HUMAN - The Son

Chapter 21

Amaury

Drugs? Amaury stared at the soldiers, stunned, while his aunt took Aili protectively in her arms. He didn't mind. With all that had happened to her, and he hardly knew anything, he wasn't quite sure if she would feel comfortable so close to him. As for this Nio, he had his suspicions as to how he might have treated her.

The queen seemed more than just angry. "So? How is this seventeen-year-old girl supposed to be involved in a drug deal? To me, it looks like she doesn't know what you're talking about!", she grumbled. "Explain that to me, please!"

Amaury looked questioningly at Aili, but she avoided his gaze. Trembling, she clung to the queen's clothes. Aili was a little taller than his aunt and yet Julia skillfully kept her from running away. And the young witch wanted to run away. Again and again, she looked around. Julia rubbed her back reassuringly. "I'm waiting for an answer!"

"She's not a criminal!" he finally said. "I can't imagine that."

"We have more than one piece of evidence," muttered the soldier who had detained Aili. He stared at her annoyed with light brown eyes. "We have already found the plantation and the barn where the drug was dried and crushed. At this moment, even more accomplices are arrested. We have the testimonies of customers. And we have been able to secure some of the drugs in the house of the Grünwies family. Your Majesty?" Now he turned to the queen. "Please hand over the girl to us so that we can interrogate her and hand her over to justice!"

Amaury's aunt snorted. She wanted to say something, but Aili mumbled something.

"What?", asked the queen insistently. "Child? What did you say? Dear? Repeat that, please."

Aili shook her head. Her voice trembled. "The powder. We always had to pack powder. It wasn't flour. But we didn't know what it was. Mom never wanted to answer our questions. Neither did Dad. They always had excuses... A remedy, special flour... They said that powder was valuable."

"You had to help?" Amaury frowned.

"Yes", Aili breathed. "Dad called it the family business. We had to help. Mom said we can't talk about it. So we were silent. Birger always joked that we pack drugs. But none of us believed that. Or we didn't want to believe it? It was all very strange." She glanced at the soldiers. Tears glistened in her eyes. "It was drugs? What about my parents? Siblings?" Again, Aili's legs threatened to give way beneath her.

"Your younger siblings are being taken to children's homes, your parents and brother Birger are in custody", grumbled the other soldier. He was blond and reminded Amaury of a toad.

The queen snorted angrily. "Amaury? Please take her again for a moment." She smiled affectionately at Aili, who had become all the paler. "Okay? Are you fine with that? Just briefly?"

Aili didn't react when Amaury took her from his aunt and carefully wrapped her arms around her. The young witch was still trembling. Just like his aunt before, he stroked her back. Aili was startled and clung to his blue shirt. A gift from his aunt. The embroidered birds cleaned their plumage or looked curiously at the viewer. Everything was in motion. He wanted to give the shirt to Ethan later.

"There is no need for an arrest. She is a witness, not an accomplice!", the queen announced. The soldiers wanted to protest, but they changed their minds. Angry, she approached them and held her head up high. She was much smaller than the two men, but she still managed to intimidate them. Even as a child, Amaury had wondered how she managed to do it. He had come to know his aunt as lively, reserved, and usually very cheerful. Sometimes downright childish, only to intimidate an entire army the next moment. Snorting, she put her hands on her petite hips. "You can question the girl another day. And release her brother!"