editing)

Chapter 28 Accused

Chapter 28 Accused

The man in the dark cloak stood in front of Lord Roderick in his office. The duke gave him a stern look as he spoke to the man. "Are you telling me that the blonde beauty visited that witch named Lilura at her shop a week before the incident? Was this young lady dressed extremely elegant and she mounted in a big brown horse with a fancy saddle? Is that what you told me?"

"Yes Milord. That is what I found after my investigation."

"Thank you. Here, this is the pay for your services. You can go now. And remember, don't tell anybody what you've just told me." Lord Roderick threw a velvety bag of gold in the man's hands. The man nodded and left immediately the studio.

Lord Roderick sat on his desk, scanning through a pile of papers filled with notes and drawings. 'There is only one person that fit in that description... but is she capable of such atrocity? How did she get to poison Am? I was with her the whole time... No, wait! Yes... I found her talking with Am as I left to... Oh, no... there were two glasses of wine...!' Lord Roderick talked to himself.

"Jamison! Jamison!" The duke called the butler.

"Yes, Lord Roderick?" A servant rushed into the office and nervously stood in front of the duke who was fuming in anger.

"Go and prepare Ebony for me immediately! I need to go out at this moment!" The duke commanded as he hurried out of the office.

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Am was resting in the hammock in the living room at her cottage. She was reading one of her favorite books trying to distract herself from her current condition. She didn't want to think about anything or anybody. Suddenly she heard horse's hooves hitting the ground in front of her house. A knock on the door made her stand up and she hurried to open the door.

Lord Roderick was standing by her door and she smiled as he stepped into the living space. Am looked at him in bewilder for he wore a strange expression on his face.

"Am, I am going to ask you some questions. Please answer to me the best way that you can. Did I make myself clear?" Lord Roderick asked Am, holding her hands and looking at her with a severe expression. Am nodded affirmatively, yet she was worried. The duke spoke again. "Am, did you drink something somebody gave you the night of the Masquerade?"

Am closed her eyes, trying to recall the events of that night. In her head appeared an image of Lady Katharina with two glasses of wine. Am opened her eyes and nodded once again. The duke continued his interrogatory. "Was that person Lady Katharina?" Am opened wide her eyes. How did he know? She nodded one more time reaffirming his suspicious.

The duke walked back and forth in the living area. Am looked at him with curiosity and anxiety. What was all that inquiring about? The duke turned to face Am as he told her. "Am you were poisoned by Lady Katharina. I am going to tell the king at this instant. Please, stay here and do not open the door to anyone unless you know who it is. If it's possible, if you need to go out, ask Maik to go with you. I want nobody to harm you, my sweet damsel." The duke cupped her chin and gave superficial kiss on her upper lip... a tender kiss.

Am remained static. She didn't react to that kiss at all. Lord Roderick spoke to Am. "You don't even imagine how much I care for you... How much I love you. I promised you the person that hurt you would be found and pay. I always keep my promises. "The duke left with haste riding his big brown stallion leaving a dusty cloud behind.

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Lord Roderick entered into the War Room. It was the safest place to talk to the king without being heard. The War Room was the designated place to discuss confidential issues and war affairs. The king entered a minute after.

"What is the urgent situation you are here to discuss with me Lord Roderick?"

"I have discovered the person that tried to kill Lady Amalthea." Lord Roderick spoke firmly.

"Who is that person! I demand you to tell me. He will pay with his life!" The king reacted with anger in his voice tone.

"I don't know if you are willing to make her pay with her own life." The duke looked at king Ataro to his eyes.

"What do you mean with her life? It's a female?"

"Yes, a very beautiful and evil female, indeed... It's your son's betrothed, Lady Katharina of Cadocia."

"Those are serious accusations Lord Roderick. You are saying that Lady Katharina is guilty of conspiring with a witch to kill one of my protected ones. Why did she do something that awful?" The king was in shock. He couldn't believe what the duke was saying.

"She was jealous of Am, Your Highness."

"And you have proof of what you are saying, I guess, because if not..."

"I wouldn't dare to face you and accuse the future princess of Abhainn just for fun. Of course I can prove what I am saying! I hired a person to investigate. More than one witness can testify that they saw Lady Katharina visiting a witch name Lilura in the outsides of the Market a week previous to the incident. Moreover, you can ask Lady Amalthea who gave her a glass of wine moments after her dismay... And you know that Lady Katharina's jealous outburst were more than evident. Lady Amalthea was not precisely Lady Katharina's favorite."

King Ataro's face turned pallid. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. If all that was true, Lady Katharina was guilty of more than one crime. There was only one way of knowing the truth... The king yelled to the soldier at the door. "Soldier! Bring me Lady Katharina at this instant."

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