Two days later after the council's investigation, the morning sun shines giving light to the community. Mara and Adele were in class receiving lectures when a council guard came to the class disrupting their lectures.
The guard came to Adele giving her a letter saying " It's from the council house," then left without another word.
Adele stared at the seal paper heart racing no one receives a letter from the council unless it contains something bad.
After class, Adele and Mara rushed to the back of the school yard. Her hands were trembling when she broke the seal and open the letter,
To Miss Adele Luketon,
By order of the council of the seven, your father, Mr Damien Luketon, has been detained under suspicion of treason and the possession of forbidden marking. He is held currently in the East wing prison pending judgement.
You can visit him but with permission.
Signed, COUNCILOR MORIN.
Adele's hand drop, they are accusing her father of the same her mother was executed for. Her chest hurt so much, tears started welling from her eyes. Mara stepped closer, whispering "Adele ...what did it say?"
Adele just stared at the paper. "They arrested him," she said, looking at Mara. "My father.. they took him".
Mara takes the letter from Adele shaking hands and reads it herself. " The council of the seven," she muttered, "they don't arrest their own unless..
Adele cut her off" unless they already found him guilty. I'll go visit him. I need to know why? Tears falling from her eyes Mara hugged her, consoling her. Adele, pulled out from the hug and started moving to the direction of the council's court.
Where are you going Adele? Mara asked. Adele didn't respond. Instead, she drifted away from her, moving toward the direction her thoughts had already fixed on.
She entered the place where her father was kept and the guard stopped her, looking at some register he muttered five minutes nothing more than that.
Adele looked in, saw her father sitting on a wooden bench, his wrist chained.
"Father!" … she whispered, he lifted his head slowly. What are you doing here?he replied. Adele's lip parted but no words came out, tears welled up blurring her vision.
You shouldn't have come here,"he said turning his back at her, " leave"
She shook her head. " I just… wanted to see you."
See me?" He scoffed, a bitter laugh escaped from his lips, " you should be ashamed, Adele. You've brought nothing but curse and disgrace to the family.
"Because I'm a girl" she replied, tears falling freely from her eyes.
She stepped closer, her eyes filled with tears when she got closer to him she held the cold bar then all of a sudden a faint, eerie smile curves on her lips.
"How do you feel," she said quietly, almost whispering, " being in the same place your wife was before she was executed by you and your people"? She asked, smiling tilting her head. Mr Luketon stiffened, he opened his mouth in shock.
Behind her a guard cleared his throat.
"Time's up"
Adele straightened herself, blinking back the last tears. "Goodbye, father," she whispered, turning to the door.
Adele!! Come back here, he barked.
She kept walking until she reached the gate of the prison.
Adele went to her father's house In search of documents she entered his study room and found documents scattered everywhere, she found her brother sleeping on the floor she then carried him.
BACK IN EMILIA'S COTTAGE
Emilia opened the door. "Adele?" she called, surprised. "What are you doing here? Isn't it late?"
"Is your mum around?" Adele asked.
"Yeah, she is, but she's sleeping," Emilia replied. "Is anything wrong?"
"I need your mum's help," Adele said.
"Okay, come in. You can keep the boy in that room — he doesn't look comfortable in your arms," Emilia told her.
Adele nodded and gently placed her brother in the room. Five minutes later, Emilia's mother came out.
"Adele," she said softly.
What is it?" Emilia's mother asked.
"Ma, I need your help," Adele begged again.
"What is it, my dear?"
"Can you please help me take care of my brother? My father has been taken by the Council, and I don't know who else to turn to but you." Adele's voice trembled as she knelt down. "Please, ma'am."
"Oh, my love," Emilia's mother said gently, "don't worry about it. But what about you? Where are you going?"
"I'm going to fix something. I'll be right back," Adele replied, then turned and hurried out of the house.