Louise

  Is that Remy?

  Confused, Louise stared out of her window. Servants led Remy through the courtyard like a criminal. The wizard's hands were tied together with ropes. Magic ropes. They stopped Remy's magic. These ropes were feared by all wizards and witches. They were considered the highest punishment. A gifted witch had cast the spell long ago, which rendered even the magic of a wizard like Remy useless. Why is Remy... Did they find Lou?

  In the morning, one of the priests had hurried away excitedly after his vision. She didn't know what he had seen. No one knew. Was it about Lou? His vision? Or had someone spotted Lou in the house? The very thought was terrible. And the consequences? What if Lou had been found? Scared, she hurried out of her room. But when she came into the courtyard, the servants and Remy were long gone.

  There was only one pce they could take him. The dungeons below the temple. Magically enchanted cells were located deep beneath the mountains. Underground passages led there. These cells were reserved for criminal witches and wizards who could use maniputive magic. Normal cells usually did not stop them. Therefore, the underground cells had been built a long time ago. No, it was carved deep into the earth and into the stone of the mountains. The dragons didn't care, as the cells were far below their caves. The corridors already existed. The Wise surmised that they had been created by the river before it came to the surface. She had heard that it was cold and dark in the cells. Also, no diamonds were found there, as they were only found higher up. Where the wise men had no access.

  The sun burned mercilessly. The air was dry, the ground was glowing so much that she could feel it through her fine sandals. But Louise ran as if the heat couldn't stop her. She hurriedly walked past the hot springs until she came to a narrow staircase that led into a tunnel. Guards stood by the stairs. When they saw Louise, they raised their eyebrows in annoyance. "There's nothing here, priestess. Leave!", one of them grumbled.

  "There is! A wizard has just been ushered here. He's a friend!", she protested. But the guards blocked her way. She couldn't enter the stairs. In a panic, she tugged at the hem of her clothes. "Please!"

  The other guard sighed. "A wizard was taken away, yes. But for the time being, he is prohibited from visiting. We are instructed not to let anyone see him. Go again."

  Louise shook her head persistently. "I have to..." What? Did she want to ask Remy about Lou? She would only reveal herself. Finally, she nodded. "Good. Thank you very much." Without waiting for the guards' reaction, she turned around and walked back in frustration.

  But when she arrived at the priests' and priestesses' quarters, many had gathered in the courtyard. Among them, she discovered Nanette and the healer Kay, who was exclusively in charge of the welfare of the Wise. The group stood in the scorching heat. Some argued, others whispered. They all seemed perplexed. The sun burned cruelly and made the hair of each person shimmer golden.

  "Louise!" It didn't take long for Nanette to discover her. "Louise! Do you know what's going on? Remy has been arrested!"

  Louise nodded dazedly. "I know. But I don't know why." Or?

  "You’re shaking!" Kay immediately rushed to her and took her in her arms. Kay was about thirty years old and had been working as a healer in the temple for a year. She and Nanette were reted. Even if not directly. Nanette was the great-granddaughter of Nanette's grandmother's twin sister. "What happened?"

  "I... I wanted to check on Remy. Asking about what happened", she replied.

  "Remy?" Nanette grimaced. "I thought you didn't like him."

  "That's right. But he's a friend of my... deceased... brother." She sighed. "Therefore..."

  "Ah." Kay smiled and stroked Louise's hair. "You wanted to know if he was involved in your brother's death?"

  "Exactly." That was a lie, of course. Louise knew that Remy had committed no crime. And that Lou was alive. "But I didn't get very far."

  "That doesn’t surprise me!" Nanette shrugged. "I saw the ropes. He must have done something bad."

  "A rider, of all people!" Kay crossed her arms. "His dragons won't be thrilled. And we need the riders. Who else can defend our city? No one but them is strong enough."

  "Do you think they will try to free him? The dragons?", Nanette asked, shaken.

  Louise nodded. "You can't separate them from their contractual partner. They can't stand it. Magic demands that they stay close to each other. And I can't imagine these cells helping against dragons."

  "Scary. I'm gd I don't have such a covenant." Her best friend shuddered. "Dragons that are not only magically but also emotionally attached to me? Sounds exhausting."

  "It certainly is. I..." Kay wanted to say more, but one of the oldest priests came into the courtyard. The priest who had hurried away the morning after his vision. He smiled zily. The man was about four hundred years old and arrogant like no one else. Louise didn't like him.

  "What's the fuss about?" The sorcerer looked at the cluster of priests and priestesses. He was the one who was in charge. Together with a priestess of the same age, he watched over the morning meetings. The two took turns.

  "Remy has been arrested!", shouted one of the young priests. A handsome boy, only a little older than Louise. "Do you know why?"

  "Of course." The old man nodded. His white clothes stood out brilliantly against his dark skin. His bck hair was tied into many fine braids. "After my vision this morning, it was clear that he was a traitor. I saw him visit the Cursed One in the Dragon's Dens. And I saw the will of the gods. Eyewitnesses saw the boy in the wizard's house. The gods must have guided them so that we could do their will. The boy must die. Soon our difficult test will be passed. Go back now. Before you get a sunstroke!"

  Cheers erupted. Nanette threw her hands in the air. "Thank the gods!", she cried. But Kay touched her shoulder and looked at Louise with concern. Immediately, Nanette stopped cheering.

  What? The world stood still. Louise stared at the priest, who returned her gaze with a smile. Lou is supposed to die?

  sasi