MAGNOLIA COULD FEEL DANIEL'S BREATH, but it was faint. She checked his wound and found the cloth she had given him earlier soaked. She feared that he would not make it to the house if he lost any more blood.
Then, an idea crossed her mind–if she could close the wound and stop the bleeding, he might survive till they got to Paula.
She put her hand on the bloody opening, she prayed to the voice she had heard earlier.
"Please help him." But she did not hear anything back, she knew that she had to do it herself.
She had read about people using a piece of metal–heated over fire–to close wounds, people who could not use magic.
'Surely a heated hand would do the trick.'
"You can't leave me, Daniel." She kissed his cold cheek then took a deep breath.
She felt the heat transferring to her hand and then to the wound, she had to give the exact amount of heat needed. When Magnolia saw that the bleeding had stopped, she pushed to her feet and looked around.
"Thunder," she called, praying that the horse would recognize her voice from the few times she rode him with Daniel. "Thunder," she called again, louder and more authoritative.
She sighed in relief when she heard hooves coming their way. She caressed the horse. "Thank you."
***
MAGNOLIA URGED THUNDER TO RUN even faster as the blurry trees flew by. She entered through the back gates, where she was sure to find knights at the training grounds.
"Victor," she called when she halted the horse.
Victor turned to her, and color instantly left his face. He rushed to her, followed by a few knights.
"What happened, Your Grace?" he asked as he pulled the unconscious duke down.
"We were attacked, take the duke to his room and call the royal doctor," she ordered. "You." She pointed at a knight whose name she did not know.
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Fetch Henry," she told him as she jumped down. "And could someone take care of Thunder? He is tired and thirsty."
"Yes, my lady."
"Good boy," Magnolia whispered in the horse's ear. "Thank you for getting us here fast."
She grabbed the sack hanging from the saddle and rushed inside. She reached the bedroom door at the same time as Paula.
"What in the name of the Gods happened?" Paula took in Magnolia's state.
"I am fine, Daniel is not." She pushed the doors open.
Paula gasped when she laid eyes on her nephew.
"We were attacked, he was stabbed a few times but one of the wounds is really nasty. I did my best to stop the bleeding." Magnolia choked on her words. "The man said the dagger was made from Dragon Bone, the Ice Dragon." Paula's eyes widened.
The doors burst open, and Henry appeared as white as a sheet. "What happened?"
"I need you all to leave," Paula ordered before anyone could answer.
Magnolia kissed Daniel's cheek softly. "Don't you dare leave me," she whispered in his ear. "Please, take care of him."
"Of course."
Then, Magnolia's whole stance changed. "Follow me to the office," she commanded.
When Victor closed the office door, Magnolia sighed and leaned back on Daniel's desk.
"Please, tell me what happened," Henry begged. "My head is about to explode."
"We were attacked by Baron Cross and two hundred men."
"Two hundred men?" Henry repeated.
"I will give the order to prepare the troops right away and pursue them, Your Grace."
"They are all dead."
"How?" both Victor and Henry asked in unison.
"I killed them," she said in a smaller voice. They looked at each other. "It appears that I can use magic." She added when she noticed their confusion. "Victor, did anyone see you when you brought Daniel in?"
"Only His Grace's butler and two maids."
"Call them here right now. I do not want any rumors spreading about the duke's injuries. And tell the knights who saw him to keep it to themselves. I will personally punish anyone who spreads rumors."
"Yes, Your Grace." Victor turned to leave when Magnolia remembered.
"Wait, I almost forgot. Can you send your men to the red hill? The place that overlooks the whole valley of Surdine. That is where we were attacked. Tell them to clean up the scene, they will find the bodies of Baron Cross and his men there, tell them to dispose of them. Or what is left of them." She threw the sac she had been holding near Victor's feet. "That's the baron's head, keep it for me. I think I would like to send it to someone soon."
Henry's eyes widened as he looked at the sack, then at Magnolia and then at Victor who was equally shocked.
"Yes, Your Grace." Victor picked up the sack and left the office.
Magnolia walked to the other side of the desk and crashed on Daniel's chair. Henry followed and sat across from her. He had so many questions to ask, but she looked so drained.
"What–" A knock interrupted him.
"Your Grace, you asked for us?" Daniel's Butler and four maids entered, followed by Victor.
"They had already told two more people, Your Grace."
Magnolia slammed her hand on the desk, making everyone in the room flinch. The action was so out of character for her. She glared at the servants.
"The rumors end here." Her tone was dominating. "If I discover that anyone else knows about this morning's incident, the five of you will be blamed and I will deal with you accordingly."
"Yes, Your Grace." Magnolia could see shock all over their faces, but she did not care. She had to do what she had to do.
"Leave," she ordered. "Mister Sayer."
"Yes, Your Grace." The butler halted.
"Please send Lady Green to me immediately."
"Right away, Your Grace."
"Victor, have a seat." Magnolia ushered after the servants left. "I apologize if my behavior is out of place, but we cannot have the enemy find out about Daniel's state."
"Who is the enemy?" Henry asked.
She sighed. "The Barons' Faction." A knock interrupted them, yet again. Lady Green appeared at the door.
"I am sorry to interrupt, my lady, but I was told you wanted to speak to me immediately."
"Yes, come in." The woman entered, fidgeting with her fingers. "From now on, there will be no strolls in the garden, no playing outside, and no leaving the house for Geoffrey. Do I make myself clear, Lady Green?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Two Guards will be assigned to accompany him at all times," she announced, more to Victor than to the governess. He nodded in understanding.
"Yes, Your Grace," the woman repeated.
"Thank you, Lady Green. You may leave now." The woman bowed before hurrying out of the office.
Henry stared at Magnolia with impressed eyes. She was handling the situation even better than most lords would. Thinking about every single detail, it was just amazing.
"I was able to get three names out of Baron Cross."
"Torture?" Henry blurted out and blushed right away. "My apologies, that was not intended to be said out loud. I was just a bit surprised"
Magnolia stared at him for a moment. "Yes, I tortured him."
Magnolia knew that Henry and Victor were blindly loyal to Daniel and thus to her. She knew that she did not need to explain herself, but something pushed her to say more.
Deep down, she felt like she needed to defend herself–justify her actions–because until now, she had not yet given her mind the time to go over what had happened in those woods.
"I watched him as he pushed a knife into Daniel, not once, not twice–he had no mercy, why should I? I cut his arms off and stabbed him with that same knife. He got what he deserved." A few rebellious tears escaped, but she wiped them right away. "That bastard said that they were after our whole family, I think we should get them first."