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ลำดับตอนที่ #1 : X Marks the Spot

Chapter 1

Float

"'Stay out of this?' What's that supposed to mean?"

     The threatening message sent a cold shiver down my spine. 

     I stepped out onto the balcony and looked around, but I couldn't see anyone suspicious outside. 

     The mystery of the present seemed more confusing than ever.

               (The letter said it contained something important, but now I've lost it!)

               Sorrow welled up inside of me as I remembered the letter from my parents.

               (I have to get that box back! I know it's late, but I'm sure Alyn will help me out—or at least listen.)

               As captain of the guard, Alyn had always been someone I could rely on, so I decided to pay him a visit.

......

               I was heading through the streets towards Alyn's house when I heard voices speaking from a nearby alleyway. 

     The voices sounded familiar somehow, and I stopped without thinking.

???

"We still don't know what's in it, or what country the information is from. Is that so?

" I suppose we'll have to wait and see, then."

               (That sounds like Alyn and Giles!)

               I stepped towards the alleyway, intending to look and see if I could spot them. 

             Without warning a hand tapped me on the shoulder, and I jumped a mile. 

             I whirled around, my hands coming up defensively.

               But it was only Sid standing there, a smirk on his face.

Sid

"Eavesdropping, huh?

"You should be careful though—you might learn something you didn't want to know."

Float

"Geez, don't startle me like that! I'm fine, Sid."

          I smiled ruefully up at Sid, glancing down the alleyway again. He grinned back at me, one eyebrow raised.

Sid

"Ya think? The relationship between our three countries is only getting worse an' worse. 

"You never know when a spy from somewhere might be hangin' around."

               (Well, I had heard some troubling rumors recently, but—)

               Our country was in the north, and our relations with the countries to the east and west of us had long been tense. 

     But if the rumors were anything to go by, things were getting a lot worse lately.

Sid

"And I ain't impressed to see you wanderin' around by yourself at this hour."

Float

"I'm sorry."

               I pulled a face at Sid, and he reached out and ruffled my hair gently.

Float

"Hey!"

     I shook my head, laughing softly, and he grinned again.

               (I know this is your way of showing that you care, and I appreciate that.)

               As well as running his bar, Sid was often employed to serve drinks at parties held by the local nobility.          

     Over time we'd gotten to know each other and become comfortable with each other.

Sid

"So what are you doin' here, anyway?"

Float

"Well—"

               I was about to start explaining when I heard footsteps approaching from the alleyway.

Sid

"And here I was wondering who was making such a racket."

Alyn

" Float... what are you doing here?"

Float

"Alyn! And Giles!"

               (So I was right—it was your voices I heard!

               (I'm glad I found you though, I feel much more reassured with you both here.)

               Giles was not only the local judge, he was also an old friend of my parents, and someone I often relied on.

Float

"Were you both still working at this late hour?

"Well, I know everyone here appreciates how hard you work."

               I figured perhaps they'd been patrolling, or sorting out some judicial case. Giles inclined his head at my words, but his face was creased with concern.

Giles

"Thank you, Float. But more importantly, Sid is right.

"You shouldn't go wandering into dark alleyways at this late hour."

Alyn

"Did something happen?"

Float

"Yes, actually. I wanted to ask your advice, Alyn."

               I quickly explained about the strange box that had appeared and then disappeared again at my home.

               (Hmm—I feel like the mood just got really tense all of a sudden. Or am I just imagining things?)

               I frowned a little, not sure what to think, and then Sid interrupted my thoughts.

Sid

"So what was in the box?"

Float

"I still don't know.

"It disappeared before I actually got to open it."

               Alyn and Giles exchanged a glance, and I realized they looked more serious than I'd ever seen them. 

     When Alyn spoke, his voice was low and intense.

Alyn

"And where's the key now?"

 Float

"It's still around my neck—"

               The key had slipped under my clothes, and I reached for the chain, intending to pull it out and show them.

Float

"Ahh!"

              Suddenly Giles grabbed me by the arm and yanked me towards him, his arms wrapping tightly around me.

Giles

"Alyn!"

Alyn

"Yeah, got it."

               Before I even had time to figure out what was going on, I heard the metallic clang of a blade striking a blade.

          I turned and saw that Alyn was squaring off with a man clad entirely in black.

          (What the—where did you come from?!)

          He was gripping a long, thin knife, and I gulped as moonlight reflected off its blade.

Man

"Dammit!"

Sid

"I ain't seen you around here before. Which country are you from?"

               Sid's eyes were narrowed slits, his voice a low growl.

               (What on earth is going on here?)

               I stared in confusion, barely aware of Giles's protective arms still around me.

Float

"Giles—what's going on?"

Giles

"Don't worry. This will be over soon."

               I watched nervously, but Giles was right—Alyn was the better fighter, and he'd soon knocked the other man to the ground.

               (Oh, thank goodness!)

               My heart was still racing, and Giles spoke quietly in my ear.

Giles

"It's dangerous to be out at night.

"You might be attacked again. For now you should head to Alyn's place—it's closest."

               Giles let go of me at last, and I started to nod as I stepped away from him. But suddenly Sid caught hold of my arm.

Sid

"Uh-huh. You ain't worried about Float, you're worried about this, right?"

               Sid reached out and took hold of the chain that was hanging around my neck, lifting it enough that the key was visible.

Alyn

"Let her go, Sid."

Sid

"Yeah, yeah."

               Alyn's voice was sharp and almost threatening, and I stiffened a little.

               Sid casually let go of my arm with a shrug, not looking threatened in the slightest.

               I turned around and saw that Alyn was staring at Sid, his eyes piercing and distrustful.

               (I don't know what's going on, but—I've never seen any of you act like this before.)

               Almost without thinking I took a step back, my eyes wide as I stared at them.

Giles

"I'm sorry, but unfortunately I can't allow you to take her. Float, come over here."

               Giles smiled at me, his voice gentle and almost too friendly.

Alyn

"All you need to do is hand over that key. You don't need to know what's going on."

               Alyn's gentle voice belied his words as he held out his hand to me.

Sid

"Are you sure you'd be okay with that?

"You don't wanna know why you were attacked?"

Float

"Wait—what?"

               (I actually would like to know what's going on right now, but—)

               Sid continued to meet my gaze as he went on.

Sid

"If you wanna know, then come with me."

               (You're all acting so strange, and I don't know who to believe.)

               I stood there for a long moment, my thoughts whirling in confusion. But as I squeezed my eyes shut, I could picture his familiar smile in my mind.

               I opened my eyes, and stepped forward to take hold of his hand. 

             As I did so, his voice echoed softly in my ears.

???

"You're okay now."