Nocturnal Meetings, Part 10

After sleeping relatively peacefully all night long, Zelas wakes me up, saying I have to meet the royal county's officer. Since Xellos was out, she offers me to let me guided by her own servant, the red-haired Lina.

All the way long, Lina is non-stop talking. She is not aware. Not aware of the peasant's hateful eyes. They probably already know about Amelia. They think I killed her. Me.

"Poisoner!" they shout.

"He is with the sorceress!" screams another one.

"Assassin! Murderer!"

"Killer! Demon!"

"Evil! Heartless aristocrat!"

"He should die himself!"

All I hear are those insults. I cover my ears with my hands, but in vain. I can still hear them. I can still feel them; they are now throwing at me rocks and all kind of rotten vegetables. But I cannot blame them. Amelia was often caring for those poor peasants, bringing them food and care. For them, I killed their support. I am the main suspect; I cannot blame them.

"Go away, freaks!" I hear Lina screeching. "Or I'll put a curse over you all!"

I look at her as she waves her hands and start to mutter something incoherent. At my surprise, the peasants curse and run away.

"It always works. Don't worry anymore, Sir, they are gone!"

"What was that?" I ask, bemused.

"I make them suppose I'm murmuring some curse's incantation. They believe I am a sorceress. They also call me a murderer. Don't listen those illiterates."

I almost smile at their naïve attitude. Lina is so sweet, and nice to me, she couldn't harm anyone.

******

We soon reach for the officer. He asks me a lot of questions, which I answer honestly. He doesn't seem to believe me. But it doesn't matter anymore: I know nobody will believe me, so I'd rather submit to their justice.

"We still have to gather Gourry's report. Where is he?"

"He had another urgent affair," another man states. "He said he shall be there tonight."

"Fine." The officer turns back to me. "Count Graywords, I expect you are well aware of the accusations held against you: You are suspected to have murdered Father Philionel, your wife Countess Amelia, and your servant Sylphiel. Anything to say?"

I shake my head. What should I say? I'm innocent? Crazy?

"In that case, you will stay here tonight. You will hear your sentence tomorrow morning."

Two soldiers escort me into a cell, then they close the large steel-door behind me. I guess it is already the end of my life. If I am lucky, I might have a grave. Or maybe they will throw my corpse in a common grave, like a heretic or a vulgar criminal.

**********

Part 10- Xellos

"They put Zelgadis in prison?"

Lina nods. "They seem assured he is guilty."

"Do you know which cell?"

She nods again. "It could be easy to get him out of there. There is never a guard."

I smile. I am almost glad I took her with me. She is, indeed, useful, and so is her 'talent'.

"Then we will go. In a short moment."

I leave her to join back my mother. She gestures to me to close the door behind me as I enter her room. She seems serious tonight.

"I have to agree, Mother, that I had no idea you would get rid of Countess Amelia that way...but why?"

"I don't like people who put their nose into my business," she says snobbishly. She soon regains her grave composure. "Xellos...my mind is not in peace."

I blink. "W-What do you mean?"

"Something is about to occur. I can feel it...It almost doesn't make me safe."

I laugh, and approach her so I can sit at her feet. I pose my head over her knees and start to caress her white hands.

"Who could hurt you, Mother? You are so strong, so powerful."

I kiss her hands.

"You should not worry." I smile, and she smiles back.

"You might be right." She kisses my head and waves her hand, directing me to leave her.

"I'll be back with Zelgadis," I let out.

I urge Lina to join me, and we leave for the prison.

Outside, the night is as dark as habitual. No stars, no moon. Just Lina and I, climbing our way up an hill, going in the opposite direction of Zelgadis' manor.

"Sir Xellos, look!"

I stare at the point the woman is indicating with her finger. She points at my own domain, which we can see properly from up here. There doesn't seem anything abnormal...except for that person walking up to the front door. I recognize the National French guard, Gourry.

"Doesn't he know Zelgadis is no more at my place?" I suspiciously ask Lina.

"He wasn't present this morning, when they interrogated the count."

"Ah. Anyway, Mother will turn him down, so we better hurry and get Zelgadis back."

We soon reach for the prison. Lucky we are, they put Zelgadis in the lower cell, which has a direct access to the ground. All we have to do is to lie down and put our nose between the cold steel bars, and the count his there, just before us. He is praying, kneeling on the floor.

"Hey, Count Graywords!" Lina whispers.

He jumps and looks in our direction.

"Miss Lina! Sir Xellos? What are you doing here?"

"Stupid question, Graywords," I snort. "We come to get you out of there."

He seems reluctant, almost suspicious. "Why?"

Why? Why? A reason, quick! "Because we know you are innocent."

With my powerful vision, I see his face to lighten. Now he smiles. "You do?"

We both nod. This is enough to make him the happiest man in the world. "I thought everyone abandoned me."

It's my turn to smile, and to use this situation to my advantage. "Why would I abandon you, Zelgadis?"

My answer makes him freeze. I pass my arm between the bars, commanding him to take my hand. "We are going back home."

Nervously, he takes my hand and holds it for a long time, looking at me. "Thank you."

Then he realizes he is locked in. "But how to get out of here?" he asks, pulling on the bars.

"Easy."

Lina places her hands over one bar, and then mutters some incomprehensible words. After, she rolls the bar into her hands. She quickly removes it, under Zelgadis bemused eyes.

"You...you really can do magic?"

She giggles. "No, silly. I've already been thrown into that same cell...and as you can see, I escaped!"

We help the man to get out of that dirty place. Soon, I take him pig-back, since he is too tired to walk properly. The night is dark; nobody can see us walking on the border of the forest. But in the darkness, I can feel Zelgadis' head cradled on my shoulder, and his arms around my neck, tightening lightly just like an affectionate touch. After all, we are the only people he can now turn to...