The Alarna Affair

Chapter 14: Concerning Gifts and Legacies

"I'm confused," Tam said, staring about him. Jon gripped his brother's hand in his unmarked one and stared at the mess around them.

Hellin Blackfeather leapt down into the corridor, where Doctor Blackfeather caught her with practiced ease and set her down. She left his arms to gather Ellea and Djaren close to her in a hug. Jon was caught up next, along with Tam, and then the still shaky seeming Professor. "I'm sorry, dears, he was never meant to come here," Hellin said, breathless. "He won't bother us again."

"I'll make sure of it," Corin said gravely. He set down a large black antique great sword–not a tool of flame and void–against the corridor wall and grasped both the Professor's hands in his own. He looked the Professor over, worriedly. "How are you unharmed? I didn't make it to you in time." Doctor Blackfeather looked even paler than usual. He grabbed the Professor in a hug, while Hellin caught up Djaren and Ellea a second time. "I am sorry, little brother. I never thought he could find us, find you. I'm sorry, so sorry, Eabrey."

"I've got you," Hellin told her children. "He's gone. He's gone now."

Ellea buried her face in her mother's hair. Djaren submitted to the second hug for a moment, but then pulled away, to stand beside his father.

Jon accepted his second round of hugs without complaint, feeling shakier now that he felt safe than he had when everything was terrible. He didn't want to cry in front of people.

"That was not a rival archeologist." Tam stated, looking at the mess on the ground.

"No," the Professor agreed, his voice still shaky. He stared at the pieces of the rotting man.

"I have enemies," Doctor Blackfeather said. He sounded weary. Djaren looked up at him, and father and son locked eyes.

"Enemies with severe leprosy?" Tam looked skeptical.

"Something like that."

Hellin was not content until she had examined the Professor herself for bullet holes. The silver armor was entirely gone, leaving no trace of its existence but the ruined bullets on the ground.

"I'm fine," the Professor assured Hellin. "It was quite a remarkable experience. I think I owe Jon here my life. And he may owe us some valuable information. Whatever did you find in that tomb?"

Jon shrugged, suddenly nervous under so many eyes. He lifted his hand, and the silver lines on his palm lit and gleamed in the torchlight.

Doctor Blackfeather frowned at it. "We'll look at this later, indoors, and in the light."

Tam took Jon's hand and lifted it to have a look. "Does it hurt?" he asked, making a face. "Can you peel it off? We could try soap."

"It tingles sometimes," Jon said. "It was on the tomb lid, with an inscription. The writing is still there. I don't know how to take it off. Will Ma be mad, do you think? I didn't mean to pick it up. I'm sorry. Are you very angry, sir?" He looked up at the Professor.

The Professor met Jon's eyes and shook his head. "It chose you. These things don't happen by accident. And with it, you saved me. I am not angry."

Doctor Blackfeather frowned and looked over the emblem. "Well, sometimes by accident." He smiled a little ruefully. "But there always seems to be a greater reason beyond. Regardless, Jon, you saved my brother, and for that, I and my family are grateful to you."

"Accidents? Oh, the Seal," Hellin murmured. "We should certainly see that he's really safe too."

"He would know about things like this." Doctor Blackfeather indicated Jon's palm. "And I need to talk to him about how that got into a body, and found us here," Doctor Blackfeather looked at the ground with distaste.