A Dangerous Destiny: The Pure One Book I

Chapter Forty-Nine

 "Have you finished your lessons for today? Your chores as well? "

"I have, Ma'am," Karina answered.

 "Good. I need to speak to Manna privately," Fiona said. "Why don't you go practice by the forest for a bit. It will not be dark for another hour yet and you might train there without fear of notice. Everyone will be heading into town when the evening bell rings, and it is nearly time.

"Yes, Ma'am," Karina said, obediently nodding her head.

Fiona smiled. "Just mind yourself and come back before it gets too late. I will not need long with your guardian."

Again Karina nodded her understanding before sheathing her sword and setting off. Fiona stood there for a moment watching her daughter. There were so many things she wished she could tell her. Now she knew there might never be a chance to do so. As the girl disappeared into the distance, Fiona sighed and went to find Manna.

————————

Around the back of the house, the shed door was open. Fiona could see Manna's figure, hunched over as she moved the logs from a woodpile onto a small wagon.

Dong Dong

In the distance the evening bells tolled from the town below, the sound chiming in Fiona's ears like a pleasant song as a soft winter breeze picked up, sending the smell of the cedar towards her. Fiona inhaled deeply.

Manna must have sensed her standing in the doorway. The old woman rose slowly, forcing her arthritic knees to obey her command. "I wondered if you would come back here," she said, turning to face her.

"Did you really doubt?"

"No more than you questioned whether or not I would betray you to the Council."

Fiona said nothing.

"I assume that something of significance has happened," Manna said. "Beyond the fall of Frenwick that is."

"Then you have heard about Frenwick?"

Manna sighed. "There are few who haven't, " she answered softly. "Such news travels quickly, but I knew immediately of the tragedy. A survivor of the massacre managed to ride here on a stolen horse the night after the attack. He gave a horrifying account and left one of the victims with me in hopes I might be able to heal him.

"And?"

Manna shook her head slowly. "He was too badly burned. There was nothing I could do."

Fiona nodded.

"All throughout the Empire people believe the attack to have been the work of the rebels. The men who rode into the town identified themselves as such before they..." She trailed off.

"Manna, the Vox Populi did not do this! Alex did not do this."

"I know."

Fiona's face tightened trying to prevent the tears of frustration and anger that threatened to pour forth.

"I have heard of the Vox Populi's violent attacks before," Manna continued, "but they have never acted so cruelly against an entire village. As much as I may disagree with his methods for bringing about change in Erestia, I have never seen Alexander Harrison as a murder of the innocent."

"It was him. It was Henry. I swear it, Manna. He means to set us against each other!" Fiona paced the small shed, doing her best to stave off the threatening deluge of emotion that sought to consume her. "He must have heard of the Council's shifting views towards the Crown somehow. He needed to ensure that the Senmin would not join the rebellion. He must have found out that Merkin had agreed to speak with Alex!"