When what felt like another hour had passed Hydrangea had began tapping her foot anxiously. Where was Alessandra?
A terrifying thought hit her. What if the Lords had found out that she'd taken her and Bastian in, and killed her? Her breath stopped for a moment before she shook her head. She was going mad.
She laid down on the cot and began to try and encourage herself.
While her thoughts were distracted she heard footsteps from below the grate. She laid still, her ears tuned to the sound. She assumed it to be a priest doing his duty.
She stilled when she heard a harsh voice, the same one she'd heard only hours ago in the garden.
"Where is she?"
"Who is the she you speak of, my Lord?" The priest she had met only moments ago asked.
"Don't be smart with me, Bahman. I know her horse arrived here this morning. Now where is she?"
"Lord Gaul." Bahnam enunciated and Hydrangea's bones chilled at the name, "I do not take kindly to you barging into this temple unannounced and disrespectfully. I will call for Lord Hoffman if-"
"Has no one told you? Lord Hoffman was killed months ago." Lord Gaul said mockingly.
She could hear the priest's hesitation before he spoke, "Then I pray he's found rest in the Primals' Realm." She was sure he made the same movement all were required to make when hearing of someone's death. All those who shared the belief of the Primals that is.
"Oh, indeed." Lord Gaul muttered, "He's committed worse crimes than myself."
Bahnam remained silent.
"That surprises you? That all those who serve the Primals may not be true?"
"I am not a fool, Lord Gaul. Corruption reaches even the truest of hearts." Bahnam said in a cold, civil tone. "Now, you have asked a question, and I have asked you mine. You've yet to answer me. Who is this "she" whom you are asking for?"
Hydrangea smiled at the man's cunning words.
"A young woman has been staying at the Queen Mother's palace here. My sources say that she has a similar appearance to that of our young and short-lived Queen." Lord Gaul answered in a nonchalant tone with a hidden anger when he mentioned her.
"I see…" Bahnam said thoughtfully. "You believe the Queen to be alive? I thought she'd been killed in the coup, laying in bed with the Sovereign." He asked in a shocked voice.
Lord Gaul clicked his tongue, she could feel a dangerous anger from him and she began to fear for the priest.
"That night was very… chaotic, as I'm sure you can imagine. We do not know if the Queen was killed, or if she somehow escaped."
"Hmm," Bahnam hummed, her heart thumped wildly in her chest. How would he get himself out of this?He shouldn't risk his life for her. "I'm afraid I have no knowledge of a young woman arriving here, but my subordinates may know of something. I do not appreciate being accused of such things."
The two men disappeared and she breathed calmer, her mind frayed with what they could possibly find. Would Lord Gaul somehow force Bahnam to reveal her location?
After a few long minutes they returned and she swallowed. She closed her eyes in relief when she discerned Lord Gaul did not know of her.
"Now you see, there is no young woman here fitting your description."
"Yes.. I can see that." The Lord said. She looked at the grate nervously from the subdued anger in his voice.
"Good. Now, if you please, we will have noontime prayers soon and I must begin preparations."
"Yes, I will be on my way soon enough." His voice took on a cavalierness that made Hydrangea's skin crawl. "There is a ship making its way north and to the channel. You wouldn't happen to know anything of it?"
He didn't allow Bahnam time to answer before he said, "No? Well, have no fear. We have our best fleet blockading the channel so as to protect our seas."
Hydrangea's heart stopped.
"That is good to hear, my Lord." Bahnam replied. "Now, If you would please leave the temple. And do tell High Priest Ritwik that I do not appreciate such intrusions, or such accusations."
"Of course.. I doubt any guilty man would."
Her brow creased in confusion at his words. The next instant she heard a sickening sound of a shuddering gasp and a thud.
Her lips parted in horror and she rolled off the bed and knelt by the grate, looking down at the room below her. She covered her open mouth at the sight of the death.
Lord Gaul had a dagger covered with a red sheen of blood in his hand. Bahnam was on the ground, dead.
She froze when the Lord's eyes raised and looked directly at her.
~~~~~~~~~
Hydrangea ran from the temple, Gravel's hooves hitting the muddy terrain with rapid speed. She had to get off the island and warn Bastian.
The pounding of her heart went unnoticed as she was only able to focus on one thing at a time.
She pulled Gravel to a stop and circled a cross-roads. Where to go? With her adrenaline still coursing through her veins she raced through the rain down a path. She arrived at a dock within seconds and trotted to where a boat was docked. A man sat under a cover.
She slid off of Gravel and without securing him she stalked towards the sailor with a determined look. He looked up with disinterest. Looking back down at the piece of wood in his hands, "I'm not a ferryman."
"You'll give me passage to the channel."
He looked up at her as though she was insane, "I'll do no such thing." He scoffed.
She thought for a few moments, maybe she was being too extreme, but if she didn't get to Bastian soon enough he could die. He may already be dead. A spark of perseverance shot through her and she looked at the sailor with a fire.
With hands that threatened to shake she removed the dagger from her belt, the rain dropped from her chin and from the tip of the blade to the dock.
The old man's eyes widened and he gulped, "C-come aboard, miss."
She breathed in a tremulous breath through her nose and stepped onto the small boat.
She turned around as the boat began to move from the shore. She knew the journey was a long one, and that it was the rainy season, but she would not stand by and let Bastian be killed.
A pang of regret went through her when she saw the figure of Gravel standing in the rain. Her brow creased, she had to think more clearly.
The man sailed for early the entire day. At dusk he stopped at an island and she turned to face him.
"This is not the channel." She didn't like being so harsh, but she was getting too impatient to be kind.
"My 'Kelly' won't last on the sea. You'll find a better one here."
"And who will I get to sail it?" She asked, still somehow maintaining her colder tone.
"I'm sure you'll persuade someone."
She felt.. injured at his insinuation. She didn't want to be known for forcing her will upon others at the point of a dagger. It was wrong.
She obliged the old sailor and stepped from his boat, Kelly, and walked with careful steps deeper into an island she'd once dared to call home.