As soon as Judith left for Windley, Valerie asked her maid to get a carriage ready for her. She was going to go to Napane to visit Lord Alburn and tell him about the wealth of information Judith had spilled to her. She was so excited that while she was packing, she stumbled twice on the hem of her gown. Her father gave her permission to leave because she had told him that she was going to meet Alburn’s wife, who in her father’s eyes was Valerie’s very good friend. “But why this sudden urgency, Valerie?” asked her father as he placed his pipe on the ashtray. “I think Lady Susan is pregnant again. She has asked me to give her company because she doesn’t want the pregnancy while Lord Alburn wants it. I am only going there to console her,” she replied wit

After Judith left his room, Lord Alex gulped his wine down. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and his lips peeled back in a smile. When Judith had revealed her plans to him, he was surprised. The woman was too evil and too greedy. He chuckled because it was her greed that was important and he had to fuel it. He went to his chest and dug for the money purses that he had hidden below his clothes. He removed the red cloth and picked up every red velvet bag which contained gold coins. It was exactly the same amount of money Judith had asked for. He tossed them in a larger bag and tied it securely.Lord Alex then wore one of his nice suits, clutched the red velvet box that contained two gold bands and ordered a servant to arrange a carriage for him. When he came out, the short and thin carriage man bowed to him and held the door open for him to sit. Alex nodded, feeling joyous. He hummed a tune while sitting i

There was a buzz of activity and excitement in the castle when they heard the news. Every servant out there was more than happy. They were overjoyed. It was as if they had come out of the clutches of Judith, who they feared a lot. It was as if they had finally reached the light that they had seen at the end of the tunnel. Brishor was amazed to see the kind of excitement that buzzed in the air amongst the otherwise gloominess of the castle. They all clapped and congratulated him and bowed to him. Some even thanked him from saving them from a terror called Judith. A short and thin woman even suggested, “You can throw her in the dungeons, please.” And at that Brishor had laughed. The head cook announced that she would be delighted to make a sumptuous dinner to celebrate the occasion. Five young boys and girls volunteered to light up every s

Brishor and Chezzal were at the end of their wits. Their minds played tricks on them. For the whole night neither could sleep. After what the healer told them, Brishor wanted to capture Judith and Viola and throw them inside the dungeons and then kill them slowly and painfully. In his frustration, he had pounded a table in the corner which shattered into hundreds of pieces. Chezzal sat right next to her, holding her hand. Often, he thought he heard her soft murmurs. He would jump upright to check her, only to see that she was still deeply sedated. Her breath had become slow and her heartrate just as slow. He felt as if his chest had a gaping hole. He would keep checking her pulse in her wrist but it was almost dying. He had started hallucinating things now. He would think that she had turned her head, only to find that she was lying on her back with no movement. 

Brishor snapped his head at Chezzal. The General narrowed his eyes as his face twisted with anger. “I will be right back!” he said and turned to get out of the bed, when Brishor stopped him. “Don’t act in haste!” Brishor growled. Meryl’s gaze darted from Brishor’s face to Chezzal’s. “What is it?” she asked, totally confused and disturbed by the noises. She wanted to go out and look at what was going on. After a moment of silence, Brishor said, “You go out with Chezzal downstairs and see what is happening, while I go and check the perimeter of the castle. Were you expecting guests? Or did your mother say anything about receiving more guests?” Meryl shook her head. “Not to