???
Siel had nothing to tell him? But, hadn't he been thinking about something just then?
…More importantly, hadn't they been doing something earlier? Before Elara had come knocking?
Arin squeezed his eyes shut and racked his brain. His thoughts were unusually sluggish today. That head injury he'd gotten from falling asleep last nights must've knocked some screws loose.
Which especially sucked, because Arin didn't believe he had too many more he could afford to lose.
Banquet… Elara… Knock – knocking… had interrupted… eyes…
…cold, glowing eyes.
Tracking.
Arin's eyes flew open.
'Siel!' He exclaimed. Then, forcing himself to calm down and don Rin's more collected demeanor, he continued, 'hadn't you been, uh, using your talent?'
Siel wrinkled his brows slightly, then, gasped.
'I was, indeed! That's what I'd wanted to talk to you about.' He jumped to his feet. 'What is wrong with me today? I cannot believe I forgot!'
The wide-eyed boy strode past Arin – his oversized clothes flapping around him with each step – and kicked up the doorstop. Pulling the door shut after him, he turned to Arin and started speaking a little more softly, 'As you know, even though the curse has been broken, traces of such magic don't disappear until much later. The more powerful the magic, the longer they last.'
Arin nodded silently.
Actually, he didn't know – not until just now. Thanks for the free information, though, kid.
'So,' Siel continued, 'since I'd already touched the threads of the curse last night, I thought I might engage with the network I'd seen again. The one that had led us to Elara's bedroom.'
'Mm-hmm.' Arin nodded again.
'Well, I only managed to do so for a handful of seconds before we were interrupted, but even then, I'm certain…' The boy paused, like he was searching for the right words. 'I might yet be missing something, but… I clearly saw the threads connect right outside the door of this room. Right before we were interrupted…'
The boy locked eyes with Arin.
'Brother Rin, I think that the source of this curse was Elara.'
*
Arin slowly walked down a corridor. He'd been at it for a couple of minutes already, and still hadn't encountered anyone in the meantime. For all the people who worked and resided in Silvershade's headman's estate, parts of it seemed almost eerily unoccupied at times.
That's what happens when you live in such a stupidly big house.
Soon after their hushed conversation in the room, Siel had run off to meet with the village head again. By using the excuse of wanting formally thank and politely reject Sir Grif for the celebration he'd wanted to arrange in their honor, the boy had said he wanted to try digging for some more information.
And since Elara had left saying she had something to say to her father, bonus points if he met her again along the way.
Arin had left Siel to it. Wearing Rin's personality, he knew he wouldn't be able to contribute much more than a handsome cardboard cutout propped up in the background might.
Instead, he had taken it upon himself to wander around the estate and search for clues. He would also attempt to converse with any maids or caretakers he happened to come across. He wondered if he might try being a little more friendly - a little more like himself (while facing important clients, at least) - without Siel there to notice.
And if someone suspected something, or asked why he was meandering, he could just use the classic excuse; he was searching for the bathroom.
What's the worse they could say to that? 'Hold it'?
He turned a corner, and nearly ran into the young maid he'd met that morning.