Page 95 of The Silent Mountain
I don’t need to ask twice. Frederick hurries to fulfill my demands, and soon Ludwig holds a pen in his hands. Frederick is keeping the paper in place, his eyes widening in shock when Ludwig starts scribbling something down on it, as if he is in a trance. The pen in his hands is moving fast and surprisingly efficiently. Once he is done, he drops the pen and sinks back into the bed, closing his eyes. His breath is less rigid now, but his face is still pale.
Erin gently taps his forehead with an ointment while Frederick hands me the paper. He shakes his head. “I… I did not expect this,” he stutters.
Studying the paper, I notice, to my surprise, that Ludwig has drawn something. A cloaked figure, most likely a man, wearing a mask. And around him, there are birds fluttering, some of them dead on the ground.
“By Aengus,” I mutter.
Erin wipes her hands clean and comes closer again. “The birds again,” she announces.
“And who is that figure?” I ask.
She stares at the drawing as if she wants to cast a spell on it, but then she just sighs in frustration. “If only I knew.”
“You haven’t seen it anywhere before?”
“Unfortunately not, and I pride myself in knowing a lot,” she admits, before handing the drawing to Stefan. Just like her, he stares at it in deep concentration.
“The birds, it’s always the birds.”
“Indeed. It’s always them.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Erin,” I say. “Please make sure that Ludwig is as comfortable as possible.”
“I will,” she promises. None of us dares to comment on Ludwig’s general health. We saw what happened with Barbara. I know that Erin is tirelessly working on saving Ludwig’s life, but she can only do so much, and we need to be prepared for the worst.
“Can I keep the drawing for now?” Erin asks. “I will try to research.”
“Of course,” I say. “Stefan, when you are done, hand her back-“
I don’t get to finish my sentence, as a scream tears through the room. My first instinct is that it’s Ludwig again, but then there are more noises coming to my ears, and I instantly know it’s from outside. “Another attack!” I yell.
“Damn it!” Stefan curses.
“Erin, stay inside,” I command. “Make sure Ludwig and Cassie remain safe!”
“Yes, Your Highness!” She pauses. “Your Highness, if it’s birds or other creatures attacking, if you can, catch one of them alive. It might help me find out what type of curse they are carrying and manipulate it!”
“I will try,” I say.
Stefan and I hurry outside, noticing the black clouds in the sky.
“Birds, again.”
“I used to love them,” Stefan exclaims. “But now they are such a terrifying sight.”
I reach out to the guards at the shore.Situation?
We are being attacked, but just by a couple of birds. We are fine, Your Highness!
The answer from the guards at the borders is less positive though. “Stefan, head to the west border and make sure to help them fend off these monsters. I will help the east.”
I am so surprised by the sudden attack that I forget to think of Elio and Alana. Only once I am at the border do I remember that they wanted to go for a walk.
Alana!I link her.Where are you?
Up the mountains,she instantly replies.What’s going on? We can just see birds circling around the area.
Stay where you are with Elio! We are being attacked!
Favian, we can help!
