Of Plots and Mischief

Chapter 19: Uncovering the plot

Phyllon watched his companions as they looked at him, anticipating as he returned. Sonaya looked at him with suspicions, knowing that he must have had a reason for leaving.

"Where did you go?" Sonaya narrowed his eyes, redirecting his glance between Phyllon, Asmir, and the prince.

Phyllon wrapped his hand tighter around the communication stone in his pocket. "I just checked in with the Sahora about what we found."

Sonaya startled. Phyllon could see that he did not expect Phyllon to be open about it. But what was the use of hiding something that everyone already knew about?

Prince Karriv had a slightly smug look, as though Phyllon had confirmed something for him. He gave a superior glance to Sonaya before turning back to Phyllon. "What did he have to say?"

Phyllon could feel an undercurrent of relief and eagerness despite his obnoxious tone. Phyllon could not help shaking his head at the childishness of the prince. It appeared there were still some limits to his maturity.

"He did not appear too surprised. Torynik and Yron gave him a knowing look.  He nodded back, confirming their suspicions. "There are signs that his highness was not the only one. There are signs that other young nobles from the capital have also been drugged."

Phyllon felt scepticism from Sonaya. "How do you know? And why did you not tell us before?"

Torynik sighed. "Communication stones."

Phyllon looked at the tension between the three who had been left inside and wondered what happened during his absence. Phyllon drew out his stone, displaying it before putting it back inside.

Phyllon felt a surge of jealousy and admiration from Sonaya. "Is that one of the magi stones from the Jawahr Brothers?"

Phyllon shuffled, slightly uncomfortable from the attention. "The Sahora had given me one to keep in touch when I left the capital. It is still experimental."

Yron appeared to sense Phyllon's growing discomfort and redirected the conversation. "Back to the topic, about the situation back in the capital, are there any confirmed?"

Phyllon hesitated before looking back at the prince. "There had been suspicions... They kept the investigation under wraps and had only just confirmed a few days ago."

Prince Karriv held his gaze and understood. They had drawn him away from the capital just before he could have been brought under suspicion. Prince Karriv clenched his fist, his face uncharacteristically expressionless. Phyllon could feel his controlled anger, and Phyllon looked sharply at the unexpected worry coming from their least known party.

"What about the portsmaster?" Phyllon looked at Yron quizically, not understanding the question. "Did he know?"

That was the question. Phyllon suspected, but he had nothing to confirm his suspicions. It appeared that the rest of the party shared his doubts. Phyllon felt a surge of determination from his old friend just a few minutes before he nodded his head decisively before standing up.

"It looks like I have some more things to trouble me hereabouts before I can leave. Tell the portsmaster I will be heading down in a while, and the rest of my people will be available until I can go there in person."

He looked up and held Phyllon's eyes, trying to convey his suspicions through his emotions. Phyllon gave a slight nod, letting him know that he understood. He played around with his signet ring, thinking about the impossibility of running away from ones birthright.

"We were bait." Everyone looks at Sonaya at his unexpected outburst. "Portsmaster Gerash, he used me to draw the two of you out here as bait."

Asmir narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean 'used' you?"

Sonaya glanced at Yron, an emotion flashing that Phyllon was barely able to catch. "He knew there was something I was desperate to find out, and he let me believe something that I now realise may not necessarily be true."

Phyllon studied Sonaya before sneaking a glance at Yron. He had his suspicions, but he would wait till later to see if he was right. Yron saw him watching him and stood up, throwing a glance outside.

"It is safe in here, so we can all rest. Let me take out some bedding."

Phyllon understood and followed him to get some of the supplies kept for just that purpose.

"So, do you know anything?" Phyllon whispered out of the corner of his mouth as he helped Yron collect sufficient supplies for all of them.

Yron hesitated. "I was not the Scourge back them, but I was there."

"Will you tell him?"

Yron stole a glance at Sonaya before hesitantly nodding. "It is not good news, but I will tell him."

Phyllon watched as Yron went over to Sonaya and started talking with him. It was hard to read their expressions, but he could feel a range of emotions coming from Sonaya, surprise, grief, and determination coming in a successive stream. He could feel Yron's excessive guilt, and he wondered what really was behind the story. Was the person Sonaya looking for dead? Somehow, he did not think so. He suspected that his life would intersect with this mystery sooner or later.

Everyone agreed to turn in for the night. However, he could feel the prince's growing unease as they settled down for the night. Was it because he found out he was drugged? Or was it because he found out he might have been a pawn in yet another person's plans? Phyllon did not know, but he felt that the young prince had grown in the time that he had known him.

Phyllon found himself struggling with his thoughts as he lay down to sleep. He could hear his companions breathing even out as they fell asleep one by one, their emotions dulling in the bland way that signified sleep. He felt restless, trying to slow down his anxious thoughts, worrying how the many plots and intrigues going around could affect him and those he cared about.

He tried the visualisation exercises that Torynik had taught  him but found that he could not relax enough to make them work. He tried closing his eyes and forcing his brain to slow down. He felt the hours pass by as he slowly drifted to sleep when he felt someone burst into consciousness, chased by the remenant fears of a nightmare. Rough pants broke the silence, and Phyllon lay still, listening. The breathing eventually drew even, and Phyllon felt someone quietly make their way outside. Phyllon opened his and turned, confirming his guess, before closing his eyes once again. It looked like everyone in their party had secrets. He was no different. He decided to let it go as he drifted to sleep, not knowing he might have reason to regret his decision come morning.