Discoveries in the Moonlight
Turold lowered his voice, his expression grim and eyes downcast. "We found them like this, your grace."
Matias stepped between Aleksasha and the grizzly scene, blocking her view of whatever it was at the edge of the forest that smelled so heavily of blood. "Don't look, Alek. I don't want you to see something so horrible." He looked over his shoulder at her, noting the displeasure dancing across her face.
Aleksasha glared at Matias. "This is a matter that concerns me as well, Matias. I'm not as fragile that whatever this is will break me."
"That's not what this is about, Alek." Matias murmured. "I just… don't want you to gaze upon something like this. Not again." He turned his attention forward again, feeling the matter was settled.
She fumed and peeked around Matias's broad back, her eyes widening at the sight. Her breath caught as she took in what Matias did not want her to see. Moonlight streamed through the branches, illuminating two small male figures laying on torn earth amidst broken brush. Their round faces looked so young, with their eyes closed, it looked like they were sleeping. Their clothing was rumpled and shredded, like something attacked them. Blood stained their hair and the ground, their hands clenched with outstretched arms. She recognized the youths.
"Oh no," she gasped, covering her mouth in dismay. "Who did this to Theo and Madan?" Her voice trembled.
Turold shifted uncomfortably as his gaze shot to Aleksasha.
Matias frowned, he reached out to Aleksasha to block her view but stopped himself. "I told you not to look for a reason, Alek. I'm not trying to fight you on this," his voice low and firm. There was resignation in his eyes as he shook his head and returned his attention to Turold. He stepped aside to allow her to move closer if she wished.
"This happened to our people. It is my concern too." Aleksasha slowly walked toward the scene, her hand trembling at her breast as her slippers crunched against broken foliage. Her heart ached to see Theo and Madan like this.
They're so pale. Just earlier they were happily talking about the horses of all the guests…
"Who were they?" Matias asked Turold.
Turold sighed, lowering his gaze. "The Duchess has the right of it. They are two of our stable hands," he grimly explained. He paused, placing his right hand over his heart in silent salute. "Both loyal, young boys. We found them here moments ago."
"Who would do this to them?" She asked in a voice barely above a whisper.
"We found this clutched in Theo's hand," Turold held up a bloody scrap of pale blue fabric.
Matias accepted the cloth, his eyes narrowing as he examined it. It was silvery and sparkled in the light even drenched in blood. His expression darkened, recognizing the fabric. "It looks familiar but I need to confirm."
"From how the ground is torn and their wounds, it looks like they fought back. Madan took the brunt of it. We think he was protecting Theo." Turold sadly added.
Alek sorrowfully smiled. "He did always dream of becoming a knight like his brother." Her stomach churned at the thought of their final moments. She looked at the scrap in Matias's hands.
That looks familiar. She thought as her gaze shifted to Turold. She swallowed, her voice steady despite how quickly her heart and mind were racing. "You said this was related to Lady Selene, how?"
The guard captain shifted uncomfortably, glancing to Matias for some form of approval. Matias nodded and Turold continued. "She was seen near the stables earlier tonight talking with Theo and Madan. I can't determine what was said, but her presence there was unusual. The guards who saw her reported that she seemed agitated."
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she turned on Matias. Her anger flaring. Her eyes glistened with restraint tears and face flushed red with anger. She jabbed her finger into his chest. "You said you were handling her. Is this how you conduct your affairs? Two boys dead on our estate."
Matias looked at her with an unreadable expression on his face. His icy blue eyes fixed on the fabric in his hands and then down to the finger in his chest. "This doesn't confirm anything, Alek." He said finally, in that infuriatingly calm tone of his. "We will question her and everyone else who might have witnesses what happened tonight."
"If you're questioning her," Aleksasha demanded. "I will be there. I deserve to know what she has to say."
"Absolutely not." Matias replied instantly in a tone that told Aleksasha that there would be no swaying his decision. "Let me and my men conduct this investigation. This is our job to protect our estate from threats like this."
Aleksasha straightened, indignant. "I'm the mistress of this estate, Matias. This is my home. These are my people too.. Don't deny me the truth."
Matias's hand cupped her cheek, his touch gentle despite the tension in his voice. "Alek, I'm not denying you the truth. But this is dangerous. Whoever did this… I won't let them near you."
Aleksasha's lips trembled, but she met his gaze steadily. "You've asked me to trust you, Matias. Now I'm asking you to trust me."
For a moment, his icy eyes softened, and he nodded curtly. "As you wish. But stay close."
Her heart raced as his touch reminded her of something else, far removed from this grizzly scene. She blushed and stepped back from Matias, giving herself space.
He's trying to distract me from what I've seen. He remembers what happened before our marriage… As much as I appreciate him trying to protect me… the truth is seldom pretty.
"All right. I will not interfere with your work," she conceded. "I want to trust you."
Matias smiled affectionately at Aleksasha, gently kissing her forehead before turning his attention to Ser Turold. "Ser Turold, take us back to the manor. And get the men together to begin the investigation."
The guard captain for his part was trying his best to remain passive and uninvolved in their private moment until Matias called for him. He looked toward them almost sheepishly. Turold straightened and nodded. He bowed his head. "Yes, your grace," he affirmed. "Someone will ensure the boys are taken care of." He led his masters away from the scene, not wanting to look back. Aleksasha and Matias followed after.
As the distance between them and the scene increased, the stench of death was replaced with replaced with rich florals and damp grass. Sounds from the banquet drifted toward them intermingling with trickling of the garden's fountain. Their footsteps seemed too loud against the cobblestone.
Aleksasha shivered as as breeze brushed over her skin and Matias, pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her as they walked along the path back through the garden. His warmth was reassuring. She watched his profile, wondering what secrets he kept locked away so securely from her. Her voice was soft as she broke the silence. "This isn't how I wanted us to celebrate tonight."
"Nor I." Matias admitted, glancing down at her. "I never wanted you to see death up close ever again in your life time."
She pursed her lips together. "I didn't either but that's not how life works. Is it?"
"No." Matias replied softly, his expression shifted back into an unreadable mask. "But it doesn't stop me from wishing it is how it should be for you."
Aleksasha blushed and looked toward the grand hall, where laughter and music of the banquet continued unabated, oblivious to the horrors unfolding just beyond the sturdy walls of the manor. She took a deep breath and gathered her resolve. "If I could blame it all on superstition, I would. But this is more deliberate than fate." She commented softly.
His jaw tightened. It struck her as odd because he had no visible reaction when she had brought up Selene's mention of the curse earlier.
She felt a thought bubble up to the surface. And she paused. "We need to present a unified front, regardless of how I might feel. There is a chance this is being done to sow additional discord between us. I don't know for what end, but I need to be brave. I don't know if I can be objective here," she admitted quietly.
"Yes. It is an effective tactic to divide alliances." Matias looked at her with wonderment and frowned, nodding. "Attack your enemy at their heart and blind them with their emotions."
"I will control my temper." Aleksasha's brow furrowed as she watched him. She looked toward the grand hall with a sigh. "It's time to go seek out the truth."
"Yes," Matias nodded. "Remember. We make no claims or accusations, we don't have enough proof to determine anything yet. We are trying to determine the truth, not force what we perceive to be truth. Things are never what they seem," he quietly commented, his voice filled with a mix of determination and regret. "Let's find out what Selene knows,"
Aleksasha nodded, her hand grasping his with a firm squeeze. "Let's."