I sat on the edge of the bed, feeling a little woozy.
“What happened?” He walked into the bathroom and came back with a white washcloth, which he pressed against my temple.
“Ow,” I said.
“Sorry.” He backed off the pressure a bit. “What happened?” he repeated.
“Robert came in here with a gun is what happened.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. He’s your crazy friend. You ask him.”
“Is that all that happened?”
“Neds were here.”
“And?”
“And he wanted me to leave with him. He knows where Quinten is.”
“Is he still here?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Okay. We’re going to settle this in front of Welton. He’s head of a House and can absolve you both of any wrongdoing.”
“Robert pointed a gun at me. He tried to shoot my friend.”
“If this goes public before the gathering, it will negate our claim and paint you as dangerous.”
“I hate this,” I said, wincing at the throb of pain in my head. “Threats and rules and whatever the hell his problem is, isn’t my problem.”
He placed both palms gently on my arms. “Welton is a fair mediator. He’ll settle this. Then you and I will leave, find Neds, and find your brother.”
“We can do that?” It came out a little more hopeful than I’d wanted.
“It’s our day off. We can spend it any way we want.”
“Good. Let’s get this out of the way and go.” I pulled the cloth away from my head and strode out of the room. I was bleeding, but I didn’t think I was concussed. Yes, I left the gun behind. Right now I’d be too tempted to use it.
“There you go again,” Welton said when I walked in. “Adding excitement to our otherwise boring lives.”
He sat on the couch and hadn’t changed out of his jeans and snail T-shirt. It looked like he’d just woken up. He also sounded a little drunk. “Do tell your side of the story first, Matilda.”
Bede walked over and offered me a glass of water. “Is your head okay?” she asked.
“It’s fine. Thanks.” I gulped the water to get rid of my dry mouth and raw throat.
“Do you want to sit?” she asked.
“I’d rather not.”
“Please,” Welton said again to me. “Begin.”
Foster stood behind Welton’s couch, the burning red of his gaze focused on Robert, who sat in a chair, Loy and Buck standing guard on either side. Everyone had changed into pajamas or more comfortable clothing except Foster and Welton. The sun broke the horizon and yellow light poured through the east windows.
“Neds were in my room,” I started.
