Part 18: More clues
Sarine welcomed Einnol into her home, a little self-consciously. If she had known that her fellow students had witnessed this, she would have been mortified. She had shown him the letter in the plaza, and he immediately asked about the scrap of paper. Sarine suggested that Arka had probably forgotten it, but Einnol had insisted on coming to her house to search for it. She was a bit taken aback by this, but had agreed.
Andoryn and Aerianna were intrigued. Sarine had taken Einnol straight to her home.
“What’s going on, d’ye think?” asked Andoryn.
Aerianna shrugged.
“I saw her show him something at the forge. Looked like a letter.”
“Who would write to Sarine? And what has it to do with Einnol?” asked Aerianna.
“Well, whatever it is, it isn’t our business,” said Rell, shifting uncomfortably.
“Oh come on, Rell, aren’t you the least bit curious?” Andoryn mocked him.
“Well I’m staying until they come out,” said Aerianna, “I want to know what’s going on.” She looked at Rell. “Look, I’m not saying there is anything going on – I just think it’s strange.”
Rell frowned.
“It’s like you say, Rell, Einnol is happily married – I honestly don’t think… Let’s just see what happens,” she continued.
“Well you two girls can stay if you want. I’m going to the library.”
Rell turned to go, but Andoryn took his hand. “I’ll come too,” she said, “but I am curious too. Aerianna, if you are staying, come and tell us what happens.”
Rell rolled his eyes but said nothing.
“Of course I will. You two run along.”
Aerianna watch the two head off towards the University. She was a bit disappointed that Andoryn wouldn’t stay, but understood. She looked around for a comfortable place to sit, where she wouldn’t be seen. She was genuinely interested in what Einnol was doing with Sarine. He hardly knew her. And it wasn’t like Sarine to invite a stranger into her home. What was in that letter? And why had Einnol hurried off with hardly a word? He’d even left his iron stock in the castings. She settled down and waited…
*****
The boys were playing a noisy game of tag as Sarine opened the door, but soon quietened when they saw Einnol. Declan and Joana ran off to their room, but Valiki stayed in the hallway.
“Hello,” he said, “I’m Valiki”
“And I am Einnol,” said Einnol, smiling.
“Eiwas”
“I’m sorry?” Einnol looked puzzled.
“Eiwas. Your name starts with ‘Eiwas’.”
“So it does,” said Einnol, surprised. “And your name begins with ‘Wunjo.”
Valiki beamed. “See, mummy?” He looked at Einnol. “Did Aunty Arka teach you that?”
Einnol chuckled, “Aye, she did! That and a whole lot more.”
Sarine stroked her son’s hair. “Mr. Feldorm and I have some business to discuss. You run along and keep an eye on Declan.”
Valiki nodded and ran off.
“He is a good boy,” said Einnol.
“He is,” agreed Sarine, “and very curious. Both the twins are interested in everything these days. You should see the things they collect.”
“I was very much the same at his age,” said Einnol.
Sarine opened the door to the kitchen. “We can talk in here,” she said, gesturing towards the table.
Einnol took a seat. “Let me see that letter again.”
Sarine took out the parchment and spread it on the table. Einnol looked at it closely.
“’Tis very good parchment,” he said at length, “Why would Arka use this just for a letter?”
Sarine shrugged.
“I noticed she used the word ‘legacy’,” she said, “that frightened me. I thought she meant she was going to die at first.”
Einnol frowned. “So she might as well use up her best parchment,” he thought, although he said nothing.
Sarine jumped up. “I’ll just go check on the boys.” She left Einnol re-reading the letter.
A few moments later Einnol became aware that someone was watching him intently. He looked up to see a pair of sharp eyes peering from beneath an untidy fringe.
Valiki looked at him expectantly. “Mr. Einnol, what does Aunty Arka say in her letter?”
Einnol smiled. “She has a job for me to do. Trouble is, I don’t know where to start.”
“Doesn’t she tell you?”
“Not exactly. She has left me with a kind of puzzle.”
“I like puzzles. Tell me what it says.”
Einnol looked at the young dwarf. How wonderful to be that curious! He could see no harm sharing some of the letter with him.
“Well, it seems Aunty Arka wanted me to have a piece of paper. But your mother couldn’t find it. ‘Twas supposed to be in the letter.”
Valiki’s eyes widened. “My brother’s got a piece of paper.”
“Yes,” replied Einnol kindly, ”but ‘tis a special piece of paper I need. Not just any piece of paper.”
“Is it from an old book?”
Einnol’s mouth dropped open. He was remembering a time, a long time ago when Arka had given him a small piece of paper. It was a time he had tried to forget.
“I’ll get it,” said Valiki, before Einnol could speak, and ran off towards his room.
Einnol’s mind raced. “He will know where to look…” If this was the same piece of paper, then… But how could Valiki’s brother have it? Maybe it dropped out of the letter, maybe Sarine hadn’t noticed. The book had been destroyed, so how could the scrap of paper have survived?
Sarine broke his train of thought. “Can I get you a drink, Mr Feldorm? I’m afraid I’ve no ale, but I have some very good apple juice.”
Einnol smiled but shook his head.
“This piece of paper…”
“It’s like I said, Arka probably forgot it. There was no piece of paper in the letter.”
“Could it have fallen out?”
“I looked everywhere. It wasn’t on the floor”
“Could it have fallen somewhere unseen?”
“Not in the hallway. There was nowhere it could have done.”
“I wonder…” said Einnol, thoughtfully.
Just then Valiki came skipping into the room, with a small box under his arm.
“Valiki! Not now, dear,” said his mother kindly, but firmly, ”Mr. Feldorm and I need to talk.”
“But… I want to show him something.”
“Later, dear…” began Sarine, but Einnol held up a hand. “I think this might be important.”
He looked at Valiki. “D’ye have it?”
Valiki looked nervously at his mother and nodded. He opened the box and took out the scrap of paper his brother had found earlier. He held it out, and Einnol took it, his hand trembling. He stared at the paper in disbelief.
“What is it?” asked Sarine, alarmed at the sudden change in him.
When Einnol managed to speak, his voice seemed smaller and somehow far away. “’Tis a long story, Sarine, a very long story. And one I would rather not tell again, if ye don’t mind.”
