Chapter 5 - A Chat with the Professor
The tall and cozy main hall of their apartment was empty upon her arrival, just like how it was when she had woken up. Enara's heavy boots strode over the red carpet in haste. A cold breakfast consisting of eggs, bread, and fruits laid untouched on the small table. Her father didn't like the taste of meat at all, only fish and poultry were sometimes acceptable for him. She noticed a half-full carafe of white wine and without hesitation poured it into a glass in an attempt to reduce her stress.
Enara suddenly noticed something on the wall as she was swallowing the whole glass and stopped. Her eyes were locked to the small painting hanging above the wooden chest of drawers. On it, Caspian the First in his black armour not so different from the one she was wearing at the moment, defeating animals in battle. Wolves, bears, foxes, there was even a rhino. She had never studied it up close before. A weird feeling engulfed her body. A similar magical aura of uncertainty emanated from the wild forest. It was almost like the legends were whispering to her.
The weird hints of voices suddenly stopped completely, and only then did Enara notice two much more real-sounding hushed voices coming from the small meeting room. She immediately recognized one belonged to her father. "Finally, there he is," breathed Enara a slight sigh of relief. After a final look at the painting, her hand soon touched the handle of the wooden door.
It was quite obvious, she disturbed them while they argued about something that seemed very important, as they both went quiet when she entered. The two small windows of the meeting room were both almost fully blocked by the black curtains, so barely any light escaped inside. "They are scheming again. Of course, they are."
Lord Sopespian was occupying the wooden chair behind a wide desk, while his younger cousin* was sitting on a green sofa near the corner in his usual comfortable position, with his back slightly tilted, one hand supporting his chin. Both her father and Gregoire were observing her standing in the doorway.
"Father," she nodded her head, her greeting being far more sincere than normal. Enara was glad he was here. She didn't have the time to look for him all over the castle. Every hour counts.
"Morrow, I thought you had a training about.." he paused and checked his portable golden watch* standing on his table. "About right now. We were in the middle of something." If her father was surprised to see her, he didn't show any physical marks. Enara knew very well he was a master at hiding emotions. It was a very useful skill, Enara didn't dispute that, but sometimes she couldn't guess what his mood was and how to act around him. Her mentor Navaro was far more straightforward in that regard, something she appreciated.
"We have a problem, I think. Florien had a watch in the stables tonight, but he hadn't reported back to the barracks. Never happened to him before. You know how seriously he takes duty and service. And no one has seen him since."
To her horror, Lord Sopespian's eyes widened in shock, although he swiftly hid it behind his mask and looked at Gregoire, who was at first puzzled but then realised too. "Lord Protector called an important Council meeting earlier this morning. Close the door please," her father started and ruffled his short curly hair, almost as if wondering, whether to tell her more. "My concerns had more than realistic foundation, it looks like. Prince Caspian is missing. He disappeared last night," he revealed carefully.
"He is lost too?" Unlike them, the girl couldn't even think about sitting right now, as she was slowly walking back and forth in the middle of the room. Enara thought nothing could shock her more, but in that regard, she was quite mistaken.
Her father started telling her about what happened at the unforeseen morning's council meeting. "We are not yet certain what role Miraz played in Caspian's disappearance, but there is no doubt it greatly benefits him. Ooh, and there is more. It looks like our old enemy has risen from the ashes." Enara stopped in her tracks and looked directly into her father's eyes, anxiously waiting for his next words.
"There is now an undisputed proof the Old Narnians still live, and very close to us. I suspect the prisoner to be a dwarf. The lost workers and hunters in the woods in recent years? Yes, it might not be a mere coincidence. Miraz told us they had attacked the castle at night and took our prince. Two of the prince's personal guards were killed*."
Her head started to hurt. It was just too much information and bad news in one moment. "If the guards died, could they also kill? No! His body would have been found already. Besides he is one of the best fighters out there."
"Are you alright?" asked her father in a tone so casual, it sounded like he was asking for a glass of water.
Enara was torn from her thoughts. "Hmmm? Yes... Well, no. What if they took him captive, or something worse?"
"Glozelle is sending the Company Drake to look for Caspian," responded Lord Sopespian.
"Is that supposed to calm me? I don't trust him. Even though it's your cousin. He has been suspiciously close to Miraz lately," she countered in a quiet but very sharp tone.
"Heh, that's right," sneered Gregoire.
"It isn't supposed to calm you. He is probably going to murder Caspian the moment he finds him on Miraze's orders. Lord Protector is waiting for the excuse to do just that right after his son was born. They might free Flori though, assuming he was really captured, and he doesn't witness the prince's murder."
"Hardly the odds I am willing to take," she whispered, her face brighter with a new idea forming in her head. "If he isn't found till nightfall, let me put together a searching party. Just a small team of our most skilled soldiers to be as discrete and quick as possible. We can track them and..."
"Absolutely not," he interrupted her, considering the matter settled.
The right hand started to restlessly attack the nails on her left one out of sheer nervosity and anger. She felt betrayed by him. "I always obey his orders. Do I ask for that much?" She lost herself in thoughts, trying to think of possible ways to help her friend. Her father started talking something to his cousin again.
"Why?" joined Enara in the conversation again, her eyes burning with desire to do something to help Flori. "Because I am your heir?"
"Precisely," responded her father quietly.
He slowly leaned forward in his chair. "I taught you to be a commander, not a hot-headed fool. We are just beginning to comprehend the scale of this unexpected threat, and you wish to go right into the den of these snakes? Risk your life and for what? I like the lad too, but he is a low-born for god's sake."
Anger was now dangerously rising in her, hands clenched into fists without Enara even realising it. Or was it fear? Fear that she will lose the only man in her life she fully trusts? "I will do anything to bring him back! Besides, if we can liberate Caspian, he will tell us all he knows. Just yesterday, he told me about the Old Narnians and his tutor, Doctor Cornelius? Well according to him he knows even more about them." It was actually her that came up with the topic, but she didn't want father to find out about her dreams, not now. "And if Miraz had something to do with this, you can use him to overthrow the prick and crown Caspian yourself. Hell, I can even marry him. You will have all the power a lord can imagine. Isn't that what you always wanted?"
There were not many moments when her father was truly speechless, so this was a rare occasion. As her anger started to disappear, he finally looked into her slightly watery eyes, fixedly staring at him and impatiently waiting for his answer.
"You are mistaken. I had promised your mother, to keep you away from danger. My only promise." She could see the pain in his eyes when she mentioned his wife. He never talked about her after she had died. The wound was too deep to be healed, and her father was never the one to share his pain with others. She inherited that from him, to be completely honest. "God knows I failed to deliver on that a lot. But a searching expedition is something I can't allow. Not right now."
Enara didn't know what to do. The desire to hug her dad was so great, yet she still somehow couldn't bring herself to it. The thought of Flori being tortured somewhere by those beasts haunted her and was driving her mind crazy. So she just stood there, like the small statue between the two windows of the room.
"You mentioned Doctor Cornelius. That could be promising at least. We need to know more about the Old Narnians. He could even know more about their hiding spots. Although I would wager Miraz has his claws tight on that man now that his student is gone. It will be hard, if not impossible to interrogate him quietly, and we don't exactly need to attract atención*." Her father scratched his beard.
Enara sensed the opportunity. "He goes into the library a lot. I see him there quite often, usually after noon."
Lord Sopespian was still not convinced. "Too many eyes in the library. I thought I had taught you better."
"No, not in the library. Also, not in his apartment and study, which will surely be guarded by Miraze's men. But what about between those two places? There is this one corner near the west corridor, a blind spot for the guards." Enara smiled sadly. It was Flori who showed her this spot when she accompanied him on patrol once. "I will get him to the old storage room on the right side and ask him a few questions," she finally added confidently. Her father sighed.
Finally, Gregoire decided to speak up with his perceptible accent. She almost forgot he was still here after the argument with her father. "If we wish to survive Lord Protector's rule, now that the prince is gone, and come on top stronger, we need every advantage we can get. Cousin, let us arrange this. There are times when caution is a hindrance."
Lord Sopespian looked a little unsure about his eagerness, his eyebrows raised. "Hmm, the opportunity could be significant. What do you suggest?"
"Not much. Overall, it is a promising plan. I will be her lookout so no one will get in. The rest will be up to Enara." He gave her a brief reassuring glance.
"She was already seen with the prince the evening before he got... lost." One hand was pressed against his face as he slowly gave up and made the decision. "Very well. You have my permiso* to go ahead with it. But for the love of god, be discrete."
Enara let out a sharp exhale. It wasn't a win by any means, but at least it was a start. "At least something to do for the time being. I need to learn more about these creatures that were likely behind Flori's disappearance, and the doctor will give me answers, whether he wants or not. But I must be quick."
"The noon is approaching, so if we want to do it today, we should get moving," she addressed Gregoire, feeling thankful that he helped her persuade father, but also surprised. "And we must do it today because Miraz can decide to get rid of him any moment."
Gregoire just nodded his head as he was leaving the comfort of the green sofa. Not wasting any time, she marched out of the room. It took just a minute of waiting in the hallway before Gregoire joined her. He was almost a head taller when compared to her and although usually clean-shaven, short black stubble was visible on him, almost as if he had no time to spend on getting rid of it.
"Emm, thank you. I really appreciate it," she uttered, still wondering why he was so eager to help.
A perceptive smile crossed his face. "You can thank me later Enara. We have a work to do. Let's take a look on that spot, ay?" They started heading towards the place, the castle hallway already smelled of chicken that was being prepared in the kitchen for lunch. They didn't have much time to spare. The doctor usually visited the library after the midday meal, just like her.
"Maybe this is all a big misunderstanding. Could Flori just leave his post the same night there was an attack for a different reason? No, what a nonsense. A false hope. I am done with false hope," she decided. Enara instinctively checked if her knife was still in her sheath, feeling relieved when brushing over the wooden handle.
Xxxxx
Cautious figures, two tall and one shorter, stood near the corner of a narrow castle corridor. Their black leather armour almost didn't stand out in the grey and stony environment. Gregoire had brought an additional perpetrator with him, a tall loyal soldier in his service. The Telmarine lord decided it would be too suspicious for him to stand on the lookout alone. Instead, they will be on patrol in the corridor together and casually talk. "Besides, additional weapon and muscle is always helpful, if something goes bad," thought Enara. Right now, the soldier stood more away from them, peeking behind the corner into the passageway for potential travellers.
This location for the planned capture of Doctor Cornelius looked perfect for it, exactly how she remembered it after Flori showed her this blind spot. No guards loyal to Miraz, which was most of them in the castle, should be able to see them here. She was mentally prepared to gather the information from the old doctor, about Caspian, Old Narnians, and hopefully about her friend. In fact, she wasn't thinking about anything else in the past hour. She caught herself anxiously tapping her fingers on the wall, indicating her nervousness. "He usually is in the library already. Should have been here half an hour ago. Maybe they already... got him," murmured Enara, sounding rather unsettled.
"And maybe he just eats his lunch right now, or he was tired and didn't feel like going to the library today," reassured her Gregoire firmly.
Enara looked away, examining the small door to the storage room they planned to use for interrogation. "If he doesn't come through here today, I must try tomorrow," she stated in a determined voice.
"If it comes to it, I will help you again," uttered Gregore casually.
She pierced him with her dark hazel eyes, the brows furrowed in suspicion. "Em... Why exactly, are you willing to risk so much for my plan?" His unusual eagerness was indeed surprising her since he vouched for her in the guestroom.
He slightly spread his arms in a defensive gesture that almost looked innocent. "I just wanted to offer a helping hand to my niece."
"First cousin once removed," corrected him Enara.
Gregoire subtly nodded his head with his mouth tightly closed as if calculating her. His tone was a bit less friendly than before. "I saw a life mythical creature during the morning council, which should have been extinguido* a long time ago. As you may remember, my estates lie in the south, and just like yours, very close to the deep forests. If there are truly more of them there, we better learn what they are and how to kill them. The old bookworm should tell us," he said with a stubborn grimace.
Enara sighed. "Of course, he has another motive. Like if I didn't know him."
"And there is another matter. You were right with my cousin Glozelle, he cannot be trusted anymore." Gregoire was now so hushed but swift at the same time, she had trouble understanding. "Either Miraz bought him, or he is more stupid than I remember. I don't know what he told the Lord Protector about me, but right now, Miraz hates me. If the doctor perhaps knows where Caspian is, we can usurp the old clown and put the prince on the throne as a loyal puppet, before Miraz makes his move against us."
Her lightly olive skin turned a bit more red. Enara hated politics and schemes, especially the dangerous ones.
He noticed her change in demeanour and chuckled, almost arrogantly. "Heh, do not worry about me, niece. After we are done here, I will be joining my wife in Gondolla* far away from Miraz, to bolster my defences and recruit more men. If the animals and dwarves try to attack my castle, they will regret it. I granted your father my vote at the council for the duration of my absence. Leaving this den of snakes will be a pleasant cure for my soul," he snickered.
"You just might be one of those snakes," thought Enara. The soldier on the lookout suddenly ended their argument with a hiss and a hand gesture. That meant only one thing, the doctor was at last coming.
The three of them urgently assumed the previously agreed positions some distance behind the corner. Enara nervously checked her knife again and opened the wooden door to the small storage room. Gregoire and his soldier stood on the opposite side, pretending to converse about what was better, a bow or crossbow.
The careful steps of the doctor were still louder, but the time appeared to slow down for Enara. The waiting seemed endless, but the short and wide prince's teacher finally appeared behind the corner. She was not looking at him for long, trying not to raise suspicion of the undoubtedly wise man. She first noticed his grey beard, almost reaching to his waist, followed by his unusual pointy hat. He harshly glanced at the armoured figures but continued with his trip to the library.
Once he was close enough, Gregoire and his soldier blocked his way from each side. "Doctor," smiled Gregoire, although there was no indication of happiness in his eyes. "We were waiting for you."
Enara joined the exchange in a more respectful manner. "I was hoping we could speak in private for a moment," she requested and pointed her head towards the open room. The old man gave her the most distrustful look she ever experienced. "No, I don't think so," uttered Cornelius and tried to head back towards his apartment.
Gregoire, towering over the doctor, pulled a third of his sword out of his scabbard. The clean and sharp steel shined in the gloomy corridor. "I am afraid it wasn't just a friendly request."
He fell completely silent. Enara was starting to think he might try to somehow escape, which would not end well. "Huh, let it be your way," stated the doctor to her great relief. He slowly and defiantly entered the room. She followed him and after a last nod directed to Gregoire. "Great, that was the easy part. Let's ask a few questions."
The storage was very small, with hardly any light. She found a fire striker in her small pouch and with a few quick hand movements, she lit the torch on the wall. Numerous old crates and chests littered the ground, not having any system in their placement whatsoever. The place was inhabited only by spiders, with numerous webs serving as their home. Her nostrils went irritated from all the dust. She finally closed the door, leaving just the lonely torch to provide light.
The doctor was standing in the middle, taking off his head while briefly exploring the room. "It took him longer than expected," concluded the man, his voice calm but a bit squeaky. "Strange that he sends a moza*. I hoped he would at least have the decency to do it personally. Well, tell him this at least. He can silence me, but he will never silence the truth."
She opened her mouth, at first not fully understanding his comments. "Que*? You thought we want to murder you? No!"
The old man looked visibly surprised, adjusting his small glasses with his shaky hand. "Oh... is that so? What does Miraz want from me then? He might be disappointed with me, I'm afraid. I don't intend to reveal where he is. In fact, I don't even know."
"Caspian," she deduced immediately. "The doctor already knew a lot about his disappearance. And he just spilled the beans a little bit too much. But why didn't Miraz capture or kill this professor already if he knows so much?"
"I don't work for the Lord Protector. I don't work for anyone," she declared harshly, almost spitting out the words "work for" in contempt. She quickly reminded herself to not lose composure this way and continued more calmly. "I just need to ask a few important questions."
He again shifted his round glasses and focused on her, illuminated only by the dim light of the torch. His face suddenly lit up, like a philosopher finally finding an answer to an essential question. "Oh yes. I recognize you now. Lord Sopespian's girl. Inara is it? You visit the library quite often, hey? Most of the time in the military history and strategy section." He smiled kindly and briefly glanced at her armour. "Isn't that a bit hazardous occupation?"
"Hazardous you think? Hmmm... I, for one, believe that being without a weapon in the coming days will be much more hazardous," She didn't need advice from some stranger.
Was it just her or did he wink at her? He definitely didn't look surprised by the answer. "Heh, perhaps you are right. What do I know? I'm just an old professor with very tired legs." With that comment, he found a smaller box and carefully sat down.
"Interesting, turns out an old wise man is just the one I need right now. You certainly know a thing or two about Caspian."
His mood turned sour again when she mentioned his student. "Inara, you must understand. I... cannot tell anyone," he said in a sombre voice.
The idea of intimidating him into speaking crossed the young Telmarine's mind, but some inner instinct was telling her it would lead to nowhere. She softly breathed the dusty air, exhaled, and grabbed the large crate nearby by its handle. Some iron or steel was probably stored inside as it was much heavier than she expected. Nevertheless, her strength allowed her to drag it in front of the doctor's box. She promptly sat down, making sure with one hand her unsheathed sword wasn't in the way. "Let's try telling him the truth."
With some hesitation, Enara made eye contact, her tone sounding like honesty itself. "I don't do this for politics, or power, tatpaari*. Not like my father, and his cousins." She despised herself for saying it, but it was true. "My... friend is missing. Since the night Caspian disappeared too." Her usually sharp eyes closed. She hated being seen vulnerable, hated when her voice was weak. "Don't know what happened and where they took him, but he is gone. I promised him yesterday, that I will always be there for him. And now..." She didn't know what else to say.
The professor almost looked like he wanted to give her a hug but decided against it. No one ever did since her mother... well, save for Florien. "What a stupid and pitiful thought. A soldier yearning for hugs." Her hands transformed into fists.
"I am sorry for your friend. Truly, though I don't know him. I can't tell you if he is alright, but you should never lose hope. Sometimes, hope is the only thing keeping us sane. Ask me anything. Maybe I will be able to help," the wise man offered sympathetically.
Even though she didn't realize it yet, his kind words helped her cope with the situation. Still, everything seemed so hard to comprehend. Yesterday, life was well. Granted, never perfect, but well. "How could everything change so much? During just one night. But I suppose there is always hope. For everyone." A familiar feeling slowly began taking over, the heat travelling to every corner of her body. Determination. She promised him, back in the tower. "I will not stop looking until he is found, and nothing better be standing in my way."
One question kept nagging at her mind since the start of this... was it even an interrogation at this point? The sentence basically flew out of her mouth. "Why did you think Miraz wants to kill you? Just because you are Caspian's mentor? Or…"
Once she mentioned the name, the mood in the room visibly darkened, filled with regret. "I had failed him. Since my wife... passed away, Caspian was the last one in this castle making me smile. Making my old life worth it. And I failed him." The pain in his eyes was clearly visible, the occasional sparkles completely disappearing, making enough space for slowly forming tears
It was always hard for her to see men cry, particularly this old and wise, but Enara needed to know the answers and pushed on. "This morning, I saw soldiers preparing to march somewhere. Father thinks they will look for our prince and once they slaughter his abductors, they will kill him as well. Miraz profits from it already." she said in a calm voice that couldn't hide her worry.
The man shook his head in protest, the long grey beard swayed in the process. "You don't understand. He doesn't just profit. It was Miraz. I overheard him ordering it directly to General Glozelle just before it happened. I installed a special listening aparato* in his guest room a week ago when Miraz started acting rather suspiciously. I heard something about mercenary killers, don't know exactly. I went to wake up and warn Caspian right after that. His two personal guards allowed me to get inside, so they probably didn't know about the plot." Enara was having a difficult time believing the story. She couldn't move, feeling like a useless strawman on a field. Miraz was cruel, but to orchestrate the murder of his nephew? His own blood?
"I had immediately sent him to the stables to prepare his horse. Told him he must go into the wilderness and never look back." The man had so much pain in his voice. Enara couldn't look at it anymore, both of her hands carefully moved forward, taking hold of his shaky hands in a sympathetic gesture. Maybe because she knew almost exactly how he felt. "The stables, where Flori had his night watch. Did he meet Caspian and help him?" She still fully refused the possibility that he was killed in action. By Old Narnians, Miraz... Caspian by some mistake. By whoever.
Meanwhile, Cornelius composed himself a bit, appreciating her compassion. "I then rushed to the kitchen to get him some dried meat and frutos, so he wouldn't starve there alone. I was gone for just two minutes. But then I heard the screams outside, and horses running away to the night. I could have gone with him and protect him, but now I am not even sure if he is." He hadn't voiced the last word out loud, but Enara was pretty sure what he meant.
However, sad as it was, her mind wasn't worried about Caspian at the moment. "You mentioned screams in the stables. Do you mean... like a fight? Had someone died?"
"I couldn't tell, I am sorry. It was very distant, just shouting and thundering of hooves."
"So they went on horses. I should check the stables if some are missing," she decided, making a mental note for herself.
"You did what you could. Trust me, he probably had a better chance of escaping them alone. But what about the creatures? Why did they do it? Why would they reveal themselves so suddenly and violently?" asked Enara, not backing her eyes from the doctor, hungry for more answers.
At first, Cornelius narrowed his eyes in an uncomprehending gesture. "Creatures? Ehm… I am afraid I don't understand."
His reaction surprised her. "Well, the Old Narnians of course. The main reason I searched for you. Caspian told me I should visit you and ask about them the evening before they attacked the castle. Maybe he knew they were coming for him." She angrily looked to the side and huffed. The thought that they abducted their prince alone made her blood boil. "And if they hurt Flori!"
The doctor looked visibly surprised, stroking his long grey beard. "Not many people speak about them in this castle."
"Hm, I noticed. But they appeared in my dreams. Ugly beasts," she remarked.
"Hmmm," the man hummed in a way, that the sound could be considered both approving and disapproving simultaneously. "I see. But why would they be involved in Caspian's disappearance?"
"My father and his cousin saw one during the council. Miraz showed him to them, claiming he and others attacked the castle at night and got Caspian. After what you said to me, I suspect they were the mercenaries Glozelle hired, and Miraz himself gave them the order. He is too smart to use his own men, so he buys the creatures to do the dirty work but betrays them right after to hide his involvement. He can convince the lords it was just them behind it, even gain their support against the new threat. That's why the guards let you in when you wanted to warn Caspian, they weren't in on it."
Cornelius was vehemently shaking his head. "No Inara, I think you overexagger...
"It's Enara," she corrected him, a bit hurt that he didn't trust her theory that so far made perfect sense.
"Sorry for that, my mind isn't as great as it used to be. Enara then. Listen, I am certain none were involved."
She leaned on the crate to be closer. "Interesting," she smiled, knowing something he didn't. "We have one of them as a prisoner, and the two guards died, which means... wait a minute. You said you are certain they weren't involved. How could you possibly... What are you hiding?"
Cornelius straightened up and took a deep breath as if a particularly hard challenge was awaiting him. "The stories they taught you in school about Telmarine history. They are not what truly happened," he tried to explain with utmost caution.
The girl didn't give him much time to continue. "Alright, but they are the ancient enemy. Even the existence of a few is a reason to worry, don't you think?"
"I don't blame you for thinking this way. Since Telmarine children learn to speak, they are fed this distorted history, especially in noble families. I know this will be hard, but the truth is, Old Narnians are the original inhabitants and owners of this land. No demons in animal skin like they are presented in books. Still, your ancestors hunted them like animals. Caspian learned about the big lie, unlike other kings."
She was having a hard time listening to it, quickly deciding these were pure lies and fabrications. Her uneasy hands started attacking the chainmail with short nails, disappointed that the old man couldn't be trusted. He didn't even seem to regard himself as part of them, telling things like "your ancestors". Enara felt much more sadness than anger because he seemed genuine with Caspian. She still planned to help him escape from Miraze's clutches after they were done here, but her trust was gone.
One hand rubbed her eyes in annoyance, the other one was slightly raised, telling him the conversation wasn't over. "How do you even know so much about them?"
"Very old books… and stories," he revealed in a confident manner, but something felt off. Enara, known for her ability to always recognize lies, sensed it but didn't want to push the subject now. Their time was limited before someone noticed the Doctor was gone.
Her intoxicating sharp eyes were fixed on him, not blinking once. "Even if I was to believe that, you speak about old history. I care about what they are doing right now."
The doctor placed his hand on his heart in an effort to calm the situation. "If you would just open your eyes and listen for a while."
She was starting to lose composure again, her voice progressively louder and more frustrated. "No, you listen to me, I don't need to "open my eyes" to know them. They are haunting me even when I have them tight shut! How could I have dreamt about them before I even knew they still existed? The specific night just before they attacked the caste and maybe hurt my friend? Maybe, god tried to send me those dreams as a warning."
"But what if, you are just interpreting them wrong? I can help you understand. Mayhap, Aslan just wanted to show you how..."
"That's it, you have just reached my limit," she hissed while flinging up from the crate, one hand touching her waist, where her knife was hanging. She felt chills down her spine just from the name he uttered itself.
"It was never my intention to offend you…."
"You offend yourself, tatpaari," the girl interrupted his apology and made her way for the door. She was about to reach the handle and leave the room, but suddenly stopped, slowly turning around. "As for the horrible accusations against our people, you tried to poison me with. I promise I will not tell anyone. For respect, I hold for Caspian. But others won't be so understanding, Miraz included. He probably already suspects you of helping Caspian escape. Better leave or find someone else, because I don't intend to help a traitor." Cornelius still sitting on the box had his head down, no doubt sad that their conversation crumbled like a house of cards.
She gave him one last ugly and untrusting look, hissing her warning. "And do not talk about the devil in lion's clothing ever again."
Enara didn't want to slam the door so hard, but it somehow happened. It just felt too frustrating. "How can this kind and friendly man trust the devil and tell such lies?" The sound filled the corridor, scaring Gregoire and the soldier patrolling in front of the storage room.
"I see it went well," told her Gregoire in a jovial voice.
Enara wasn't in the mood for his stupid jokes and just signaled them to follow her back to the Sopespian family apartment.
"Hey, wait," grumbled Gregoire, clearly offended by her ignorance. "What if the greybeard decides to talk? He could sell us out to Miraz." His hand touched the handle of his sword.
His answer came together with her swift fed-up stare. "I am certain he won't do anything even slightly similar. Do not harm him," she warned and strode off. "Gregoire, Doctor, even father, all of them are useless to me. I am done listening to their advice. I will track Glozelle's soldiers, take Flori and Caspian home, and see for myself what the real truth is." Her heart was pounding from all the determination.
And then a terrifying thought crossed her mind. "What if, like in some cruel dream, most things the doctor said about Old Narnians were... the truth."
Hii, finally back with this monster of a chapter, but every journey needs a setup. It may be hard to understand Enara's actions at the end, but it's quite simple. She was always taught Old Narnians are demons and the one named Aslan is a form of devil. Unlike Enara, Caspian was much more trustful of them. Since childhood, he learned mostly good things about Old Narnians from his nurse and Cornelius in stories. He also didn't feel much loyalty to his countrymen, bc of how badly most of them treated him.
In the next chapter, you will find out what happened to Caspian after Flori left him in the forest and finally, see the perspective of Old Narnians.
Notes:
Cousins – Just like in canon, Sopespian, Gregoire, and Glozelle are related.
Watches – Most of the Telmarine technology is medieval but because they entered Narnia somewhere in the 17th century, they retain some things that are more advanced, like these pocket time measuring devices. However, they lost a lot of this technology during their basically castaway stay in Telmar after they left Earth.
Explaining guards – Those two were personnel guards of Caspian loyal to Miraz, in order to make sure the prince stays where he should. They were not the assassins that chased Caspian in Chapter 2. Miraz told the council the two guards were killed by Old Narnians, which is a lie. We don't know what really happened to them as of now.
Atención – Attention in Spanish.
Permiso – Permission in Spanish.
Extinguido – extinct in Spanish.
Gondolla – A fortress in the south belonging to Casa Gregoire.
Moza – A girl in Spanish.
Que? – Occasionally used by Telmarines instead of a simple "what", in a case of great surprise.
Tatpaari – From Tahitian Taata paari, meaning old man.
Aparato – A device in Spanish.
Frutos – A specific name for dried fruits.
Character Summary:
Enara Sopespian -Daughter of Lord Sopespian, Telmarine soldier, Age 17, light olive skin, Dark brown hair, Sharp hazelnut eyes.
Lord Sopespian –Telmarine noble, Age 55, short messy hair, short and slightly greyish beard.
Lord Gregoire – Telmarine noble, Age 29, tall, stubble.
Doctor Cornelius – Professor and Caspian's mentor, Age 71, short and wide, grey beard.