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Chapter 38
Dean wishes he could say he's happy to be back to Dragskalion. But he has absolutely no reason for saying it as he can't shake off the feeling that he's walking through a ghost town. Nothing but silence and empty streets greet him, and he exchanges worried glances with Sam. There are a few stray dogs jumping out of bushes, barking and scaring their horses, but other than that the place looks abandoned.
"What happened here?" Sam whispers in astonishment, not recognizing the place which once used to be busy, noisy, and full of life.
As they go further into the town their concerns only get worse. It seems like the robbers or whoever attacked this place burned down most of the houses, barns and other buildings.
Dean clenches his fist on the rein. "I swear to all existing gods that if they harmed Bobbi –"
Bobbi's hut where the Winchesters had been raised looks awful: it's half burned down and the door is partly unhinged, creaking with every blow of a small breeze. The smell of smoke and scorched wood is still lingering in the air.
"Bobbi!" the brothers exclaim simultaneously, dismounting their horses in hurry and rushing towards the door.
Inside the hut is a mess: whatever small furniture Bobbi had is now broken and its shards are scattered around; there are dents and holes in the walls, as if someone had been trying to take them down.
"Bobbi! Where are you? For the love of the gods please be alive!" Dean's voice is shaking just like his body.
"I'm here," comes a weak voice from the dark corner, making the brothers jump in surprise.
The Winchesters run towards it, stepping on broken pieces of pottery. The floor groans from their weight and hefty steps.
And there in the dark corner they see the man who has raised them as his own sons, providing them with all the necessary care and fatherly love he could have given. The old man is sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, looking bruised, beaten but still unbroken.
"Bobbi, you are alive." Sam's eyes begin to sting as he hugs the man and clings to him like he's life depends on it.
"I'm hard to kill," the man chuckles and pats one of his adopted sons on the back.
"I'm glad to see you have not departed to the other world." Dean hugs his surrogate father as soon as his brother moves away.
"What happened here? We got a messenger from you, saying the town had been attacked by robbers," Sam asks as he sits next to Bobbi.
"Seven nights ago a troop of robbers came to town. They were armed to the teeth and the town was not ready for it. They raided Dragskallion, killed and slaughtered, robbed and raped, spilled blood, took whatever they could and burned down what couldn't be taken. When they came here, I sent four of them to the Otherworld but they outnumbered me. I've never been a rich man and they were enraged when they couldn't find any valuable possessions in this hut, that's why they burned it down. The rumors say they went to the North but their leader said they would be back again." Bobbi sighs with obvious pain and desperation in his voice.
"Does Uldred know about it?" Dean inquires. They have not seen any soldiers in the town from the royal army.
"No."
"Why not? You should have informed him." Sam looks at his brother for support.
"Because everyone knows that you have sent Uldred away which convinced people that the king is powerless. You have the reins in your hands now," Bobbi snorts, throwing an amused glance at Dean who flushes red and averts his eyes.
"That's not true," the young man mumbles. "He's still the king."
"Whatever you say."
"It does not matter now. We will inform him about the situation and he will send warriors to Dragskalion. But for now, you must come with us. I will not let you stay in this ruined hut. You should gather your stuff and get ready for departure. We will leave in the evening." Dean declares determined as he shifts on the floor but yelps unexpectedly when there is a deafening scream and a sharp pain in his left hand.
"What in the underworld was that?" he shouts angrily, rubbing his hand.
"That was Naila. You stepped on her tail." Bobbi's laughter is so nice to hear.
"What?" It seems that the brothers like to talk at the same time.
"My cat, you idiots. You must have stepped on her tail," Bobbi explains, still chuckling.
"Since when do you have a cat?" Dean is still glaring, looking at his hand with red scratches on it.
"I found her two days ago. She was surrounded by coyotes and badly injured. They would've ripped her into pieces had I not come to her aid. Her front leg hurts and she's limping. Most probably she will never be able to use it but it does not prevent her from being crazy and chasing her tail. She's very affectionate too." Bobbi talks with so much tenderness in his voice that the brothers can't help but smile.
"Oh, alright then." Now Dean can see an orange cat sitting in Bobbi's lap, purring and rubbing her face against the man's hand.
"This is the only thing I can take with me," the old man tells them, scanning his hut with sadness in his eyes.
"Bobbi, we will rebuild your hut, I give you my word. But not now. I promise, you will have it back in the same shape as it used to be. Trust me," Dean assures the man, knowing that he's speaking the truth.
Bobbi gives him a tired smile. "I know, son. And I'm grateful to you for it."
"Alright, sentiments aside. I think we should clean up this place at least a little so we could rest 'til evening," Sam suggests with enthusiasm.
Surprisingly no one argues.
Bessabel knows that something has changed and not for the good when he sees Magnus returned to the fortress. The sorcerer of Battle Shadows has become more sullen, grim-faced and reticent than before. His actions and moves seem careful and well-measured which causes a turmoil of doubts in Bessabel's mind. He needs to keep an eye on Magnus, especially now when both brothers are gone.
Walking out of the royal garden after his nightly prayers Bessabel notices Magnus speaking with a stranger, who's clad in grey cape and standing with his back towards the former slave. Bessabel hides behind the nearest tree to watch the two men, who're speaking quietly. It's very hard to understand what they're discussing as the words cannot reach him but Bessabel feels in his gut that it's something significant. And when Magnus nods with "Yes, I understand. All will be done," and the stranger throws a little bag at him, which sounds like rattling gold coins, Bessabel knows that danger is close.
The stranger and Magnus walk out of the garden, leaving Bessabel, puzzled and extremely worried, behind. The healer steps out from his hiding place, reaching the spot where the two men were just standing. His gaze falls upon a little shining thing when the rays of the moon reflect on it.
Bessabel bends down, picking up the thing which turns out to be a golden coin. He takes a good look at it, then flips the coin. His brows shot up and the man chokes a gasp when he recognizes the house symbol engraved on the back of the coin.
"Dean, I pray to all the gods that you return as soon as possible. We may be in grave danger!" The healer closes his eyes, mumbling the prayers fervently and asking the gods for their protection.
It's been a few days since Dean left for Dragskalion and Castiel feels a dull ache in his heart. He'd got so used to their intimate touches and closeness that now it feels like he's missing a large piece of his soul. The days without the brothers, especially Dean, at the fortress are boring and seem to stretch endlessly. Most of his time is spent talking to and comforting Jess, who's struggling with the unpleasant sensations from her pregnancy. According to Bessabel's advice she lies in bed most of the time and Castiel sits beside her, reading her books or telling funny stories. And he feels a bit better whenever Jess giggles or lets out a surprised shriek.
It's late at night and the prince decides to go to sleep when he hears knocking on his door. He stops unlacing his shirt, turning towards the entrance.
"Yes? Who's there?"
"Prince Castiel, may I come in?" sounds Magnus' voice.
"Of course. Come in." Castiel opens the door and meets the sorcerer's alarmed gaze.
"You look concerned. Has something happened?" Castiel asks confused.
"Yes and I don't know how to tell you or ask for a favor." Magnus fidgets nervously.
"What is it? Come in and please tell me what's bothering you." The brunet steps aside and lets the man into his bedchamber.
"It's about the settlement." Magnus swallows loudly. "There is… there is a little girl and… and…" Magnus looks about the room, his eyes darting from side to side.
"What about this child?" Castiel's voice is trained, concern already filling in.
"She's dying, Your Royal Highness," Magnus informs forlornly and Castiel's stomach churns at hearing the words.
"B-but how? Why?" the blue-eyed man asks hoarsely. No child should die of such young age!
"She's ill. Unfortunately with something that is not curable and her time has come to depart to the gods," Magnus shakes his head.
"Is there anything at all that we can do for her?" Castiel asks desperately.
"That's why I came," the sorcerer smiles bitterly. "She has a last wish."
"Which is?" Castiel almost shouts, ready to do whatever the child wants, just to make her happy one more time.
"She wants to see you and tell you a story about her foal she'd found in the woods without its mother."
Castiel rubs his forehead with a trembling head, feeling devastated.
"Let's go," he tells the man.
"But you were going to bed. Maybe we should go in the morning?" Magnus suggests carefully.
"No! It cannot wait. The child may not have so much time. We are going now."
"As you wish." Magnus bows and follows the prince into the corridor.
They ride towards the settlement in silence. They've covered the half way when a group of fifteen riders appear on their path, blocking their way.
"Who are you? Out of our way!" Castiel demands, piercing their leader with an intense gaze.
"You are not the one in charge here, boy!" the man laughs mockingly, giving a signal to his warriors.
Castiel and Magnus are surrounded from every side and before the prince has time to unsheathe his sword, one of the attackers jumps at him, tackling to the ground. Castiel manages to punch him in the jaw but in another instant he feels a sack pulled over his head and something heavy connecting with his scalp.
"Damn it, Morhas! I didn't order to kill him!" the leader of the attackers yells at one of his men.
"He's not dead. He's just out," Morhas grins widely when he lifts the sack to be sure that Castiel is still alive. "He's breathing."
"Thank gods," the leader mutters. "Drape him over a horse."
While his warriors are busy tying Castiel to the horse the man turns to Magnus who'd been watching the whole scene with an envious calm.
"Good work. My lord will be satisfied."
"I hope no one finds out about this," Magnus mumbles. "I will return to the fortress saying that my health worsened on the way and Castiel sent me back to the fortress to get some rest and that he went to the settlement alone."
"Good. You do that. Hurry up, we don't have a lot of time!" the leader shouts at his men, spurring his horse into motion.
Riding back to the fortress in the whirlwind of dust Magnus feels joyous. His faint smile turns into thunderous laughter as the sweet feelings of revenge and victory make his blood boil. For all the humiliation and lack of respect he's finally hit Dean Winchester in the weak spot.
Three days later when the brothers and Bobbi return to the fortress and Dean sees Bessabel's deathly pale face, he instantly knows that something horrible has happened while he was gone.
"Castiel went missing," the healer informs him. "We cannot find him anywhere. And I think I may know what happened to him."
A flock of blackbirds sitting on poplar trees in the royal garden start and fly away with a disturbing squawking when a mighty yell erupts from the depths of the fortress.
To be continued
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