The weather was merciless to anyone, but it felt like the raindrops were like whips of a scourge just for them. The stenches of the rich grass were overwhelming, demanding entrance to Bloom's stuffed nostrils. Something awfully familiar made her stomach do a back flip. She spotted violet flowers in a ditch. Must have been the ones Flora claimed to smell back at Alfea's staff room.
There were those few times they nearly ran into a patrol, having to dive in the long grass for cover. They couldn't be recognized, not yet. Heavens, they'd be hunted down if even one soldier caught a glance of the group. Even Stella had to admit that being well-known was getting irritating.
They made their way through a larger gathering of houses, at that point, if not earlier, noticing that the woman spoke the truth. They could hear doors slamming shut around them as pair or two of thick-based shoes left their prints on the muddy ground. Luckily, the patrol was eager to get inside, it seemed, and passed the hiding group of fairies quickly.
It was getting dark already —even though darkness was something that was there around the clock— when they approached the mountain, which Mortuus called his palace. Two guards stood at its main doors, making them wonder how many soldiers he exactly had at his service.
Layla cracked her knuckles, peeking from behind a small gathering of trees. "Now, which one should go first?"
"Maybe," Flora put a hand on her friend's, "we shouldn't. The risk of getting caught is too big. They could call for help."
"I know what to do." Musa smirked and cleared her throat. "A little lullaby is on its way." And so she sang, silently, yet loud enough for the closer guard to hear. Bloom knew what the music fairy was doing from her face. She was singing the song hidden in the guard's heart, using the talent she got on their graduation.
Needless to say, it worked. The guard started swaying with a joyful expression. It was as if he hadn't been so relieved for years. He collapsed on the ground, his companion only then noting that something was wrong.
"I think this one needs something more," Layla stated, sneaking closer in the safety of shadows that hid everything they laid themselves on. The others and she knew very well they couldn't use their magic safely outside. Their bright fairy magic could be seen miles away in such a colourless and gloomy environment. What she decided was to give the still conscious guard a good hit on the head. As anticipated, it worked just as well as the lullaby.
"The coast is clear," Layla informed in a bit too loud whisper. The others ran to her, and together they managed to push the heavy doors open.
The 'palace' wasn't much different inside. The walls were dark, unpolished rock, which reflected only the needed amount of light. If nothing else, Stella would have to be the eyes of everyone else too.
"Where to now?" Bloom questioned as the sun fairy sent an orb of warm light to dry their robes.
"Well, this place looks much like a maze," Tecna noted. "And as they say, you can always find your way if you take every right turn in a maze."
"You really think that'd work?"
"You have any better ideas?" Tecna held her hands on her hips, smiling lightly at the floating orb of light. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Let's try at least. We can't lose anything."
"That's true." Bloom sighed, gesturing to the right. "Let's go then. Keep your voices low and steps light. And remember, shadows are our friends here, even for you, Stella."
It turned out that Tecna had been right; after about half an hour they reached another pair of large doors, which were open just enough for them to hear what happened inside the room.
Musa held a finger on her lips to indicate silence, sneaking closer to the small gap between the two doors. The others followed, listening to the two male voices talking.
"Pathetic! You call yourselves soldiers, but you can't fight some pixies!"
"Sir, the groups are exhausted. If you lowered the protection magic, the seizures wouldn't come so early and—"
"Ridiculous! You know what that causes, Amer? Huh? That causes disloyalty. They'd escape. They are as low as street rats; they aren't able to complete a single task."
"But I did," the man called Amer said. Musa heard him suck in a breath in a manner that suggested regret.
"Yes. And you got your reward of that." The other man, who they supposed was Mortuus, sauntered down some stairs. "But there are still portals being used more often than usually."
"My cousins are coming," Amer hurried to say. "They... They thought they'd join the groups."
"It's been a while since we had volunteers." Musa could hear the smirk in his voice. "Very well. Now go, get yourself a better excuse before I need one for stabbing you."
Amer wasted no time and the Winx had to run for a hiding. The huge doors creaked open and Amer began walking along the hallway, blissfully unaware of the hiding group. After he had turned to other corridor, the girls were courageous enough to come from the shadows.
"Did you see what I saw?" Bloom asked, stealing glances of the corridor the man had chosen.
"Yes." Flora nodded with eyes slightly wide eyes. "He was the one that... That..."
"Killed Faragonda," Layla said through her teeth. "What do you think, girls?"
"About what's next? I think we all think the same." Stella gazed on them in turns, receiving nods from each of them.
"Let's get him," Bloom stated coolly.