As the sun began to set, the ship had reached the island. Instantly everyone was a bit on edge; something wasn't right.
"The Lone Islands. The ports are narrow here but straight." Captain Drinian informed those with him at the front of the ship. Caspian, Edmund, Raeyln, and the minotaur, Tavros were standing next to the man to decide the next step.
"There's not a Narnian flag in sight." Caspian pointed out, handing the telescope back to Edmund.
"But the Lone Islands have always been Narnia's" Edmund frowned, taking time to look over the desolate houses down by the harbor.
"It seems suspicious." Drinian mused.
"I say we prepare a landing party." Edmund suggested. The captain hesitated, looking over at Caspian.
"Drinian?" Edmund asked of the man silence.
"Forgive me your majesty, but the chain of command starts with King Caspian on this ship." Drinian pointed out, nodding towards Caspian. Edmund nodded, biting his lip but Raelyn noticed the way his posture had stiffened.
"Right." The boy agreed, a bit embarrassed.
"We'll use longboats. Drinian, pick some men to come ashore." Caspian ordered after a beat of uncomfortable silence.
"Give the orders Tavros." Caspian instructed before taking his leave to prepare. As the large minotaur bellowed out orders, everyone began rushing around the ship to prepare the landing party.
Within a few minutes some longboats were headed to shore. In the lead was Caspian and Edmund, now donning leather vests and weapons at their waists. Lucy, Raelyn, and Eustace sat at the rear of the boat. In the next boat was captain Drinian, sailing close behind them as the men rowed.
"Onward! The thrill of the unknown lies ahead." Reepicheep commented from beside Caspian as they maneuvered their boats up next to the docks. Everyone began piling out of the boats. Edmund quickly climbed out and offered assistance to Lucy and then Raelyn. Raelyn grinned at him, which he returned as the two began wandering around the empty dock.
"Couldn't this have waited till the morning?" Eustace asked, still seated in the boat. Raelyn turned and frowned at the boy's nervous expression.
"It's an adventure Eustace, why wait until tomorrow?" she inquired with a comforting grin. The boy was put at ease a little but still didn't want to leave the boat.
"There is no honor in turning away from adventure lad." Reepicheep added. Eustace grimaced and reluctantly began to stand.
"Listen." Lucy called. Everyone stood quietly. Only the sounds of the water could be heard.
"Where is everyone?" she inquired pointedly. Caspian and Edmund slowly began making their way up the stairs to reach the main level of the city, leading the way. Lucy and Raelyn began trailing after them, leaving Eustace with Reepicheep.
"Come on jelly legs." Reep prodded, reaching a small hand out to Eustace who was shakily trying to get out of the boat.
"I'm capable of doing it myself." The boy insisted stubbornly. Pushing himself up a little more Eustace stumbled, collapsing with a grunt onto the stairs. Reep sighed in exasperation, rolling his eyes upward.
"And you're certain he's related by blood?" Caspian asked, staring at the boy skeptically from atop the staircase. The Pevensie siblings answered with strained expressions. Unfortunately, he was.
"Hard to believe isn't it. I was just as surprised as you were." Raelyn chuckled quietly. Caspian grinned down at her before continuing to next level of the city. As they reached the top, Caspian pulled off his crossbow while the others pulled out their own weapons; looking about warily. The courtyard was empty and eerily quiet as the landing party explored the nearby area. Raelyn scanned the buildings that seemed to have been abandoned for years, cracking and falling apart.
Suddenly the sound of a large bell rang out, startling the group at it disturbed the silence. Caspian held up his bow towards the tower where the sound originated while everyone else stood on edge, staring at the buildings around them. However, nothing other than a scattering of birds resulted from the noise. But they knew someone or something had to have caused a bell that size to move.
"Reepicheep, stay here with Drinian's men and we'll head on. If we don't come back by dawn, send a party." Caspian ordered as he, Edmund, Lucy and Raelyn began to make their way up another ramp leading into the heart of the small town.
...
The deeper the search group went, the darker and more sinister the air around them felt. All of the houses had been boarded up and looked close to collapsing. No one was outside and no light or sounds were coming from the inside of the houses. Eustace peeked into some of the broken window shutters as he trailed after the group.
"Yea, looks like nobody's in so do you think we should head back?" he suggested, jogging after the others nervously. The other four gave him a dry look before continuing on towards the main hall, where the bell tower was. Raelyn took another glance back at Eustace who was fidgeting, obviously frightened and unsure of what to do. She reached over, nudging Edmund's side. He frowned and looked back over at Eustace who was just standing there off to the side.
"Help him." Raelyn whispered pleadingly. Ed's face fell.
"What no." he protested just as quietly. She glowered at him.
"Ed, he is in a strange land in a creepy town with who knows what waiting to jump out at us. Come on, he's your cousin." She continued sternly, the two glancing over at Eustace who was watching them curiously but unable to hear what they were debating about.
"He's the devil, why should I do anything nice for him?" Edmund retorted incredulously.
"One of you has to be the bigger person, and I would expect…oh I don't know….Edmund the Just…to be the one to do it." She continued, looking at him pointedly as she used his title against him. Edmund groaned, knowing he didn't really have anything to counteract that point.
"For me?" Raelyn added with a small smile. At that his lips quirked just a little.
"Fine." he mumbled with a pout. With another sigh Edmund turned to face Eustace who was now watching with wide eyes.
"Do you want to come here and…guard…something?" he weakly suggested with a huff. Raelyn smiled in amusement at how badly he was taking this.
"Ah yes!" Eustace agreed, rushing over to join them. Caspian frowned as he watched, not believing that they were stuck with the boy who was clearly useless to them.
"Good idea cousin. Very uh….logical." Eustace commented as he reached the group, looking to Edmund patiently. The other four began to head inside but paused realizing Eustace had nothing to defend himself with. Caspian backtracked, pulling out a large dagger on his hip to offer the boy. Eustace blinked at it owlishly, unsure of what to do with the object.
"I've got it. Don't worry!" Eustace quickly assured them, whipping around to stare at the empty courtyard fearfully. The others stared at him blankly, obviously worried but at least he was out of the way and being useful. Or so they would hope. Just before she stepped inside after the others, Raelyn swiftly moved over to the boy. She reached over and readjusted his handle on the weapon so it was the correct form. Eustace blushed in embarrassment but nodded in thanks, not wanting to lash out at the only one willing to help him. Raelyn smiled at him before joining the others, Edmund taking her hand in his own with a fond grin.