The Prophecy

6th Movement: Thus, Comes the Muse...

Walk of the Wind, in a cave

13 Lion 1307

Bud, kneeling to the point it made himself look like a deformed and twisted figure, had the ear stuck to the door. He was trying to pick up the slightest little sound emitted by the brigands, on the other side of the wooden door. That was the vision that Childeric had when he woke up.

_ You're not going to tell me that you spent the whole night spying in that position? he joked.

Bud, startled, got up with a slightly embarrassed smile on his lips. Passing a distracted hand through his shaggy hair, he replied:

_ Yeah... maybe...? I was hoping to hear something about us and...

_ What did you hear?

_ Nothing, nothing very interesting for us. They were partying until early this morning; they must have been drinking like crazy, because suddenly I heard nothing at all: complete silence! And it's been going on like this, ever since.

_ They must be sleeping off their wine, added Manoël, who had come closer, joining the conversation.

_ Wine? Where? Abela woke up with a start.

_ Slowly drunk! You're hurting me! replied Childeric, indulgent, who held him in his arms.

Until now, the other wise elves men had never really questioned the relationship between them: respect, recognition, admiration, love ... But there, they felt violently the strangeness of the situation, because on closer inspection, Childeric and Abela, embraced as they were in a pose of abandoned and languid lovers, looked exactly like that: couple of lovers. Under the Pope's insistent gaze, Abela blushed with confusion. As for Childeric, he always displayed his joyful serenity and seemed in no way preoccupied with the same thoughts as his friends. The Pope, assisted by the Storyteller, pulled Abela aside and began to question him. Abela, disoriented, looked around him, increasingly harassed by the questions coming from all sides. He felt the vise that was gripping him more and more tightly as the others questioned him. In vain, he tried to hold on to Childeric's gaze once again. But suddenly Childeric's face became somber. Fearing a gestural reply, the Pope, who must have thought he was still too close to him, backed away and fell silent.

_ Enough, all this is very childish! Childeric said, our relationship, whatever it is, does not concern you in any way. Listen to me instead of spreading rumors and falling to the rumor mill. I have something much more important to talk about: I think I know how we have to act to get out of here, safe and sound... without endangering any lives, he added instantly, in response to the Pope's impending question.

For his part, Abela breathed again. All Wise elves men, all Innàa for that mattered, knew that Childeric was a married man, and yes, gossips were never far from him. It was one of the usual things when being in close proximity with one of the Royals. Thankfully, now they had their minds set on Childeric's announcement. Thus, he had discovered THE way. How? They watched him anxiously, eager to hear which miraculous way that would pull them all out of the clutches of these horrible brigands.

_ I know how to do it, yes, and I have the means, Childeric confirmed, Although, but still poses a tiny problem.

_ A problem? What kind of problem? replied the Pope, his eyebrow threatening.

_ Yes, a technical problem. I'll explain to you. You'll see how simple this means is. A child could just as easily have found it and in less time than ...