Chapter 12 The Lightning Array
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“Inspect the floor. A crushed curse worm lies right there Had that parasite not been extracted in time, your Daniel would have perished.”
Startled by her words, Owen re-entered the chamber and scrutinized the floorboards. Sure enough, the remains of a squashed worm were visible. He retrieved the remnants with a handkerchief and turned to Bruce Gordon, who had just finished stitching Daniel’s wound. “Dr. Gordon, examine this. Is it a curse worm?”
Bruce’s eyes
widened in recognition. He studied the remains closely and nodded. “I suspected the poison on Lord Daniel’s wound was unusual; it was not intended to kill outright. It was a curse poison, designed solely to allow the worm to burrow within the flesh.”
He then exclaimed, “Gods above! That was perilously close. Had this abomination not been purged in time, Lord Daniel would have been in grave peril.”
Upon hearing this, both Owen and Daniel, who lay prostrate on the bed, were visibly shaken.
Owen felt a momentary profound confusion. He could not fathom why she would intervene to save him. However, realizing they had falsely accused a potential savior, he immediately commanded the guards to release Brielle.
“I acted with undue haste earlier. You have my apologies Lady Brielle.” Owen’s demeanor shifted to one of distinct politeness as he offered her a respectful salute.
Brielle sought to enter the room to escape the torrential downpour.
But from within the chamber, Donna interjected, “I was unaware you possessed knowledge of medicine, Brielle, or that you could even identify a curse worm. Its fortunate you reacted with such swiftness.”
Owen’s brow furrowed with renewed suspicion. He extended his arm, barring Brielle’s path before she could cross the threshold.
His voice turned icy. “The chamber is congested, Lady Brielle. Await us outside.”
It was evident he was still guarding against her. Congested? The room was spacious and largely bare. Where was this crowd he spoke of?
The rain was relentless. Brielle only wished to enter, dry off, and rest for a moment.
Her head swam dizzily, and she was drenched to the bone. Standing under the eaves offered scant protection against the heavy slant of the rain. Several lanterns in the courtyard had been extinguished by the gale. Thunder crashed so loudly that the thought of attempting to return to her own quarters in the dark seemed impossible. Left with no choice, she hudded beneath the eaves, shivering violently, waiting for the storm to abate.
Maids slogged through the downpour, bearing broth, tonics, and clean hot water sealed in wooden casks.
Brielle even witnessed a maid lose her grip on her umbrella; the wind snatched it away, sending the girl sprawling face-first into the mud. She emerged looking like a drowned rat.
The provisions were carried into the room one after another. Donna remarked with feigned concern. “I had prepared a few items. I know not if they shall be of use!
Owen replied gratefully, “Ms. Donna Whitmore, you are incredibly thoughtful and caring.”
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Bruce nodded in agreement. “We may not require these provisions immediately, but it is evident to all how deeply you care for Lord Daniel.”
Daniel also took Donna’s hand, saying gently, “You have labored hard.”
Donna lowered her eyes, murmuring softly, “As long as you are well.”
Hearing this exchange from outside, Brielle felt a wave of nausea. Donna had merely moved her lips and ordered the servants about; she had done nothing herself. What labor was there to speak of? She had brought a pile of useless trinkets and was now showered with praise.
If the opportunity ever arose, she would rend Donna’s mask from her face before all of them.
Inside, Donna and Daniel continued their flirtatious display. Unable to stomach it further, Brielle retreated to the covered colonnade to escape the rain and the sound of their voices.
Suddenly, a spear embedded in a bench on the walkway caught her attention. The astrolabe concealed within her sleeve began to tremor again, causing her brow to twitch.
She withdrew the astrolabe. The needle spun and shook violently, and sparks of electricity flickered across its surface.
She looked up at the thunder-laden night sky. The lightning within the clouds resembled a sharp sword suspended directly over Daniel’s room, flashing once before vanishing.
She was shocked. Her first instinct was to save him.
If she was not mistaken, someone had erected a lightning-attracting ward within Clarke Estate. And the focal point of this diabolical energy was Daniel’s room.
There had to be a sharp ferrous object within the chamber acting as the conduit for the formation.
She hurried toward the door, only to halt abruptly. If she simply barged in and warned them, no one would believe her, and Owen would bar her entry regardless.
Her expression turned frigid.
She reached the doorway. Bruce was in the midst of treating Daniel, while Donna stood off to the side, alone. Brielle called out to her.
Donna started, then quickly stepped out. She looked at Brielle in surprise. “Brielle, why do you linger? Look at you, you are soaked to the bone!”
Brielle seized her hand, feigning panic. “Donna, do you trust me?”
Donna’s eyes shifted. She offered a warm smile. “Of course I trust you, Brielle.”
“This chamber is about to suffer a lightning strike. Will you aid me in saving Daniel? I cannot bear to see him die!” Brielle’s voice was frantic. She glanced frantic ly toward the interior of the room.
She spotted an iron ornament atop a low cabinet. “That object right there! Can you retrieve it for me? Please! If I enter, Owen will have me thrown out.”
Donna was slightly taken aback by the request. She shot Brielle a suspicious look. She did not know if the claim was true, but she did not mind retrieving an object for her foolish sister.
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Chapter 12 The Lightning Array
“Very well. I shall fetch it for you.”
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Donna walked straight into the room, lifted the heavy iron ornament from the low cabinet, and handed it to Brielle. “Here you are, Brielle.”
Brielle accepted it. The ornament showed a warrior wielding a huge war club, three times the size of his own body, with a deadly sharp point at its end. The whole thing gave off a fierce, menacing air. What was more, the warrior’s face was not that of a pious knight, but of something dark and unholy.
“This is the one. Thank you!” Brielle nodded with exaggerated excitement.
Donna smiled gently, though a distinct sharpness lurked beneath the curve of her lips.
Brielle hurried away with the object. Donna gave the matter little further thought and returned to the room.
Just then, thunder cracked, followed by a deafening crash-reminiscent of a beast roaring in the dark.
A storehouse at the rear of Clarke Estate suddenly burst into flames. Though it caused a tremendous commotion, the heavy rain soon quenched the fire, leaving only the charred, collapsed skeleton of the building.
A servant came sprinting through the rain. “My Lord! My Lord! The storehouse at the rear has been struck by lightning!”
Everyone within the room was stunned. Owen frowned deeply. “Why would it be struck by lightning so suddenly? Was anyone harmed?”
“Two servants have been injured.”
“Fetch a physician for them at once!” Owen ordered immediately.
Upon hearing this, Donna covered her mouth with a gasp. “So… it was true…”
Daniel frowned, looking at her. “What was true?”
Donna’s eyes darted evasively. She hesitated, unsure if she should speak. Brielle had foretold this. If she revealed the truth to Daniel, it would mean Brielle had saved his life.
She could not allow that to happen.
Just then, Owen remarked with confusion, “I believe I saw Ms. Donna Whitmore remove an object from the room a moment ago.”
Hearing this, Donna replied smoothly, “Indeed, you did I suspected that object might act as a lightning rod. It seemed sinister to me, so I removed it. I never imagined the chamber would actually be struck. “Tis a good thing I took it away in time, or it might have endangered Daniel’s life…”
Donna looked worried, even appearing somewhat shaken.
Everyone in the room looked at her in surprise.
Daniel asked suspiciously, “How did you know that objet would draw lightning?”
Donna hesitated, then answered, “I read of such things an ancient tome. That artifact is quite malevolent.”
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Daniel did not doubt her in the slightest. He took Donna’s hand, his voice heavy with emotion and tenderness. “If that is the case, then you have saved my life. In such circumstances… how can I ever repay you?”
Donna leaned into Daniel’s embrace. “All I have ever desired is for you to be safe, Daniel.”
Owen said emotionally, “Ms. Donna Whitmore, you have not only saved Lord Daniel’s life today but mine. and Dr. Gordon’s as well. Whatever you require, you need only ask.”
Bruce also sighed with admiration. “I have long heard that Ms. Donna Whitmore is clever, kind, well-read, and versed in ancient lore. Now I see it is all true. You even recognized a lightning-attracting conduit. Were you a man, you would surely achieve great deeds.
Bathed in this praise, Donna offered a modest, embarrassed smile. “You flatter me, Dr. Gordon.”
Just then, a scornful laugh echoed from the doorway.
“Since when did you possess such knowledge of geomancy and omens, Donna?”
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