44

GABRIELLA’S POV
As I gently locked the door, attempting not to awaken Nicklaus, I hurried down the hallway, my feet moving as swiftly as they could.
Margret. I had to go and see Margret. She might hold a solution-a charm, an incantation, a chant-anything, absolutely anything. Anything that could aid us in uncovering who was behind Estella’s abduction.
It was bad that they had attempted to take my daughter, but it was worse that we didn’t know their origin or have the faintest idea of what they might do next, where they could strike from.
Moreover, Nicklaus was too quick to anger. Even if he was going to kill the man we caught trying to take Estella across the border, he was supposed to detain him in the dungeon for at least a few days and extract a confession through torture before he revealed who had sent him.
Reaching the front of Margaret’s door, I knocked urgently, my hand trembling.
“Who’s there?” I heard her inquire from inside.
“It’s me. It’s me,” I said, my breath quivering.
“Who?” She asked again, irritation creeping into her voice this time.
“Me,” I whispered under my breath. I knew I should say my name, but I wasn’t sure if someone else might be listening. I couldn’t risk being discovered and then reported to Nicklaus.
“Gabriella, is that you?” She asked, uncertainty coloring her voice.
“Yes, yes,” I replied, exhaling a sigh of relief as she finally recognized my voice.
The door swung open suddenly, revealing Margaret’s intense gaze. Her expression softened, her eyes reflecting concern and curiosity. “Gabriella? What has brought you here in such a state?” she inquired, gesturing for me to come inside.
After a quick glance over my shoulder to ensure no one had observed my presence, I stepped into Margaret’s sanctuary. The air carried the scent of ancient tomes and exotic herbs, an intoxicating blend that both comforted and heightened my senses.
Tears streamed down my face as I implored Margaret, the weight of my emotions becoming overwhelming. “I need your help, Margaret,” I pleaded, my voice choked with sorrow and desperation.
Margaret’s concern deepened, her eyes brimming with compassion as she reached out to comfort me. “Calm down, calm down,” she soothed, her voice gentle yet firm. “Take a deep breath and tell me what’s troubling you. What has happened to Estella?”
I wiped away my tears, struggling to regain my composure. “Yes, we found her,” I began, my voice quivering with a mix of relief and anguish. “But that’s not the point, Margaret. We are completely in the dark about the entire situation.”
Margaret’s confusion was evident, her brows furrowing as she tried to make sense of my words. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.
My hands trembled as I searched for the right words to convey the seriousness of the situation. “We don’t know who took her,” I explained, my voice trembling with fear. “We don’t know who orchestrated this, we don’t know if this is merely a warning, we don’t know their potential next moves, we don’t know whether it’s a solitary enemy or a group. Margaret, we’re utterly clueless,” I confessed my fears to her.
“I understand your fear, Gabriella, but Nicklaus has already killed the man who abducted your daughter,” Margaret stated, her voice marked by a mix of confusion and concern.
I let out an exasperated sigh, frustration bubbling within me. “Precisely, Margaret! That’s where the larger problem lies,” I exclaimed, my hands gesturing in frustration.
Margaret furrowed her brow, her eyes narrowing as she struggled to comprehend my words. “Gabriella,” she emphasized, her tone edged with confusion, “what are you even saying? How does eliminating the culprit create a bigger problem?”
A surge of frustration surged through me, my emotions on the verge of boiling over. “You don’t get it, Margaret, you don’t!” I snapped, anger coloring my voice. How could she fail to grasp the gravity of the situation?
Her gaze bore into mine, a mixture of concern and annoyance etched on her face. “Then make me understand. Help me comprehend, because right now, I’m lost,” she retorted, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath in an attempt to steady my racing thoughts. When I spoke again, my voice was tinged with weariness and determination. “That man might have acted alone, but someone must have sent him,” I explained, my words measured and deliberate. “Now, with him dead, they’re bound to be alerted. And that, Margaret, that could lead to war. They won’t stop here. They’ll retaliate, and they’ll do so fiercely.”
A silence enveloped the room as Margaret absorbed my words. The gravity of the situation seemed to settle upon her shoulders, realization dawning in her eyes. “You’re right,” she muttered, her voice tinged with resignation. “I didn’t consider the consequences of Nicklaus’s actions. Unintentionally, we might have escalated the situation.”
“Yes, Margaret, that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to convey,” I exclaimed, my voice brimming with urgency. “First and foremost, we need to identify the traitor.”
Margaret nodded, her gaze focused and resolute. “Is that where you require my assistance?” she inquired, her voice composed yet infused with a sense of readiness.
A surge of hope surged within me upon hearing her willingness to help. I reached out, gripping her hands in mine. “Yes, Margaret. I need you to utilize your power, your arcane knowledge, to uncover the traitor,” I pleaded, my voice trembling with a mix of desperation and determination. “Please, Margaret, I’m begging you. We can’t afford to wait. Time is running out, and the lives of your people are hanging in the balance.”
Margaret’s gaze softened, sympathy shining in her eyes. “Alright, alright,” she reassured me, her voice gentle. “Just take a deep breath, Gabriella. I’ll exert every effort to get to the bottom of this.”
With her assurance, a glimmer of hope flickered within me. Margaret moved to a nearby table, gathering various ingredients and arcane objects. She arranged them meticulously, creating a sacred space where her powers could be harnessed to their fullest extent.
As she began to chant, her voice filled the room, resonating with ancient power. Her words flowed seamlessly: “Ancient forces of wisdom and truth, hear my call. Unveil the secrets that lie in the shadows, reveal the truth we seek. By the power of the celestial spheres, guide us on this path of illumination. Fadamoiod Sentaslutsa.”
I listened intently, a mixture of hope and trepidation in my eyes.
“Spirits of insight, lend us your sight. Grant us vision beyond the veil, pierce the darkness and bring forth the light. By the sacred flame that burns within, show us the way to the one who orchestrates this sinister game. Sercleah Veltarastia.”
I whispered a prayer under my breath, my fingers tightly intertwined.
“Elemental forces, I call upon you now. Earth, air, fire, and water, lend us your strength. Unleash your power and reveal the hidden threads of deception. By the earth beneath our feet and the winds that carry our pleas, expose the puppeteer who pulls the strings. Eortha, Aero, Fyr, and Waeter, aid us on our quest. Sibbe Secgengetan!”
I watched as she continued to chant: “Stars that adorn the night sky, guide us on this quest for truth. Let your radiance illuminate the path before us. By the constellations that govern destiny, grant us clarity and insight into the machinations of our enemies. Stjornur, leibeina oss a essari lei til sannleiks. Ljoma a undan okkur!”
I took a deep breath as my heart pounded in anticipation.
“Ancestors and guardians of truth, I beseech your presence. Stand beside us as we unveil the veiled, as we confront the darkness that threatens our kin. By the bonds of blood and the love that binds us, aid us in our search for justice and retribution. ttru og verndara sannleiks, standi hja okkur i essum stundum. Leii okkur a skyrslunum sem leynast, vi stondum frammi fyrir myrkri sem hotar okkar tt. Fjotrar bloi og astina sem tengir okkur, hjalpi okkur a finna rettlti og hefnd.”
The room grew still as Margaret’s chants filled the air, the atmosphere seemingly charged with ancient power. The foreign words rolled off her tongue, their mysterious cadence adding an extra layer of intrigue to the incantations. The energy in the room intensified, swirling around them like a whirlwind of possibilities.
As the final echoes of Margaret’s foreign chants faded, a hush settled over the room. The air felt thick with anticipation, as if the very fabric of reality awaited the response from the forces invoked.
“Gabriella, I’ve seen something,” she said, making my breath hitch.