The expression on Allen's face was dismay and fear. For a moment he thought that Brook had returned, but now he saw who it was. "It's you. How can this be?" demanded Allen. Lloyd gave him a heated glare. "My maker didn't want me, at that moment. And if you do not leave, he may want you, now!" "Move away." commanded Allen. "This is not your affair!" "And it shall not be yours!" At this, the Cardinal Allen rushed Lloyd. Lloyd with all his force summoned, fisted Allen in the forehead. The crazed Allen still attacked as if he didn't feel any ill effects from being solidly squared in the head. On his second rush, he caught Lloyd in the ribs with his head. Lloyd lurched forward, in pain, as he got Allen in the throat when he wrapped his arms about his neck. He spun around and heaved towards the floor, unto his knees. Allen didn't move any more, his neck snapping into a splintered mush. Lloyd slowly rose, holding his injured side, and he walked away from the body without hardly a care for what he had done. "Are you injured, my Lady?" he asked, while he took off his vest and gave it to her to cover herself. "Yes! You helped me just in time, thank-you!" "I should have been there sooner. I was sitting in the window since the girl's body was brought in here. I'm sorry but I just couldn't move sooner to help you! Dearborne looked away from him. She focused upon Allen's lifeless body with a feeling of absolute relief. Lloyd spoke some more, trying to give explanation for his lateness. "I had seen her take her own life, my Lady!" he pointed to Mercedes' body and tried to keep his tears from her. She listened and slowly returned to looking at Lloyd. "She was sitting on the bench, beneath my terrace. The moon was out and when I finally realised what she had in her hands, she had killed herself. I couldn't save her." Dearborne put her head against his arm revealing to him that she understood how he felt, but she didn't really until he told her that story about his own love, Charnan, who died the same way. In the morning, Brook was told about what had happened and he some Totemen from the Phoridene Council, take the Cardinal Allen's body back to Halls. With the body, Brook included a letter to Manguino demanding that he keeps the death issue in its place and not to make any trouble by it. He reminded Manguino of the promise that he made to him concerning Allen. Brook had admitted himself to be Allen's executioner. In the Blue Mansion, Lloyd and Boy were told to prepare for their journey to the north. Brook felt that there was no time to lose. He had a feeling of impending doom, and not only that, he wanted to be safe. On Mount Benitar, the wise man also knew that something would happen. He saw all the signs. Soon, he thought -- soon it would be time for him to go down to Pomperaque, again. CHAPTER EIGHT