Chapter Four! Hooray! Though this one was a bit harder (and longer) than the last. I was going to have Peter and Edmund go out riding together, but that didn't fit well so I had to change the whole thing again.And I'm still not sure if I did myself justice. We still have more suspects to interview in this chapter (aargh, when will they end?) and then comes the part I'm really looking forward to writing after that. It should ('should' being the key word) be within the next few chapters or so. I'll tell you when.
Thanks to TimeMage0955 (as usual) and now penguinsrock12! Not only do penguins rock (cute little things), but both you guys as well! Thanks for reviewing!
Now, on with the story!
Chapter 4
Edmund was woken up early the next day by Peter.
"Wake up Ed," he said, shaking his brother, "It's five o'clock and we need to talk before everyone else gets up."
"Sure, Pe-e-eter," Edmund yawned.
Peter left while Edmund changed out of his pajamas. And when Edmund was finally finished dressing, they decided to go for a walk along the beach beside Cair Paravel. The sun was just rising and the sky was still dim.
Peter looked around, making sure that they were out of hearing range and then said anxiously, "So have you thought of the murderer yet, Edmund?"
"We've only interviewed two suspects, Peter! There isn't enough evidence or motiveto arrest anyone yet!" Edmund said crossly, and he had a right to be cross because he was woken up earlier than he had counted on.
"Yes, I know," said Peter apologetically, "But I can't help thinking of a murderer here in our midst. I don't really want him, or her, to hurt anyone else, particulary any Narnians. I wish I could protect them, but I can't because I don't know the murderer to protect them from."
Edmund had half expected this reaction from Peter, after all he was the High King and his duty was to look after Narnia's well being. Not to mention that he had always been protective of Edmund and the girls, which probably laid more on his mind even if he didn't say it. That had never changed as far as Edmund could remember.
"Murderer?" came a voice from behind them, "You aren't discussing the murder of Lady Nestra are you?"
A tall, middle-aged man stood before them. He had wavy blonde hair and gray eyes.
"My name's Jormun. I'm the captain of the Tisiphone," he said and held out his hand, "And it's an honor to meet your majesties."
Edmund and Peter both shook his hand.
"So, what are you saying about the murder? I was there that night and I can tell you what I saw and heard," Jormun glanced at them eagerly. Edmund could tell what kind of person Jormun was: a tattler and tale-bearer. They certainly wouldn't be sharing any of their thoughts with him.
"It would be an honor to have you tell us," Peter said politely, "First what did you do the night of the murder? Particulary after Lady Nestra had her dinner."
"After dinner, I went into the bunk room and slept. I have the early morning shift to be a look out as well as my captain duties," Jormun swelled his chest out importantly, "But late that night at about midnight, I woke up and heard a splash right outside my window. I suppose it must have been when the murderer pushed her body overboard."
"What did you do then?" Edmund asked.
"I went out to see if I could lend my mates a hand, but they were doing a great job, so I went back to my cabin," Jormun said. Edmund didn't think this wasn't a very good captain to let his sailors alone.
"When I heard it was a murder," proceeded Jormun, "I immediately took charge of the situation."
"Do you yourself, have any thoughts on who the murderer might be?" asked Peter.
"I would place all my money and my ship on that maid of Lady Nestra's. She's a twisted old crone, that," Jormun said with disgust, "Maids these days..."
They were interupted, however, by the call to breakfast. And as Edmund walked into the castle, he stole a quick glance at Jormun who had just begun to whistle breezily. There was something friendly and eager about his manner, but there seemed something else too. Something that even though he was a tale-bearer he had managed to keep secret.
After breakfast, Edmund was walking down the Great Hall of Cair Paravel when he heard a shriek from around the corner where the hall turned.
"After everything I've done for you and all that I've told you, you had to---" the shriek continued and was shushed when Edmund's approaching footsteps were heard.
Edmund walked around the corner to find, to his surprise, onlyan old shriveled woman hobbling around on a cane. He guessed immediately that this was Lady Nestra's maid, Hylus.
"Well, what do you want, young man?" she asked suspiciously in a wheezing voice.
"Am I correct in assuming that you are Madame Hylus, who is in service to Lady Nestra and her family?" Edmund said as kindly as he could.
"Yes, you're correct. Only I'm not in service anymore to that slop of pigs. He fired me! Honorable Sir Orest, my foot. How he ever got in politics with a brain like his..." she paused through angry breaths and then said loudly (she was rather deaf) "Why am I telling you all this? It's none of your business!"
"Was that you who was shouting just now?" Edmund said politely, ignoring her last statement.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Yelling, honestly, as if I would," she huffed.
Edmund asked, "May I ask you a few questions?"
"You already have," said Hylus brusquely, "But you may ask more."
"Where were you on the night of the murder?"
The silence that followed was as loud as a cannon.
"So, you think I'm the murderer do you?" Hylus said, raged, "I'm not at all. For your information, I went straight to bed after dinner and minded my own business, like someone I know ought to."
Edmund kept pushing, "Can anyone confirm this?"
"No, you'll just have to take my word for it," she said coldly but stared at him with fire in her eyes.
"Did you hear anything in the middle of the night," asked Edmund.
"No. I'm a very sound sleeper," she replied and then said, "Good afternoon, young man, and remember what I told you about minding your own business, if you know what I mean." She pointed her finger at him threateningly as she ambled off. Edmund watched her as Peter walked towards him.
"What was that?" Peter said to Edmund.
"You know, I'm really not sure," Edmund murmured. For some reason he had the distinctive feeling that he had not been told the complete truth by Madame Hylus. Something that she had seen or heard that she had not disclosed with him. And there lied herdischargement from Sir Orest.Yes, truth and deception were the most important figures in this case... Truth and Deception... Beauty and Poison...
As you can see, it's getting paintedvery black for Orest, but I don't want you to automatically accuse him! Keep your minds and eyes open and review as you do it!
