Chapter 90: The Terror of Slumber
They all individually inspected every painting in the hall one by one, their movements becoming increasingly sluggish as the hours wore on. Each golden frame was scrutinized, each brushstroke analyzed for hidden meaning.
After what felt like an eternity of searching for every minuscule detail—examining backgrounds for unusual objects, studying the expressions of each royal family member, noting the furniture and decorations—they all finally finished and gathered in the center of the great hall to confer. The weight of disappointment hung in the air as they converged at one of the grand tables.
Kay dropped heavily onto the table and slumped his head down tiredly. The wooden creaked under his sudden weight as he ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. Aziel sat as ont the edge of the table as well, leaning backwards onto his hands, releasing a long, frustrated sigh that echoed in the vast space.
Jake and Jonas remained standing, positioning themselves behind Lara, their postures suggesting they were too restless to sit despite their obvious fatigue. Arthur stood himself just across from Lara.
Lara massaged her temples briefly before addressing the group, her voice slightly hoarse from the dust they’d been breathing all day. "Anyone find anything of use?"
Kay lazily brought his head up only to shake it no, his bloodshot eyes revealing how thoroughly he had searched. The gesture was slow, defeated.
"Nadda," Aziel replied quietly, his usual enthusiasm completely absent. He absently traced a finger along the wood grain of the table, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.
Jake shifted his weight and shook his head. "Sorry, Lara." His voice carried genuine regret, as though he had personally failed her.
Finally, Jonas offered a slight smile, attempting to lighten the mood despite their collective disappointment. "Nothing here either, although seeing all these pictures of those two young girls is really making me miss my daughter." He chuckled softly, the sound tinged with homesickness, his eyes growing distant as thoughts of home briefly transported him away from the dusty castle.