The Hour of The Wolves

Chapter XVII (Alissarh)

Her head was pounding when she opened her eyes. She could not recognize the room where she was, but someone put her into a soft bed and  cleaned her up .Her clothes were changed to a grey linen dress. A sudden panic overcame her as she could not find her weapons and soul containers, but then she saw them pilled on the dresser next to the bed. She tried get up, but the room started to spin, and she fell back. An elderly woman entered the room with a bowl in her hands and closed the door behind her silently. She was still stunning even though time has already painted her hair silvery and craved the pattern of wisdom on her forehead.

“Good morning dear. Do you feel better?” She asked with a warm smile. “I am Luca’s wife, Carla. I don’t think we have met yet, but he told a lot about you. You are his favorite of the four troublemakers he used to call you lot. “

The idea and the memory of careless childhood made the Lissa smile.

“Yes, I think I feel a lot better. I think I over did it yesterday.”

“Yesterday? You have been sleeping for two days darling. Here, eat some soup, you need the gather some strength.” She handed the bowl over to Lissa who started to wolf it down in an uncourtly manner. 

“How did I get here? Did something important happened while I was asleep?” She questioned Carla and cleaned the dripping soup from her mouth.

“I was told you collapsed in your house after questioning a dead guard. Your man did not what to do as there are people look for you all over the town. Then they remembered my husband and that he is helping out the young lord, so they brought you here. I cleaned you and put you in the bed.”

“I am really thankful for what you did.”

“Don’t even mention it dear. As for what happened in the city.” She took a break here and her face darkened. “The city became a terrible place since then. When the festival of the wolves started everybody were out on the streets. There was a explosion, what I heard was the work of you man. He tried to destroy the masks, but he wasn’t fast enough. Half the city got theirs by then, thus when the bishop finished his speech the m******e started. Blood filled the canals that night. “Carla’s eyes became distant as she recalled the horrible night.  “The officials saw that the killings need to be controlled so they instituted a regulation. We can walk on the streets from sunrise to sun set freely. After nightfall all shall wear the masks on the streets and there are festive games where people can measure their strength. Those are horrible events and half the participants are there against there will.”

“How could we let this happen.” Asked Lissa sadly. “Where is the resistance , why don’t they help the people?”

“They suffered losses too. Endrolin and Valance disappeared so there is only Liam and Percy to lead them. They need to regroup and think of a useful plan, as they can’t jus start and kill half the city. They must figure out how to get rid of those cursed masks. “

“I see. It is  good to know that at least those two are doing okay. Do you know what happened to my man?”

“Yes. They wanted to stay by your side, but we couldn’t house so many people, it would have been to suspicious, so Luca helped them to sneak out to the rebel’s headquarters. “

“It was a wise choice. I am truly indebted to you for all the help.” She said and started to get up. The room still shook a bit, but she could stay on her feet.

“You are not well et, darling. You should say in the bed.” Protested Carla.

“I know, but I have duties which are more important than my health, thus I need to get going.” Said Alissarh and she started to equip her weapons. She put on a scarf around her head to hide her face then said farewell to the dear couple. She hurried through the streets not even look if she were followed.  She had to conserve that little power she had, if she wanted to find out the truth about the masked man. Something about the hunched man’s address bugged her constantly. She new the place but could remember why. I did not matter anymore. She just needed to walk two more streets and she will be there.

“If only the world would stop spinning for a second.” She murmured as she steadied herself against a wall to gather some strength. She was almost there, she could saw the house across the street. Her legs felt like they were made from iron, but she forced them to move. The house was just like the others in the street, yet some how there was an undeniable familiarity about it. She has been there. She knew the pattern of the door handle. The flowers in the windows and the pictures painted on the walls. She knew them, yet she could not tell why. Alissarh pushed down the handle and the door opened. She slowly entered the house. She tried to make as little sound as she could, but every step sounded like a canon shot to her ears. She entered the living room. It was a nice and cozy place which made her feel like home for some reason. She recognized the carpet and the hole burnt on it. She did it when they came over to play.

“Oh, no this cannot be. He cannot be the masked man.” She walked to the fireplace searched through the objects there. She dropped everything to the ground until she found what she looked for. A picture showing a happy family of four in golden frame. There were the parents and two children on it. One of the kids had a hunched back, but he happily holds his toy horse while the other one tried to look like an adult. She could recognize this face from a million. The spark of intelligence in the eyes, the thin build, the serious face.

“How could this happen?” She fell on the carpet and started to cry as the betrayal was too heavy for her hearth. From the picture the young Percival looked back at her disapprovingly.