Children of the Night

The Alliance

An old curtain and a few panels of old wood separate Ethan and Tristan from the rest of the camp. In the corner there is a mattress in a self-made wooden frame, which seems to be extremely clean in contrast to the rest. Above it hang two more shirts and a suit that had seen better days. In spite of the patches, this one also seems to be meticulously cleaned and ironed.

On the other side, notes and cards with needles are pinned on the wall. The two boxes underneath have been turned into a table with a plate on which, besides a bowl of water, only more loose paper is lying. This seems to be what you could call Ethan's room. Tristan secretly glances at the topmost sheets and recognizes freight lists from the docks.

"Don't bother, I was going to tell you about it anyway," Ethan says as he digs out a very specific list. "For several months now, boxes of black powder have been delivered to a certain warehouse on the docks, but every time I think I have the right delivery dates, no one is there and the boxes are gone." He pauses briefly before leaning down and staring at the pin needle in the docks. Tristan skims the list in his hand and discovers the marked exotic herbs.

"How do you come to this conclusion? It says exotic herbs."

"I can smell it," he takes a side glance at Tristan before he continues. "I can smell Ned there, and I also know he knows I can smell him. I've been following him for years. At first, I just wanted to stock up on rare herbs from Naveena's country of origin and that's when I noticed the irregularity. They are smuggling more and more, and if we don't stop them, you can do God knows what with them. "They have surely found their secret trade routes during our little trip across the continent."

"So this is what you were up to instead of coming home to me," Tristan replies insulted.

"That's not all, Tristan. I was there when England intervened in the Crimean conflict. Through Allied supply lines, I was able to return here so quickly from the Black Sea. Still, Ned managed to disappear. We've been playing cat and mouse for a while now. Just last week they burned down Covent Garden because I was late."

"Damn it, my information said it was an accident," Tristan is angry about himself for a moment. "I could've helped you, you know? You wouldn't have to live here like an animal and you could do your work just like before ... this incident," Tristan finally explains. "It's foolish to keep all this to yourself!"

"I'm beginning to think there's a rat in this sewer," Ethan continues unflinchingly, ignoring Tristan's objection.

Tristan nods, but asks slightly annoyed: "And right now you need me because you don't know how to deal with rats anymore?"

"They're messing with me, Tristan!" it bursts out of Ethan.

Tristan hears the anger and the desperation and yet he must wonder. "When exactly did you get back to London? That out there... all those boys. I don't understand what's going on. I don't understand..." Tristan takes Ethan's chin so he has to look at him. "I don't understand why you're looking at me like that."

"Let me go, Tristan." Ethan's eyes are starting to light up again.

Tristan, however, pulls Ethan into a tight embrace against his orders and presses him firmly against himself. "I missed you so much, my moon. Why have you kept me waiting so long?"

"I told you then that I'm here for you, even if you can't see me, but that doesn't mean I can overlook the fact that you knowingly kept my son away from me!" Ethan pushes Tristan away with a jerk.

"Are you even interested in my side of things? I had good reason to believe he was a fraud! Besides, he never once called you father. He always referred to you as the most loved person. I would never have put you in danger!"