The Just and the Wise

Chapter 7

Your POV

Edmund and Caspian get onto the rowboat first, a few crewmen to row next, and Lucy and I board last.

"What about me? You've left me no room you-you-" Eustace tries to find an insult to round out his complaint, but he either can't think of one or feels uncomfortable insulting me given what he just walked in on.

"How about 'daft cow'?" I finish for him.

The others in the boat laugh, and Eustace's frown somehow becomes even more pronounced.

"Either way," the boy stammers, "where am I supposed to sit?"

"Can't we leave him here?" Edmund asks Caspian, who looks back and forth between Ed and Eustace.

"I say we see what the lad's made of," Caspian says with a smirk.

Edmund rolls his eyes, and Eustace squeezes next to Lucy, squishing us all together quite tightly. We row to the main port of the island.

"Onward!" Reepicheep exclaims excitedly. "The thrill of the unknown lies ahead!"

We bump against the concrete dock, and Lucy and I exit the small boat first.

"Couldn't this have waited till the morning?" Eustace inquires, hesitant to step onto land.

"There's no honor in turning away from adventure, lad," Reep says, being met with a glare from the boy.

"Listen!" Lucy says, "where is everyone?"

She's right; it is eerily silent for an island supposedly full of people. I hear a clattering, and turn to see Eustace fumbling between the dock and the boat. I fight the urge to chuckle at his situation.

"Come on, jelly legs," Reepicheep reaches out a hand.

"I'm capable of doing it myself," Eustace insists, falling onto his arm abruptly.

Edmund snickers, and I lightly elbow him.

"And you're certain he's related by blood?" Caspian says with an exasperated sigh.

"Not to me," I say, putting my hands up in the air defensively, and even Lucy rolls her eyes at her cousin.

We make our way up the ramp, Caspian holding a crossbow in hand and Edmund with his hand on his sword. I stand back with Lucy, letting the boys walk ahead of us.

CLANG! CLANG!

Lucy and I both jump at the sudden rolling of the bell. Birds fly out of the bell tower from where the sound came. Caspian moves slowly forward and aims his crossbow at the tower, his eyes glued to the small windows on the side of it. We all stay still for a moment before Caspian lowers his bow.

"Reepicheep, stay here with Drinian's men and secure the place," he says, his eyes still aimed at the tower, "We'll head on. If we don't come back by dawn, send a party."

Edmund leads us into the city, and Caspian follows closely behind him. Lucy, Eustace, and I walk behind them, and I check behind us periodically to be sure we're not being followed. Eustace wanders, peering into windows barred with wooden planks.

"Yeah, looks like nobody's in, so do you think we should head back?" He says, wringing his hands nervously.

I shoot him an annoyed look and shake my head, and Edmund turns around and takes an impatient stance.

"Do you want to come here and...guard...something?" He says begrudgingly. I look at him with a look of sympathetic amusement, and Eustace rushes over.

"Ah, yes," Eustace nods quickly, "Good idea, cousin. Very, um...logical."