Blinded By Rage
POV: Blake
Finding intel on The Order of The Old Ways was proving to be difficult even if my methods were not sanctioned by the council. I believe because my brother cared about his alliance with the House of Batiste, he was willing to overlook my methods this time. In my dealings before with other situations, he would firmly warn me that I was stepping out of line, and he would punish me properly if and when the time came to do so. His last letter to me only stated to keep him posted and that he knew nothing of my methods. He wanted to nail these bastards just as much as I did. One of my spies had told me of a witch living deep in the depths of west Blackwood which bordered Maigny’s Barrow Field. Her name was Dorothea and she had served The Order at one point, and she would be the key to finding information about The Order. I had invited her Mesha, but she flatly refused, she sent a letter back saying that she had no intention of ever leaving Blackwood. I don’t understand how she can live peacefully with no punishment especially on the land where her lord’s child had been assaulted by the very organization that she had served. I was determined to get the information from her by any means necessary. I was nice before but now I would let my dirty side come out. There were no lengths I would stop at to protect the love of my life from harm.
I had summoned my two best spies so that I could have her kidnapped and brought to Mesha so that I could talk her into telling me what she knew about The Order. I even gave her a chance to let me meet with her in her own home and she refused that as well. At this point, it was not merely that she knew about the workings of that messed up organization but also about my pride as man. I couldn’t let her be the very reason I could not protect Alexandra; she would pay if any other harm came to her because I didn’t have the information that I needed. I was angered by her refusal to help, and I would do so much to make her pay for this rage. My spies came into the room and bowed, “Your Highness, what is it that you will.” I turned away from the window I had been staring at looking at the direction Blackwood was. It wasn’t visible to me but my land bordered Barrow Field which bordered Blackwood. I looked down at them with a smirk on my face, knowing what order I was about to give them. I took satisfaction in making others pay for their insolence, “There is a witch in Blackwood named Dorothea. She is refusing to give me information about The Order. This information is key to taking down those who would dare to harm the future Queen Alexandra. Bring her here alive but I don’t need her here in pristine condition.” The two rose and bowed, my two best spies were one male and a female. They worked well together since they knew each other since their childhood. They recently got married so I knew that this tandem was the best amongst my forces. The woman spoke, “As you will it Your Highness.” They turned to leave but I stopped them, “Make sure you wear the Mesha stones the Panshad enchanted. I would like communications through this operation.” The man spoke, “As you will it Your Highness.”
They left the room and I turned back to look towards Blackwood. I had wondered what Alexandra was doing at this moment. She was probably sleeping since it was the dead of night and likely The Chalshin was standing guard over her. I was not particularly thrilled with a heated dog watching over just as the full moon went away. I had heard The Chalshin was a huge flirt as well. I wanted to hear from my Blackwood spy, usually I would wait for the written report, but this was his first day with her. The written report would come in a few days like the schedule was intended. I pulled out the magic mirror that Panshad had connected to the Mesha stones we gave to all our spies. This was an effective tool to keep up-to-date communications. Humans had telephones and we had enchanted Mesha stones. Panshad was the best in the kingdom at enchantments of already existing objects. Unfortunately, enchanted objects weren’t nearly as effective as magical tools. You had to charge them so they could remain effective so that is why the spies had to come in once a week to get a charge from her. I spoke to the mirror, “I need to speak with Delvian.” The mirror glowed green, and I heard a voice speak, “Your Highness? Do you have new instructions?” I cleared my throat, “No, I just want an update.” There was a short silence on the other end, “Well, I tailed her all day. The Chalshin was getting too close to her, lots of physical contact but he rescued her from Lady Maigny striking her in the face.” I clenched my fist and pounded it on the desk. I didn’t like that he was touching her needlessly but what enraged me more was that Melody would dare think she could lay a finger on Alexandra. You could hear on the other end that Delvian was hesitant to say more, “Is that all?” He drew a sharp breath, “The manor has been active tonight, I haven’t had a chance to infiltrate to find out what is going on. Judging by the haste with which the Duke showed up, it can’t be good. He left the house shortly after with a look of horror on his face.”
It was news that I didn’t want to hear. The Order of The Old Ways was notorious for poisoning their victims. I had wondered to myself if they had found a way to get into her household to poison her instead since their first attempt was unsuccessful thanks to the efforts of my brother and me. I huffed out the breath I was holding, “I need to you to get in there now and find out what is going on with her. You will be rewarded well if you do.” I heard shifting, “Yes, Your Highness. Are we keeping open communication?” I sat down at my desk, “Yes but I will be quiet on my side so as not to alert the occupants of the manor.” He spoke again, “It looks like I have an opening, Ms. Tannen and The Chalshin have left the manor. He has an injury but I’m not close enough to tell you what it is. I will slip in behind them.” There were sounds of swift movement on the other end and a whisper, “I can hear the maids talking about how long the mistress will be asleep.” I was thankful that I had assigned my only Hearbat to her manor so that he could quickly gather information without being in the room. I heard Delvian climb up the stairs, but he did not enter any rooms. He continued, “The King is here. He said that he is sending a message to his brother via Panshad’s hearth. He said he hopes he gets the message in time.” In time for what, perhaps the key to Alexandra’s current predicament was something only I could help her with. I perked up and sent Delvian the light signal that let him know that the information gathering is complete. I heard him slip out of the manor, “Are you sure that was sufficient information Your Highness?” I cleared my throat, “Yes. I believe that we are likely getting the information from Panshad as we speak. I will get a clearer picture from her, I am sure. If not, I will go to Blackwood myself. That is all for now, keep an eye out still.” I told the mirror, “I am done talking to Delvian.”
Just as I placed the mirror back in my drawer, the door opened and Panshad hurried in. Sweat was glistening off her tan skin as she came running in, “Your Highness, I have news from Vanessa.” I would not chide her for not bowing since this was an urgent matter involving my love, “Speak.” She puffed out the air in her lungs, “She said that The Batiste was poisoned by The Order. This poison was not like the others that they had ever deployed, it wasn’t meant to kill her but to drive her insane. She has been reverted to your ancestor’s primal selves.” I clenched my fists, “Those rotten bastards will pay for this. What is being done? Did she say?” She nodded, “For now, she has placed a magical tool in her hands to keep her from preying on anyone else. Apparently, she has already victimized The Chalshin.” My nails dug into my skin at the mention of her touching him, “How?” She shook her head, “That was not relayed in the message. She said that there is only one person in the kingdom who could help Alexandra.” I sat up in my seat, they must mean me since they specifically contacted me, “Okay, would that be me?” She shook her head again, “No, Your Highness. That would be Dorothea, the witch that resides in Blackwood. They ask that you not interfere with retrieving her. Grand Pretre has foretold that if you did, this would be disastrous for her.” I could feel the blood drain from my face, I was so blinded by rage that I had sent my spies hastily. How could I have known that she would be the key to Alexandra’s very existence. I pulled out the mirror, “I need to speak to Pandora.” The mirror lit up green and went dark. I looked up at Panshad, “When was the last time Jackal and Pandora charged their stones.” She gasped, “Not since last week Your Highness.” I felt the world spinning around me and I wanted to faint. I looked at Panshad, “Are you any good at portals?” She sighed, “Not very, I can get you close but not to an exact location. Vanessa said that she and The Chalshin have been deployed to protect Dorothea at all costs just in case the message didn’t get you in time.” I nodded, “Close enough will have to be good enough. Let’s go.” She nodded and then spoke the words to open the portal which glowed in the ambience of the room, and we stepped through. I had just hoped that I could make it in time to stop my order.
