Tamaris, Benedict and Melraka sat on a bench, wrapped in magic chains and guarded well while the priests and mages took care of the possessed captain and Reginault's cursed wound. The minor suspects would have to wait for a while. Tamaris used a lapse of attention by the guards to inch closer to Melraka and whisper over to her. “You’re not going to tell on me, are you?”
Melraka looked in Tamaris’ deep, wide-open eyes and fell into thought for a while. She didn’t want to plunge the girl into some serious trouble, possibly even expulsion, over something as grave as this when her only guilt was naivety. The girl had already shown a strong sense of right and wrong and duty when she decided to go after the intruder all by herself. She finally turned back to the here and now and saw tears tensing up in Tamaris’ eyes. “If you really wish to gain the admiration and respect of your fellow students, then you should face up to the responsibility and consequences of what you did.”
Melraka could tell that this was not the answer Tamaris wanted to hear most badly, but had expected. “I guess you are right.” She stood up, walked to the guards and threw a glance back to Mel “Thank you, all of you, for your help.” With a smile carrying more sadness that happiness. Then she turned to the guards and spoke up. “I want to make a confession...”
After their accounts had been written down, Reginault, Benedict and Melraka were let go with a slap on the wrist for their involvement in what was basically trespassing, breaking and entering and damaging of property, as well as a general breach of security. Tamaris had not gotten off so lightly. She would have to remain on the island in a safe prison cell and await further investigations.
With Reginault patched up with some healing and cleansing magic, the three of them were standing at the island’s port and waiting for the next ferry back to the city. The sun had just set and they were all three exhausted, but glad it was over.
“I hope she does well.” Benedict said more to himself than any of the others.
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
Mel tried to soothe him. “We did all we could.”
“Not me. I know a few people from Greene’s foresight who might help her yet. And not just lawyers! What is equally important is that we find out who set her up to this and bring him to justice.” His eyes burned with fierce determination.
“Sounds like an adventure for another day. I'm done with that for now.”
The last ferry of the day arrived with no passengers safe for a few crates. The three got on board. Mel sat down on one of the benches and wanted to get out her own reading material when she realized it wasn’t in her bag.
“OH PLEASE NO!”
Benedict and Reginault turned to her with the same question. “What is it?”
Mel sighed over her own stupidity. “I forgot my own book in the cantina!”
Benedict breathed a sigh of relief, obviously expecting something more serious. Then he put his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll get it for you and drop it off at the library.”
Reginault laughed heartily While holding his side in pain. “HAH! You had me worried there for a moment.” He seemed to realize something himself. “Wait, where is that book you wanted to repair?”
“The priest said it was touched by too much daemonic taint. Since it’s just a printed copy, he decided to burn it. I’ll have to come back here and formally request a new copy for the student library.”
Reginault chuckled. “Well I will have to come back as well, I didn’t get to look up those records. But first I'll have to explain to my colleagues what took me so long.”
She turned around and watched the Vault disappear into haze. When they finally arrived in the harbour, it was as dark as it would get until sunrise, the lanterns lining the streets were already lit. They stepped of the ferry and went their separate ways, saying goodbye with a “See you tomorrow.”
As Melraka walked down the street to her home, she couldn’t help but think about Tamaris, that fierce little bundle of energy. It was truly a shame such an honest determination could be corrupted by her seniors. Maybe Melraka would inquire about her whereabouts and pay her a visit. But for tonight, she was happy just getting into bed. She was reconsidering whether she wanted to move up to a position within the vault. A single day seemed already too hectic for her.