Alexandra had finally escaped from the Dovish Palace. Hours after Austin had left, hours after the sun had set. Minutes after the pain had subsided.

She had no idea was the time was. Not that she cared. All Alexandra now wanted, was a bed. Both for her dead back, as well as for gathering her thoughts. She limped, putting the left foot forward ached especially, so she was trying her best not to use it.

No changing inns that night. She dragged herself up the dark, uneven steps of the very same one.

Dragging herself out from under the settee had been bad enough. She had then bumped her head against the coffee table too. That pain was now gone, but it would resurface as a dark blotch later on, ones she duly hated.

She had just had a taste of what Old Age would be like. And Alexandra was, really a bit afraid now.

Coming upon the familiar bed, she dropped down by it, wincing as she landed. She pulled out the pillow from above and shifted it behind her lower back.

Jade was waiting for her at the window sill, her head bent at an odd angle, like she was trying to make out what was wrong with Alexandra, who was ignoring her.

The bird flew and sat down on her shoulder. Alexandra groaned, 'Not now, Jade.'

Jade pecked at her,

'Not now.' She repeated, bending her neck the other side and shutting her eyes. But the bird didn't stop.

'Enough!' She said, waving at the bird, who took off in a series of violent flaps, looking at Alexandra in an angry side-glance. She swooped up and flew down again, this time landing in her lap.

'What is it?!' Alexandra cried, in response, Jade lifted her left foot up. Tied to the foot, was a very small piece of paper- that Alexandra was pretty sure would expand into a whole page, once unfolded.

'Oh... thank you,' she said, untying the letter, then she felt Jade's cold stare at the back of her neck. Alexandra looked up. The bird was gazing at her, eyes narrowed, as if to say, you don't have anything else to say?

'Fine! Sorry, My Lady!' Alexandra told her, exasperated, 'My humble apologies! Now stand still-' taking a letter out, unfolding it- was heavy business, because it was very likely to tear the paper. In many cases, Alexandra had torn those sheets.

But today she managed to prise it off in one piece. That was the way bad news always survived. Shooing Jade away, Alexandra unfolded the letter and read,

Secret Agent

It is our duty to infrom you of the unfortunate demise of our Teacher, our Head: Master George. We urge you too hold you tears for awhile- because this letter is important, and the tears shall make it unreadeble.

We agree we cannot hold his funeral without EVERY single Idgardian Secret Agent. Master george's last orders had been to not delay his final rites. We do not have as much thinking abitilies left in us right now now to think of any allternative.

All we can do is scheduel it day after- which is, on the fifteenth of December. The very first weak of this year, we shall spend in mourning. But wee understand if you do knot want to attend it.

In case you do, send this letter back to us. We shall request another Veddessan Spy to fill your gap for a month. No need of writting anything else. Take care of yourself, Agent- we know what a terribble loss this is is for each one of us.

Suprevisory

The Espionage Council

Idgard

The letter- splattered with errors and shaky handwriting, fell from Alexandra's grasp. She felt her head was being kneaded, crushed and hammered. Everything else forgotten- everything else seeming too small to be cared for.

Then a wave of coolness washed over her. Alexandra laughed weakly, picked the letter back up and got her quill out, on the backside of the sheet, she scribbled, as Jade watched:

That's a good joke, but I am not buying it. She wrote, and folded it up, extending the parchment towards Jade, 'Here, take it back to them.'

But the smart bird kept eyeing her, unblinking, she looked at Alexandra, then towards the ground and back at her, but she didn't come any nearer.

'Take it, Jade!'

The bird walked two steps towards her, then took off and landed on the window sill, still eyeing her.

'TAKE IT!' Alexandra yelled, 'Why are you not listening to me?!' Jade, with a scared expression, hurriedly took off once again, this time disappearing out into the night sky.

'Stupid bird!' Alexandra said, 'Stupid people! Stupid.' She said, shaking her head in a maniacal way. Her heart feebly protesting- trying to tell her that this was not a joke. Alexandra looked around herself, at the wall, blankly staring.

'This is NOT true,' She repeated, as though trying to convince herself, 'It's not...' She declared.

'It's not... no.' She said, shaking her head, tears pouring down her face. The back pain forgotten. Austin and Rose, Jade- everything forgotten.

I have a feeling you will do exceptionally well, Mabel, Master George's final words to her, before coming to Doveland, rang in Alexandra's ears. She simply could NOT believe the contents of the letter- or- or that that man could... die.

'I don't believe it!'

One by one, memories tumbled down her memory lane.

This girl could be a spy!

Don't be purposefully dense, girl!

Young Lady, you have got grit! I've never felt prouder in my lifetime!

I will honour your word because you have impressed me quite a lot.

Rise, Mabel, Secret Agent and full-time member of the Espionage council!

'IT'S ALL A LIE!' Alexandra said, pushing the letter away from herself and covering her ears as another set of agonizing words passed in her mind, as fresh tears wet her drying face-

Truth, remains the truth. No matter how much it depresses you.

When had the old man become so important that Alexandra was bawling like a child for him? She- the very same Alexandra who'd just given a gasp of realization learning of her parents' death. The very same Alexandra who had once thought of him a conservative, old-fashioned man. Somebody who had closed up ideals of gender. Somebody who deserved to be enlightened.

The fact that she had never again hear him say, in one of his mildly amused and exasperated tones, Pay attention, girl! The fact that he would no longer teach in the arenas and the ground... no longer occupy that Head's house...

No longer wish them luck before quests.

Anger and grief melted together in Alexandra. There was nobody left to guide them. How would the council remain united? How... how could Alexandra go back there- knowing that there would be no Master George in the grounds- his back turned and his flowing, white beard flying around the sides of his face...

Jade approached Alexandra cautiously, picked the letter up in her beak, and flew out of the window once again- as though she was Alexandra's guardian. She would decide whether Alexandra would go back or not. Still, now...

Alexandra had to go back. If there was one thing she'd learned in the past one month, it was that running away from something was never the solution. Not that she was going to make peace with a bird deciding things for her.

'DID I SAY I WOULD RETURN?!' Alexandra shouted across the length of the room, turning her red, hot, teary face towards the window, 'YOU MAD BIRD! YOU MAD PEOPLE! YOU MAD,' She wailed, taking out her glowing Exclusive Agent batch from her pocket and slamming it on the ground, 'COUNCIL! YOU- YOU-' She continued, pulling out Moira and throwing the Dagger across the room, 'MAD EVERYTHING!'

The one person she felt maddest at, was Liam, the one person with whom it all started- 'YOU UTTER WRETCHED MAN! WHAT RIGHT DID YOU HAVE TO PUSH ME INTO THESE PEOPLE?!' She shrieked, anger taking over her as it many-a-times did, and that too, unexplained, unjustified rage. Alexandra felt maddened. Or perhaps, she was maddened because he was so oblivious of how much she ached for him. What was more, Alexandra was realizing that herself just now. In spite of the pain, of so many pains, she couldn't push him away. What bewitchment had he put her under, how had he arrested her entirely? She knew he couldn't hear, she knew nobody could hear, nobody could reply, calm her down - console her, tell her it would all be fine. 'WHAT RIGHT DID YOU HAVE TO SEND ME HERE! YOU ARE NOT THE BEST! YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT! YOU HAVE MESSED UP MY LIFE- I'M...' Alexandra sniffed, already feeling fatigued and dizzy. 'I'm tired. I am tired of your jokes. Of your attitude. And I hate you.'

Oh, but she did not. Try as Alexandra did, hating a person you had been to death and back with, was impossible.