Hey guys! This chapter is basically a set-up, almost no action. Just to let you know, I usually hate set-ups (like Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest, anyone feel that way as well?) but I find that I need it in this story. Also, a lot of you were wondering who Weras was. "A further reading of the text might be in order" to use a C.S. Lewis expression. Weras (couldn't think of a better name than that, sorry) is the man that Meg wanted to marry and the one that Nestra dissaproved of. It's good to ask questions like that! I'm sorry that I didn't make it clear who he was.

Thanks to Samantha, TimeMage0955, Stonefoot,and Swanwhite for reviewing! I really appreciate your advice!

Chapter 9

"What?" Edmund said, staring blankly at Susan. It was after lunch in the throne room where Susan wanted to discuss an idea that she had.

Susan repeated herself again in a slow tone of voice, "Tonight, I want to have a party for the Archenlanders. They've gone through a lot on this journey and as this is their last night here, I though it would be a positive ending to their visit."

"As long as it doesn't mean..." Edmund muttered.

"Yes, it means dancing," Susan said for him, "And I don't want to hear a lot of complaining about it either."

Edmund turned to Peter for support. Peter shook his head slightly as Edmund gave a look as if he were under great torture. Susan, however, continued,

"I've invited Lady Megaera, Sir Orest, Captain Jormun, and the rest of the Archenlanders who came with them," Susan said, "I've also invited a lot of the court ladies since we have a lot of men with no partners to dance with. Earlier today, I asked the cook if he'd..."

Susan continued to ramble on and on, only pausing every few seconds so that Peter could give a nod of approval, and then she went on with her plans but Edmund wasn't listening. He was busy thinking of the mystery that laid before him, mainly the clues in the diary, the bottle on the ship, the bloody knife, and his idea he thought of before lunch.

"Edmund?" Susan asked while raising her eyebrows.

"What? Oh, sorry. What'd you say?" said Edmund, feeling a little startled as he resurfaced from his thoughts.

"I want you to rest this afternoon if you're going to be going to the party tonight," said Susan.

Edmund touched the bandage that was still on his head, "But, Susan. I'm perfectly fine! My head's not bothering me!"

"Is it?" Susan looked at him sceptically.

"No, not at all."

"All right," said Susan, giving in, "You don't have to, but make sure that you get plenty of rest tomorrow. Well, I'll go see if the decorations are being put up in the great hall."

As soon as she left (Lucy also went with her), Edmund turned to Peter and said,

"I need to investigate something tonight, I can't say what, but..." Edmund whispered in Peter's ear, "During the party would be a good time for me to go, since all of our suspects would be distracted. But, I would need you to keep an eye on them and make sure that they don't leave while I'm gone."

"Sure," said Peter, "But I still don't understand what you're idea is."

"Can't explain," Edmund said shortly, "At least for right now." Edmund turned to go. As he walked into the hall, he bumped into none other than Jormun.

"Oh, well, hello!" Jormun said hastily. There was a strange look in his eyes. Edmund didn't like it.Jormun was also carrying a leather bag.

"Hello," said Edmund trying to make conversation, "It's a nice day today."

"Yes it is," said Jormun, he was staring hard at his feet and shifted the bag on his shoulder.

"What's in that bag?" Edmund asked.

"I'm borrowing a few books on navigation and shippingfrom the library; your sisterSusansaid that I may," Jormun pulled out a book entitled Ten Steps to Navigation in Narnian Seas to prove to Edmund.

"How is your ship?" Edmund said, but almost wished he hadn't, for Edmund was treated to a full fifteen minute lecture by Jormun, describing the tides in Archenland and how they differed in Narnia, the length and width of the Tisiphone, and the crew which did an absolutely perfect job. Finally after several agonizing minutes for Edmund, Jormun mumbled something about overseeing the crew and left.

It certainly was a strange meeting, Edmund thought as he climbed the marble stairs to his quarters. He jumped in surprise to see blood on the floor of the landing and then realized that that was the place where he had gotten hurt. Must have stained the floor, Edmund shaked his head and kept walking up.

He opened the door to his room and to his shock, he found that the whole place was torn apart. Pillows were slit, mud and sand was all over the floor, books thrown, and his desk was turned over to its side: its drawers and papers spilling over the rug that was stained with black ink. Oh no, X has been here, Edmund thought as he searched under his matress for where he put Nestra's journal. He gave a groan of displeasure. Nestra's journal had disapeared, completely, and now it was in X's murderous hands. Edmund turned around immediately and went to find Peter.


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