Chapter Thirteen: Found Out

POV: Einan

Laterose's words continued to echo in my head:

"The Duke has taken a special interest in you."

It sounded harmless, perhaps even kind, but those words "special interest" still stuck in my head. Other than this gut instinct, I had no reason to suspect Duke Ylis of anything. According to Da, he had been nothing but helpful, and he had shown nothing but kindness to me. However, a life of following my gut instinct had taught me to trust it.

It was a few days after my impromptu meeting with Oreius and Flash that Da announced that he was to go picnicking with the Duke and his sister, and that he wished Laterose to accompany them. She happily agreed. As you might guess, this left me entirely to my own devices, but as Rose had pointed out often enough, the Cair was one of the safest places in all Narnia, and I was not likely to leave the library anyway.

I watched anxiously as the party left, barely able to contain my excitement. The day looked a pleasant enough one for a picnic, if a bit windy for my taste. It seemed to take ages for them to load the horses with their supplies. At last, to my great relief, they finally set off, Laterose having double-checked their packing at least a dozen times.

I quietly rolled myself through the gilded halls of the Cair, noticed by none, but greeted by many. It seemed that, though I had only been at the Cair for a month or so, that I knew everyone, and that everyone knew me. This was to prove a great advantage to my little scheme. I rolled up to the Duke's door as pretty as you please, nodded to the chambermaid making her rounds, and then rolled inside as stealthily as you please.

I looked 'round curiously. I wasn't even sure what I was looking for, though I was certain I would find it.

"Hm. Nothing odd about the bed or the closet, and the curtains are the usual type they have in the guest rooms; red with gold braid. That only leaves-"

I looked over at the large desk sitting by the window. It was not unusual in any way. Like all those in the Cair, it had a deep, rich stain, intricate carvings along the sides and drawers, and the feet looked like a lion's paws. Yet, for some reason, I felt oddly drawn to it. Besides, it was the only place left to look in. I rolled around to the front of it. The desk had seven drawers; three large ones on either side, and a smaller one in the middle.

An intricate search of the left side drawers revealed only the Duke's passion for letter-writing, and his inordinate fondness for snakes. The bottom drawers on the right side were empty, and the top one contained only a bag of peppermints and a spare handkerchief. With a sigh, I stuffed one of the peppermints into my mouth, and closed the drawer.

"Just the middle one left then."

I tugged on the handle, but the thing wouldn't budge. It was then that I noticed the keyhole on the front of the door.

"Botheration," I muttered to no one in particular.

It was then that I remembered the hair pin that Rose had insisted I wear that day. Thanks to her, there was always one of the bloody things in my hair. I often asked, though she never explained why, I couldn't just let my hair flow wild and free, like hers did. For the first and only time, I thanked her for her obstinacy.

I gently slid the hairpin into the lock and wiggled it around 'til I heard a soft click. I stuffed the pin into my pocket, and slid open the drawer. Inside there lay Da's rings, the ones he always wore on a chain 'round his neck. How the Duke got hold of them I didn't know, but I carefully placed them in the other pocket of my dress.

Beside and beneath the rings there lay many small envelopes full of a black powdery substance. I took one of these as well. Lightning flashed outside, making me jump in my chair. It was then that I heard voices in the corridor. Of course! The picnic must have been spoilt by the rain.

Hurriedly, in a manner well-nigh panicked, I rolled myself behind one of the large curtains by the window. The latch on the door clicked, and two sets of footsteps entered the room.

"Thank the Lion; that was a near thing! Steady on old girl, you're not out of trouble yet..."

The pair of voices proved to be the Duke and his sister. By their footsteps, I could tell that they crossed the room. Lady Fey sat in the nearby armchair, while her brother sat resting his boots upon the desk.

"As expected, the fool proposed," said the Duke, his voice smug with the surety of victory.

The Lady Fey cackled gleefully in a voice quite unlike the silky, courteous tones I had always heard her use.

"But who would have thought that the fellow would insist on marrying her today! Oh, it is better than we could have dreamed!"

"Oh no! Poor Da! I must warn him!"

It was then that all my cunning and secrecy failed me. Perhaps my chair squeaked, perhaps I gasped or breathed too loudly. Whatever the reason, the curtain was suddenly flung aside, the Duke scowling in my face, his eyes blazing red.

"A pity you're so clever, girl! No matter; a dead child can tell no tales!"

Blackness engulfed me.