"---h it does look like an accident, but who would trot a horse so near to an edge, especially when it's highland?"
"Some drunk men, I think?"
"It's quite high up there, I wonder if anyone survived,"
"The horses did. I figured from their pulse they were medicated.... and it wasn't any kind of drugging,"
"Wait!... You mean..."
"Yeah."
"A schemed work I see. Gather anything you find skeptical, we'll be heading to the council to display our discoveries. Someone is practicing witchcraft..... "
"The carriage is shut from outside, got anything on you? I bet there's something valuable inside,"
"Some bunch of keys and pins. Here,"
Lexi, who had been hearing voices, unfolded her eyes unhurriedly. Her body aches along with her throbbing head. The blood crawling from her injured head had ceased. And the loud voices outside didn't make anything less.
She felt weak, and her muscles were aching but she raised her hand to open the carriage door. From her laid position, she comprehended the carriage was upside down.
"Wait... Someone's inside the carriage..."
She heard the voice again. She knocks softly hoping the person outside would open the door. She didn't scream since she needed the strength to knock on the door, everything around her was whirling.
She heard voices but wasn't sure what they said. Someone was opening the door, and the noise of keys whacking each other was heard.
"Ummm.... you'd want to see this Katherine, there's a little girl inside the carriage," She heard the voice now and it was a male's voice.
"What?! Oh my world, is she alright?" A voice Lexi supposed belonged to Katherine said.
"I... hope so.."
Lexi felt her body being lifted and the morning sun hit her face making her whine a little. She opened her eyes and looked at the two people in front of her. The Lady looked twenty-four while the man seemed Twenty-two.
"Are you alright? It seemed she'd lost quite some blood," The soothing voice of the Lady rang out.
"She needs a physician. let's head to the Mansion, Robert can help." The Man said.
"I'll go, Thomas, you should head to the council,"
"What?! Fuck no! There's no way I'm facing those bunch of evil...looking and cruel councilmen alone." Thomas scoffed.
_________
"She's exhausted and needs tons of rest. Surprisingly no major damage from such a height." A man in his mid-fifties uttered. He was staring down at the passed-out Lexi, examining her with Katherine and Thomas beside him. They were inside a small room with ancient books and medicines of different kinds arranged on the shelf.
"Thank you, Robert," mumbled Katherine. She looked at the sleeping girl and caressed her face gently.
"Don't thank me yet, King Magnus hasn't approved of her staying here. And she certainly isn't from here," Robert examined her temperature again to make sure the drug he gave was taking effect.
The noise of horses and wheels was heard coming through the gate.
"Speaking of the Devil, he's here," Thomas commented, peeking through the window.
"Someone needs to inform him before he gets angry. Sometimes I feel like sticking a pin on his butt. Ok, here I go.... wish me luck!" Katherine sighed as she wiped her sweaty hands on her gown. She headed for the door and walked out.
"You need all the luck you can get," Thomas mumbled. He helped Robert organize the room which turned messy a while ago.
IN THE LIVING ROOM
"----doesn't have a place to go to, Sir, a-and she's young, very young. it-" Katherine's statement was interrupted by the cold King.
"I want her out of here by dawn! Outsiders aren't allowed in my mansion, not anymore."
"Is it because of Mary, Sir? She's gone, she did horrible things but she's gone.....shit!....I mean...I'm sorry," Katherine tried to reason with him but mistakenly mentioned a forbidden topic.
His eyes became cold the moment the name was uttered. His cold eyes fell on Katherine who wanted to dig a hole for herself. He walks closer to Katherine without lifting his eyes from her.
"My decisions have nothing to do with people, Katherina, it has never. I just don't want the council's head lurking around me which he had been doing since I fired the town's magistrate. And I have tasks to do outside town. Honestly, I don't want guests."
"She isn't just any guest, Sir. She had something with her, Bernard's seal on a letter,"
King Magnus quickly diverted his eyes to the letter in Katherine's hand. He took it and promptly ran his eyes through the content.
"It's a message from the Bernards, something extremely rare," He commented as he saw his name 'KING MAGNUS' boldly inscribed on the letter's surface. He pulled it from inside the envelope and read through it.
As he reads his eyes gradually dilated. He looks up at Katherine and then at the letter.
"Where's the girl?"
"She's sleeping, Sir-"
"She is awake." Thomas interrupted as he slid down the stairs into the living room.
"Take me to her,"
Thomas nods and directs the King to Robert's cabin.
______
"What's your name, little girl?" King Magnus demanded, his eyes gazing oddly at the young girl in front of him. The Bernards only have one daughter alive, and that's Alexandra Bernard.
Lexi looks down at her fingers. The man before her was staring at her strangely, she couldn't meet her eyes with his.
"Lexi, Sir,"
"Lexi?" He asked, confused. Their daughter's name was Alexandra, not Lexi.
"Alexandra Bernard," She corrected timidly, so low that it was barely heard.
King Magnus looks at her as a flicker of recognition passes his eyes. He looks up at Katherine.
"Arrange a room for her and a personal maid. She needs adequate care." He instructed. "Thomas, come with me," He declared to Thomas before stepping out of the room.
Lexi still couldn't lift her head. But her cheeks were red from embarrassment. Katherine then walks to her and sits beside her.
"Still feeling pain?" She asked.
Lexi shook her head.
"No pain. I feel fine and s-strong." Katherine smiled.
"I should have your room prepared," Katherine stood up from the small bed and left, but after taking one last look at Lexi. The old man and she were left in the room.
"Your immune seems quite strong for a girl your age. It's a good thing it did because...I'm afraid you'd have..."
"What's your name, Mister?" She asked politely, her voice still low.
"Robert Austin, but just call me Robert." He took some bottled potions from his table to his shelf.
"Do you recollect anything?"
Lexi looked at him for a while, she tried to remember what happened before but couldn't.
"No. Nothing. I-i think I have forgotten,"
"Never mind. Sleep now to recoup more strength, don't worry, Lady Katherine will take you to your room." Robert assured and Lexi nodded. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
___________
"W-who's there?" Lexi asked the moment she opened her eyes, she was in an unfamiliar room. Everywhere was dark and a shadow strolled past her.
"I'm sorry My Lady, I was trying to light the candles," A soft and timid girl's voice announced.
"Oh...."
"By the way, I'm Leah,"
"Nice to meet you, Leah," Lexi said as she thought to talk politely.
"I'm-"
"Alexandra Bernard, Lexi for short. I know. And I'm your maid," Leah said. She lit the candles and pushed a tray of food to Lexi.
"It's late and you missed your dinner, so I kept some food warm for you."
"Thank you, Leah," Lexi slowly devoured her food. She couldn't believe she slept for hours. She was surprised she hadn't passed out from hunger.
"I'll leave you know. Let me know if you need anything, I'll be here right away." Leah said before bending her head and walking out.
Lexi looked around the room with the help of the candle lights as she ate. She was about to take another bite when she heard a shout.
The voice was familiar...
She moved away from her food and climbed down from the bed. She walked barefoot to the door and stood on her toes to open it. She dashed out of her room only to jump back in alarm.
Before she is a frozen-faced Leah, Her face had turned icy blue. She was on the floor and her eyes held no life, totally blank.
"What's happened?" Robert's voice came from downstairs, he slowly climbed the stairs towards her.
"Oh no!" He mumbled when he saw Leah.
"What's the scream about?" Thomas's voice came as he wiped his sleepy eyes. He looked sleepy, he was bare chest and ascended towards her.
"Help me take her to my cabin, Thomas. This is bad." Robert mumbles.
Thomas lifts Leah onto his shoulder and descends the stairs.
"You'll be staying with Katherine tonight, come with me." Lexi followed beside him and held his hand. She was scared and trembling. Robert noticed this and hugged her, caressing her hair.
They both walked down the stairs and towards Katherine's room.