Cedric hadn't agreed aloud. But my door was unlocked. Was he allowing or testing me?
A maid walked in carrying riding clothes. She bowed and went to work. She helped me in the clothes and put a cloak over my shoulders. I guess it was happening.
A guard escorted me silently through the halls to the stables, where Cedric waited with two horses already saddled.
"Speak of this to no one,"he said without looking at me. "I want to really trust you."
I nodded. I stared at the majestic black steed. How was I going to break this to him?
"I don't know how..." I said.
"You don't know what?" He asked.
"I've never mounted a horse," I answered. He raised an eyebrow and scoffed.
"That's your horse Iris," he said unmounting his horse. "You loved riding him."
"I did?" It was too early for them to know I wasn't from this world. During this chaotic time, my head would roll for less.
"I was just jesting," I nervously laughed. "But... they always helped me up,"
He shook his head before helping me up without a word. He went back to his horse and mounted it.
We rode hard, out past the western gates and through the forested path towards the isle's inner edge -- where the ruins of the Morrowmind abbey were half swallowed by vines and fog. The place was old and forgotten by all.
But I remembered it.
"Chapter 16, the priest had called the place cursed, the mist always seemed to come back," I reminisced, loudly it seemed.
"Did you say something?" Cedric asked.
"No. might be the wind," I said.
By midnight we reached the overgrown archway. Cedric pulled his horse to a stop and dismounted.
"Nothings here," he said. Well wasn't he skeptical.
"Not this part," I said slipping from the saddle. "Follow me."
We pushed through the thick brush. The air felt heavier here, as if the ground held a memory. I paused at a flat stone covered with moss. Beneath it, if I remember right.....
I knelt,"Help me lift this,'
Cedric hesitated,then helped. The slab groaned as it moved. Underneath was a spiral staircase carved into the earth.
Cedric stared, "What is this place?"
The horses neighed.I hushed him, placing a hand on his mouth. Someone else was here. I signalled for us to go in.
We descended, torches lit. The air grew cold,damp. The passage smelled of mildew, rot and something else. A faintly floral.
"How did you know of this place," he whispered.
"At tea parties, they spoke of it as lore," I lied . "A place called the creek where alchemist practice old blood magic."
At the bottom we found them.
Cages, crates. Shackles laced with dried silver threads. Torn ribbons.And more chilling still - abandoned shoes, scarves, hairpins.....
"Oh gods ..." Cedric whispered. He picked up an handkerchief. "This bears the Clovenshire sigil."
"They're testing again," I said, my voice hollow. Someone was recreating the trials, they were looking for something. Power. This wasn't supposed to happen yet. The plot was unraveling early.
He knelt beside a small wooden chest, lifting the lid. Inside were a dozen of vials like the ones Lisbeth gave to Iris. Like the ones that made me unconscious for a week. I winced at the memory. But these glowed brighter and looked unstable.
"They are the same ones Lisbeth put in my soup," I murmured more to myself.
"Lisbeth?" Cedric frowned.
"Mother gave me this ones," I corrected.
"What if she's working with them?" Cedric said grimly.
I met his eyes, "we need to act fast."
"We'll return to the manor, I'll report this to father. And Iris....." He hesitated. " I know you've changed.... whatever this is, I believe you want to help."
I nodded, "I do."
He stepped back towards the staircase, " I promise you nothing bad will happen to you, I'll protect you."
I smiled, "I know you will "
He pulled out a whistle, "I'll prove your innocence but I have to do this."
"Do what?"
He blew the whistle. The shrill sound pierced the silence like a dagger.
The torches flickered, then boots. Dozens. They thundered down the staircase.
Guards stormed the chamber. Two cloaked men stepped behind them. He betrayed me. He didn't trust me at all.
My chest tightened. The walls seemed to enclose and were crushing me. I forgot how to breath and the room was getting hotter.
The guards seized my arms.
I thrushed kicking wildly. The world blurred at the edges, flashback hitting like blows.
"No one will know about this, not even my wife," he said unbuckling his belt.
"Please don't do this," I had begged crawling on the earth.
No one would hear my cries here. We were miles away from civilization. The mountains there were always isolated and only a few hikers visited.
"Don't touch me," I screamed tears spilling hot and fast. "Let me go!"
"Enough!"A voice cut through the chaos. Smooth. Cold. Commanding.
One of the cloaked men, stepped forward, pulling down his hood. The torchlight caught on his face.
The guards straightened.
The crown prince was in this too.
All those visits while I was unconscious and while I was awake were mere checkups for a criminal. I loudly clicked.
He turned his gaze on me. I froze. No one here could be trusted. They had layed a trap and I had fallen into it. They were all aiming for my head.
"She'll ride back with me," he said.
Cedric stepped forward. "But..."
"You have made enough decisions for today Lord Cedric," Cedric's mouth clamped shut.
The crown prince walked to me. His steps were measured and controlled. Without a word, he offered his gloved hand.
I flinched. I didn't trust him nor anyone in that damp room.
I swatted his arm earning an amused look from him.
"Take me home,"I said wiping the tears.
"You're coming with me," the prince said. "You'll stay in the castle till the investigations are over."