Eletheria sat across from Lex in the back of the carriage. They were traveling so fast that the bumps in the road forced them to grab onto the seats to stay in place. As the buildings and houses passed by, Ele tried to figure out where Thio was going.

“Would he have gone to the ship?” Lex suggested, “He didn’t seem like someone who desired attention.”

“He would not have gone back to the ship,” Ele said, then questioned how well she knew Thio. “He does not seem to run from trouble.” Lex nodded, and his face went a little pale.

“I wasn’t meaning he was…” Lex started to say, but Ele cut him off.

“Do not worry; let us find him,” Ele replied quickly while trying to organize her thoughts. Soon the carriage pulled in front of the Queen Astoria. They all exited the carriage quickly without waiting for the coachman to assist. Both Lex and the coachman started towards the door but Ele motioned for them to hold up.

“I have been pondering why Thio would leave, and I cannot come up with an answer,” Ele said. When the coachman started to say something, Ele’s curt hand gesture quieted him. “I know what you all think of Thio; there is no need to discuss it. You did not spend a lot of time with him. I did spend time with him. I know he would not run nor hide.” Ele finished and looked at both Lex and the coachman, she focused on the coachman for a moment, “Forgive me if I am mistaken, but your name is Antonni Ferna?”

“Antonio Fernando, miss,” The coachman replied then continued, “You can call me Tony if you wish.”

“Tony, I shall call you nothing else.” Ele smiled as she was worried the coachman would take offense at her not remembering his name. “So, I am guessing that Thio was taken from his room. We cannot find out if it was the Vol Mortem as they have already left. What we can do is find out who was in the common room that night and ask them who wandered in and out. Someone has to know or saw something”.

“Do you have a plan on getting people to talk?” Lex asked

“Hopefully my family name will unlock lips and doors. If that fails, I am certain bribes will do the rest,” Ele stated, though she wondered how many coins she would need.

“We will find out who took Thio, find out where he is kept, and punish those responsible,” Lex assured Ele, as if he knew there was doubt in her mind. Ele smiled at Lex’s positive attitude, and together they all entered the Queen Astoria.

Eletheria entered the inn first. She immediately noticed how empty the common room was. While it was still early in the day, she had figured there would be people there enjoying breakfast or waiting for a carriage to take them wherever. She walked to the part of the bar that also functioned as the current innkeeper’s desk. When he saw her approach with Lex and Tony behind her, his face paled.

“The lady Eletheria Zephyr has some further questions,” Tony called out as soon as he entered the Inn behind Eletheria.

“Look, Ms. Zephyr, I already told the coachman I do not know where your friend went.” the innkeeper said. Ele mentally thanked the gods as Henricus was there. Seeing that he was already scared, Ele thought she would try something to perhaps make him a little more scared. She held her hands at shoulder length apart with open palms facing the other hand. She pushed a little bit of quan through her hands and made a little blue lightning bolt jump from one to the other. She wasn’t that powerful, but to someone who was untouched, she was as powerful as she needed to be.

Quickly she mentally berated herself. She hated the term “untouched” and didn’t like how it was used to describe someone without an ability. It also included ramifications that her ability was something divine and not a result of family and breeding. When she thought about some of the people she knew without quan, none seemed lesser than her. Frustration at herself for allowing her anger and fear for Acanthio to cloud her judgment gave her pause.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Miss, um, Ms. Eletheria, please, I do not know anything,” Henricus said again with obvious fear. Ele realized she had been standing there with an angry look on her face, doing nothing for a good ten seconds, channeling quan between her hands, causing a continuous bolt of electricity to surge from left to right. She stopped channeling when she felt a hand on her left shoulder. A glance to her side revealed Lex standing there, looking a little concerned.

“Then, can you give us a list of everyone in the common room last night and who entered or left after Acanthio was dropped off?” Ele said, letting a little spark jump to emphasize her point. This last little spark resulted in a little jump in Henricus and a stern look from Lex.

“Also, sir, could you provide us access to his room or if you have cleaned it or any items that were left there,” Lex stated, trying to bring the conversation back to gathering information.

“Certainly, sir, I will help in any way I can.” Henricus quickly reached under the counter and pulled forth a ring of keys. He moved from around the counter and started towards the stairs. “I can tell you who the regulars that were here last night. The others I may not be able to remember as I try not to take notice of people’s comings and goings. I could get some of my staff to help if you wish.” They all headed up the stairs, and after a long silence, Henricus continued.

“I wish to help Professor Praestes’ family as much as possible. My father and mother owed their lives to her and the rebellion,” Henricus rambled as they climbed the next set of stairs to the third floor. His statement worried Ele, though, as her threat to him would probably come back to her mother and aunt. The last thing she wanted was for them to think she was some spoiled bully. When they reached the third floor, Ele stopped everyone for a moment.

“Henricus, I apologize. I acted rashly in distress for my friend. I would never harm you or your staff. I do not mean to be a bully, just the missing person. Acanthio, I owe my life and more to you. I wish to find him so I may repay that debt.” Ele said, lowering herself by bending her knees and bowing her head. Even if Henricus did not accept her apology, she would at least know she attempted. The whole thing with Thio missing had her on edge, and the knowledge that Lex was still expecting an answer worried her. One thing at a time, she told herself.

“Eletheria, I accept your apology. I’ll still help; his room was number four,” Henricus said as he led them to the door. With a quick search of the key ring, he pulled out a key and opened the door. “I was worried someone would come or he would return, so I told the staff not to touch the room.” When his back was turned, Ele let out a quiet sigh of relief. For a moment, she had worried there would be irreparable harm to her family name because of her rash actions.

Once the door to the room was opened, they were able to file inside. The innkeeper stayed outside of the room. Lex went in first due to proximity and was followed by Ele, then Tony, bringing up the rear. Even by Ele’s standards, the bedroom was large. The bed was against one wall, and the desk and chairs were on the other side. The window was closed, and the curtains were also drawn. As Ele’s eyes were getting adjusted to the dark, Lex blinded her and Tony by pulling the curtains back. Light flooded the room and revealed a bed still made. There were slight wrinkles in the blanket, but otherwise, it looked unused. On the side of the bed was a boot sheath and knife on the nightstand. Lex saw the knife and started moving towards it.

“He would have never left…” Ele started to say and wanted to let everyone know how that knife helped keep them alive but her voice caught, and she ended up focusing on not crying instead.

“His boots are over here, too,” Lex stated as he got to the knife and found boots sitting on the floor beside the bed. Any hope that Ele had that Thio had just wandered off or had fled disappeared. It was obvious now that someone took him. The question now was, why? Ele and Lex scoured over every inch in the room to see if they could locate any more clues. As they were looking, Tony was talking to Henricus outside the room. Soon Henricus left in a hurry down the stairs. Ele barely noted his departure and kept looking; she thought she saw something under the desk, but it was just a collection of dust and hair that it wasn’t been cleaned as thoroughly. There was no evidence of force used to take Thio, no scratches, no furniture moved or at an odd angle. Unless they straightened everything up, her thought was interrupted by Henricus coming back up the stairs with other footsteps in tow.

“Here is the stable boy who worked last night.” Henricus pressed forward a half-asleep young man about the same age as Thio. The stable boy looked tired and worried that he’d made a huge mistake as he looked towards Tony and into the room at Ele. Ele’s confusion must have been obvious as the stable boy spoke.

“Wha’ iz going on?” the boy asked in a thick lowlander accent. It surprised Ele, and it took her a moment to process the words as she wasn’t used to hearing them. Most G’Aequor worked to hide their accent in Ascalon.

“A friend of ours was taken last night. He would have been carried out or had no shoes. Do you remember anyone bringing a large object down or carrying a drunk friend last night?” Lex stepped forward and asked the stable boy. The boy nodded enthusiastically at Lex.

“Yaw Yaw, iz Romanus and hiz group dragged a drunk friend tow their carriage. Said he iz a noble and did no wan’ to bring shame by going through the common room. The stiff could have been pirate Bonnie fur all I know,” he quickly replied. Ele and Lex gave a little cheer, and they moved towards the room door. The stable boy stood aside to allow them room to pass by. As Lex passed him, he pressed some coins in the stable boy’s palm.

“A man’s life may be saved because of your attentiveness,” Lex informed the stable boy. Seeing the confusion over the past part of his statement, he rephrased it: “Your memory of last night may have saved someone’s life.” The stable boy nodded and smiled.

“Henricus, thank you for the assistance. We will be going now to try to track down Romanus to find our friend.” Lex also gave the innkeeper some coin. Soon, Ele, Tony, and Lex were back at the carriage getting ready to leave. As they were ready to go, Ele poked her head out the window to tell Tony something.

“Tony, that was a great idea to check with the stable boy. Thank you so much!” Ele said, almost shouting at him as the sounds of the city waking up filled the air.

“My pleasure, ma’am,” Tony replied and soon they were off back to the Zephyr estates.