The Chronicles of Nir

25 | Among Us

As he approached the ship with Ben in his arms, two sentries ran to meet him with shouts of alarm. Aeslin and Bran joined them as they gained the ship's main deck, and the queen's eyes widened while the scholar's narrowed with suspicion.

"How did this happen?" Bran demanded. "Where have you been?"

Fear prickled Tallon's chest as reality sank in: this was his fault. Ben wouldn't have been hurt if they'd gone back when he'd asked.

"H-he was attacked," Tallon stammered. "I didn't see who did it."

"Ben?"

Maisie pushed her way through the growing crowd until she reached Ben and touched his face. "What 'appened?"

Aeslin raised her hand and raised her voice. "Everyone, hush!"

The group fell silent and faced the queen.

Splaying her hands with her palms down, she looked first at Bran and Maisie. "Bran, take Ben to the infirmary. Maisie, go with them and do what you can to assist."

As Bran took Ben from Tallon's arms, their eyes locked. Tallon saw accusation in the elder's gaze, but he said nothing, and swiftly strode away with Maisie on his heels.

Once they had disappeared into the stairwell leading to the lower decks, Aeslin focused on the gaggle of onlookers. "The rest of you, return to your duties at once," she ordered. "I shall update you with news once I learn it."

As the elves dispersed, she faced Tallon and jerked her head towards her cabin. "You, with me. Tell me exactly what happened and leave nothing out."

Tallon spilled the entire story, starting from his impromptu swim lesson with Ben. As he spoke, Bran rejoined them. He folded his arms across his expansive chest and listened without interruption while Aeslin occasionally asked clarifying questions.

When Tallon had finished, Aeslin's features made her disappointment plain while Bran appeared darkly pensive.

"The old sea cave," he mused. We scouted it when we dropped anchor here, but it was shallow and choked with sand—only a few paces deep. Someone must have cleared it, perhaps to check on their contraband. Odd that no one noticed until you came along."

Tallon opened his mouth, not liking the accusation in Bran's tone, but shut it again. Getting defensive would do him no favors. Instead, he said, "It had been like that a while, I think. At least since the last big storm. The sand looked undisturbed."

"Mm." Bran crossed his arms. "What else did you find? Any clue might help."

Tallon reached into his pocket. He felt the little vial of dust, and groped for the yellow pearl, but it wasn't there. He'd have to check later, but mentioning it now would serve no purpose except to draw unnecessary scrutiny.

"Just this," he replied with a sigh, still wondering about the pearl. It had been pretty, and something he could have given Ben later once he'd recovered.

Bran took the tiny glass tube, removed the cork, and sniffed the contents. Pouring a few grains on his palm, he rubbed them between his finger and thumb. "Vanishing Dust, unless I'm mistaken. Rare stuff. I haven't seen any since my days as a scout with the Springwood Guard, and that was a long time ago, indeed." He turned to Aeslin. "You should send a party to investigate this cave. Take an inventory of those crates and—"

Aeslin raised her hand, cutting him off. "No. No one leaves this ship until we know what's going on, and I do not need you to tell me what I should do. Is that clear?"

Bran bowed. "Of course, my queen."

"What about the boy?" she asked. "Is his wound serious?"

"Head wounds are tricky," Bran replied, tucking his hands in the long sleeves of his robe. "Sometimes a little bump seems like nothing until the patient falls asleep and never wakes again. Other times they bleed like hell, but otherwise aren't bad. I'll know more when he regains consciousness. If you will excuse me, I shall return to him now."