The Winehouse (2)

"The workers were not necessarily bruised but the retails started to fail since the news of the failed assassination that occured within the winehouse's perimeter."

Selestia's brows pleated as she listened to Fritz talking. How could this have happened? It was a short period of time when she was gone but hostilities already made their move. Venemiah's eyes were glued outside the window, diligently observing what was on the outside of the carriage. Grandel who was beside him tried to add to his notions.

"Have you any knowledge of their intent?" Grandel inquired.

"I can only venture a supposition," Fritz responded.

"Would you suppose that it was an eventful scheming of that stale man who appeared in the vineyard a month ago?" Selestia catechized.

"I did surmise similar as yours. Although, I can't seem to figure why he would do such a thing."

Venemiah sighed silently. "Isn't it because such occurrence would cause your mind's convolution? To think about it, the assassination occured right after Selestia left the nation which would like to signify that the only barrier for such scheme was Selestia. I would like to think that it was to distract you so you would not notice a bigger scheme ahead. The man appeared dubitably before you for his rigor, though in my speculation, he was not the head of the faction who designed the gimmick. He was only a bait, if it happened that no one had died amidst the attack, it is not a failed assassination but an artifice. A facade..."

Fritz and Grandel was stupefied as they heard him speak, although Selestia nodded, vying to comprehend if the case he mentioned was arguable.

"If it were a facade, what would you tell the bigger schemes you mentioned would be?" Selestia required an answer.

"Upon our entrance to the gates, I sensed that we were tailed by three personas on horseback. I feel like they are closer and have not gone yonder. Just as close to us. The plan was not to assassinate the workers in the winehouse, but to assassinate an heir." Venemiah's eyes stared toward Fritz's direction.

Selestia crossed her arms and nodded, she fit the pieces Venemiah put together, to no doubt it fit like a key. "You were saying that such occurrence was only to draw my brother out so that he could be killed? How do you think would anyone have the guts to prevent my brother's enthronement?

"I knew not of any other affairs of the Celestial royalty, my empire bear an affair of its own."

Fritz nodded in agreement. "That sits right. Thank you, Your Excellency."

Venemiah nodded. Fritz averted his focus to his sister. "If the plan was to assassinate me, the culprit could only be invested with the throne. Someone like father..."

Grandel's eyes lit brightly. "Would the King have done that?"

"The winehouse is an unfrequented dwelling amidst the regions deep in the woods of Shyna. I assured that the import of grapes from the vineyard were thoroughly guarded by my men, the mere man who could've known the presence of the winehouse other than us would be the King." Fritz carefully explained through the details. But it could only cause Selestia to wonder in such disbelief.

"What could the old man's reason be to struggle to kill you?" Selestia bit the tip of her thumb in anticipation. What scheme could her audacious father be willing to create?

The carriage halted at the rear of the woods. The transportation immediately left after their weights left the carriage. It was rather a long trail, the winehouse was so secluded that it was hidden even in an untouched portion of land.

Venemiah followed closely, his hands marked each tree he crossed. He was observant of his surroundings even still when they reached the winehouse's destination. The door creaked in silence as the door unlocked, empty barrels were everywhere, desolate as it could've ever been. The workers were nowhere to be found.

"Where are the workers, brother?" Selestia inclined.

"I knew not of their whereabouts, I was still able to visit them yesternight and examine their well-being. It just so happened that they're missing..." Fritz responded.

"It reeks of wine here..." Grandel groaned covering his nose with his arms.

There were loud taps of water falling from what seemed to be from a broken spigot of a valve. The four approached carelessly, wine spilled all around the surface and not one barrel still bear wine.

"What could have been the cause for this? And why would they desire to cause such fatuity in the winehouse? Could they have done that on factories smaller than this. Celeste would be burdened with no wine, especially that a feast is coming..." Grandel murmured.

But silence could only prevail within.

A loud crash echoed amidst the eerie and unsettling atmosphere of what seemed to be the dilapidated winehouse. Venemiah reacted quickly whilst Selestia stood her guard. Grandel was not made for this, nonetheless. He was not a warrior, lowly as he could be, he was only a mere former duke. He did not incline himself in interest for battles or losing his life while fighting.

It was an attack as they felt it. There were sudden footsteps so loud, coming from behind them. Venemiah pressed the soles of his feet on the ground, he balanced himself with his toes and twisted his ankles toward the rear end. As quickly as his footwork reacted so did his hands, he reached for something under his undershirt and drew out a dagger from underneath his clothing.

Selestia immediately paced back to ensure that she may come unharmed, her hands grabbed Grandel's clothing causing him to stand closest to her. Slowly whilst being observant, her fingers slid underneath her skirt. The louder the thud grew, the faster she reacted, her legs bound with leather upholstery bore knives under. She quickly grabbed them and pointed forward to which seemed unknown up ahead.

The area was dark, it was as if the night came too early. A step back after the other, Selestia and Venemiah found themselves behind each other with their backs meeting on each other's. Grandel closely held onto Selestia's sleeves, though something does not sit right anymore.

"Where is he? Where...?" Grandel shook, trembling in fear.

"What are you talking about? Hush and be still, Grandel. We know not when the recreant will beset toward us."

Grandel held on her sleeves tighter. "But my Empress, he's not here anymore..."

Selestia grew infuriated. "Who are you talking about?"

"Prince Fritz, he's not here anymore..."