“So, your friend murdered him?”

Papea nodded grimly. Once Brume had said that he wanted to find the cause of Sir Edward’s death, Papea felt sick to the stomach. And now, as much as it felt better to spill all of his secrets to someone, he felt even sicker, in a way.

I could be talking to Snudo right now he thought sadly.

He hung his head and barely heard heard the words Brume said next.

Until, of course, Brume yelled “SO?”

Dazed, Papea looked up “So what?”

Brume frowned. “So” he continued “Can, or can I not stay here for a couple days or weeks or months or years or lifetimes?”

Papea actually laughed. “Well, sure. But first you need to help with something”.

“Mopping the floor? This floor is in need of some mopping, I see” said Brume, smiling.

“We need to search for Snudo” said Papea, coldly but with a hint of amusement.

Brume’s expression immediately darkened “I’m not searching for a murderer” he said firmly.

Papea felt anger slowly coursing through him “Isn’t that your job? To find the murderer of Sir Edward! And, we don’t even know if he IS the stupid murderer! He thinks I’M dead!”

Brume scoffed “Heh. So did he try kill you too?”

Suddenly Papea stopped dead. Wasn’t Brume right? Didn’t Snudo abandon him in the cave? But, he remembered I was the one who thought it would be safe in the cave.

“You can’t deny it, can you?” said Brume

Papea glared at him “Actually” he said, grinning again “it’s a bit hard to relive the time I almost got myself killed”

Brume laughed “You’re kidding!”

“Nope” said Papea, still grinning.

“Alright” said Brume “I’ll help. But, BUT…only for your hospitality”.

And then they left, out into the woods, where Snudo was last seen.