Bonnie's wrist grew hotter as the infinity symbol extracted itself. Drums filled the air as the loops grew and wrapped themselves around Dixie's torso. The insignia glowed brightly.
Next thing, the Holy Sword appeared. It hovered over Dixie and began to spin rapidly.
Hildegarde shielded her eyes as she watched in disbelief. "Alexander! What is happening!?"
"It's the same drumming. Her soul is being affected," Bonnie whispered.
"What drumming?" Hildegarde was confused. She could hear nothing.
Bonnie's eyes moved from the spinning sword to Dixie's form. "I think...the Holy Sword...the symbol is going to heal her. It already saved us once before."
As if waiting for Bonnie's command, the magical rune flooded Dixie's body with restorative power. The sword spun faster, the sound cutting through the air and causing a sudden sharp wind.
Dixie's blood loss was replenished. Her heart beat faster, sweat bloomed on her skin and her cheeks returned to their rosy hue.
Suddenly, shouts filled the air as Hildegarde's door was kicked in and her tiny cabin stormed by armed knights.
The Holy Sword instantly vanished and the infinity symbol imprinted itself back onto Bonnie's wrist.
The knights were briefly startled by the flash of light before they started their interrogation.
"What has happened here!? Who is responsible for the killings?!"
Ignoring them, Bonnie checked Dixie's pulse and breathed a sigh of relief.
Hildegarde's fearful gaze was locked on the armed knights in her home.
A sharp jerk on her shoulder whirled Bonnie around to face the angry glare of the Knight Captain of the city of Delgard.
"I asked you a question! Who are you and what has happened here!?"
Bonnie gritted her teeth. It was just one shitty situation into another. She saw that the four knights who had stormed the cabin all had their swords drawn and pointed at her.
They didn't pay the weeping old woman any regard.
Looking over their shoulders, Bonnie could see more armed knights and civilian spectators gathered near the hedges.
"We were attacked." Bonnie pointed an angry finger outside. "Those dead men comprise of both the assailants and our personal guards. And how do you not know who we are? Did you not see the carriage with the insignia of House Del Montague parked right outside? The same emblem on the armor of our fallen knights?"
The Captain stepped back, recognition flashing in his eyes. He lowered his sword. As did the other three. "Young Duke Del Montague, forgive me. I meant no disrespect. We were called upon by a panicked group to deal with what was described to be a large scale attack. The situation outside is one of the worst my men and I have ever seen! This part of the neighborhood has always been peaceful." He spoke in a less heated tone. "What exactly transpired?"
Bonnie blew air out through her lips. "Instruct your men to search the bodies of the assailants."
The Captain nodded. "It's being done as we speak."
"Nana, stay here with my sister while I go sort this out."
Hildegarde nodded, her mind burning with curiosity, fear and apprehension. She struggled to control her trembling.
"Lord Alexander, are you hurt?" Another knight asked. All four of them were eyeing the Young Duke's exposed torso and the blood that covered him.
"This is not my blood. Not all of it, anyway. Most of it belongs to those cowards who attacked us!" Bonnie replied harshly as she stalked outside.
The knights followed suit.
Taking a thorough look around, Bonnie concurred that this incident would make headlines. It was akin to the remnants of a zombie attack. After all, she had dismembered most of the assailants.
It was not her intention to do so, but the Holy Sword was simply too strong. It destroyed anything it struck.
It was very noisy.
There was large crowd of spectators. Some closer than others. Many were watching from their porches and fences. All speaking in distressed tones.
Bonnie's head spun like a swivel, taking in all the pairs of eyes directed at her before speaking to the head knight. "Those rats killed all of our men. We were ambushed and completely taken unaware. There were four that got away. Three ran in that direction and the other one shot an arrow that came at me from that direction." She pointed with her chin.
"I already have my men scouring the entire area. If the assailants are still in the vicinity, we will catch them." The Captain announced.
Bonnie shook her head. "Those assassins were highly trained and came out of nowhere. I doubt your men will be able to find them. The only thing they'd have to do is change clothes and take off their masks. Then they'll blend in as civilians."
A subordinated knight walked up, bowed his head and gave his report.
The Captain was baffled. "Lord Alexander, the bodies of six Del Montague knights have been accounted for. The number of assassins is twenty. This wouldn't have been an even fight by any means. How is it that yourself, the old woman and your sister are not dead as well?"
Bonnie looked away from the knights who were trying to calm the crowd. "Sheer dumb luck on my part. I fought as hard as I could."
Another subordinate knight approached them. "Captain, we have not found any identification on the bodies of the masked men."
"As expected," Bonnie muttered.
"Fetch an artist from the printing house. We must have the faces of these dead men plastered all over the city at once!" The Captain commanded.
"Gather the bodies of all the Del Montague knights and put them in our carriage. Have your men escort them back to the Dukedom. Also, inform the Grand Duke of what has happened. Tell him that my sister and I will be arriving shortly," Bonnie ordered.
The subordinate knight bowed and went off to do as instructed.
"Captain, I need a second carriage for my sister and her nanny. Have them completely barricaded during their journey back to the Montague estate. Those cowards may strike again."
The Captain gave a nod. Before he left, Bonnie grabbed his shoulder. She suddenly remembered something. "What of our coachman? Has his body been accounted for?"
"I'm not certain, my lord. I will find out."
"Lord Del Montague, is that you?"
Bonnie turned towards the voice and spotted a commoner approaching her. What did this man want? "Yes, it's me."
"What has happened here?"
"My sister and I were paying a visit to our old nanny when we got attacked. All of our knights were slaughtered and my sister was severely wounded."
The spectators gasped. "Who would do such a thing!?"
"There are those whose hearts bleed with greed and envy. We were robbed and nearly taken hostage. Thankfully, we managed to kill most of them." Bonnie decided it would be better if everyone thought it was a simple matter of wealthy people being targeted.
"Is your sister alright, my lord?" A young woman asked.
"She is stable. Unconscious and weak, but she will live," Bonnie replied.
"Praise be to the Goddes--Oh!"
Alex followed the woman's gaze and saw Felicia being carried out by one of the Captain's knights. Hildegarde was right beside her, wiping away her tears with one hand and holding Felicia's hand with the other.
More people from the crowd spoke up.
"The lady is covered in blood!"
"Her clothes are torn! Such monsters!"
"How dare any man bloody a woman like that?! A noble born one at that!"
One of the knights spoke in a booming voice. "All of you! Clear the area! Do not interfere with our investigation! This was a severe attack and you all need to go inside and lock your doors!"
-----
Bonnie clenched her fists as she watched the last of the bodies of the assassins being tossed into an open wagon and led away.
Her mind went back to her sister.
Does Dixie even realize how close we came to dying? If not for her magic and the Goddess's sword, we'd both be dead right now. Hildegarde too.
Is this a foretaste of the horror that lies in store for us?
And what happed to our coachman?
Where is his body?
Why had everyone been accounted for except him?