Will (Book 2)

by S. F. Burgess

  “Hello, Oakes,” he said. “I am Will. I know you have seen and experienced some really terrible things—more than anyone should. I cannot change the past, but if you let me, I can help you change your future. If you want to talk to me, I am here with Amelia and Arran. We want to help you feel better. I need to have a nap now, but you can wake me up if you want anything.”

  The boy did not respond, did not even blink. Hoping the child would approach him in his own time, Will closed his eyes and drifted off into a dreamless, exhausted sleep.

  When Amelia woke him hours later to take over from Murray, they found Oakes asleep, his small fingers tightly clasped around Will’s outstretched hand.

  In the end it took them almost three months before they got close to the Box Swamp. A hundred men were hard to hide. They needed to move discreetly, while also laying false trails and clearing up their actual trail. And ensuring they avoided the population of Mydren meant long-ways-round detours and a lot of travelling slowly through forests.

  But for Will, the journey could have taken five years and it still would not have been long enough. He was in no rush to get to the swamp, and the last three months had been some of the best of his life. He was regularly called upon to help Freddie and Cai with the combat, archery and sword fighting sessions they had instituted among their men, and he played an active role in the camp’s literacy and first aid training programs that Conlan had asked for—Eleanor would take over when she was well enough to run them. But the majority of his time was spent being a healer. It was a role he found satisfying, if exhausting, especially when their two former Enforcers began going through the ‘Shaking Death’ at the same time. His two primary patients, Eleanor and Davlin, had recovered faster than Will had dared hope—Eleanor especially so. Once her lung had sealed then re-inflated, she was able to speed up the remainder of her healing with her Avatar energy.

  And yet all of these activities paled in comparison to the biggest change in Will’s life: being a father. And he clearly was a father to these children, in purpose if not in title. It was a difficult adjustment for both him and them, but he could not deny that it was fun. And it was especially rewarding to see the effect he was having on Oakes. Oakes was still a quiet, serious, self-contained boy, but his nightmares and terrors were finally becoming less frequent. They had had a few halting, stuttering conversations about his sister, Dea, and what had happened, although Oakes was still too traumatised to cry about it. Mostly the boy followed Will and Murray around, acting as assistant and nurse, while Amelia’s hands were full with the unholy terrors that were Arabel and May.

  During this same period, Conlan added another commander to his inner council, appointing Davlin to be in charge of intelligence, which was effectively the same as putting Eleanor and Davlin in charge of intelligence—a subtlety that was lost on no-one. Camp gossip was split two ways over whether having a woman, Avatar or not, in a position of power was a good thing.

  The only real dark cloud for Will during these otherwise fine months was the deterioration in his energy. While he was managing the physical symptoms with regular meals and lots of sleep, the headaches were unpleasant, and the temptation of the lepdrac bottle still called to him. He caught a cold that had spread through the camp, something his Avatar immunity would have protected him from in the past, and it developed into a lung infection. It took him weeks to shake the hacking cough. The only silver lining was that it prompted him to begin experimenting with producing penicillin.

  Once she was feeling better, Eleanor brought up the issue of the dragon, and Will made a convincing act of telling her that, yes, the beast had indeed found him again, and that once they arrived in the Box Swamp, he would tell Conlan so that they could go and do something about it. This mollified the little pixie, who then reassured Conlan that Will’s now very obvious issues were only short-term. With a large measure of anger and frustration, Conlan had called a temporary halt to their balancing sessions, to save them all the pain that Will inadvertently inflicted on them when he lost control of his energy and the connection fell apart. Although Conlan was still keen for the others to continue the experiments Eleanor had started months ago—especially seeing as how they had recently discovered that they could send their energy strings over almost limitless distances when they pushed them through the gemstones of their talismans.

  Will admitted to himself that he could no longer avoid the truth and it needed to be aired. He just wanted a little longer. Every single day of the life he had was a blessing and he wanted to hold on to that as long as he could. He was going to have to make some hard choices, but until then, he was going to spend his time doing the best he could to help his children lead a better life than he himself had managed.

  Sat at the cart’s table, bathed in the warm morning light of early spring, Will inspected the contents of his medical bag before heading out on his rounds.

  “I checked it for you already.”

  Will looked up; Oakes sat on the sofa watching him.

  “Thank you. Did you add the new bandages?”

  “Yes.”

  “And the sharpened needles?” Will asked.

  “Yes and that nasty green sludge you want to try on Cabit’s foot.”

  Will smiled. “What would I do without you, Oakes?”

  Oakes smiled back, and Will felt his heart jump in his chest at being given such a precious gift.

  “Uncle Freddie! Uncle Freddie!”

  Arabel’s and May’s excited yells from outside the cart drew the attention of Oakes, and he moved to the door, leaning forward to look out. Will joined him, confused by the rather odd spectacle in front of him. Conlan was walking towards their cart, hand in hand with Eleanor, and Freddie and Elroy followed. Rik and Davlin brought up the rear, and Davlin was leading Kip’s mule. Before there was even a chance to say hello, Freddie was tackled by May, who wrapped himself around Freddie’s legs and refused to let go, forcing the man to either sit or risk falling down. He sat, only to have Arabel push him flat on his back and sit on his chest, jumping up and down on him in her excitement, a small gasping breath of pain exploding from Freddie each time she landed.

  “Have you come to play, Uncle Freddie? Have you? Have you?” Arabel asked. May crawled to Freddie’s head, peering over him, pushing his cheeks together with tiny hands until his mouth made a strange ‘O’ shape.

  “Did you bring us toys, Uncle Freddie?” he asked.

  Worried that Freddie was going to get ribs broken if Arabel continued, Will came down the cart steps and grabbed the girl by the waist, pulling her off and holding her as she squirmed.

  “Will…” she whined. “Let me go.”

  “If I do, are you going to behave in the presence of your king?” Will asked. Arabel noticed Conlan for the first time and stiffened. Deciding that was answer enough, Will put her back on her feet. Seeing Arabel’s fear, May ran to her side and pushed himself against her. Davlin offered a grinning Freddie a hand to get back to his feet.

  “Your children are uncontrollable beasts, Will,” Freddie told him, with a faked air of seriousness.

  Will shrugged. “Only when they are awake.”

  “They would also be more easily tamed if they did not have a favourite uncle who insisted on ‘borrowing’ them for days spent breaking the rules,” Amelia said sternly, coming round the side of the cart. “Morning,” she added, smiling at the others. “What can we do for you?”

  “We are here for two reasons,” Conlan said, giving Amelia a warm smile. “The first being that I have a gift for Oakes.” Surprised, Will turned back to the cart, where Oakes still stood at the top of the steps, an apprehensive look on his face.

  “Your king wishes to give you a present, Oakes. Would you like to come and accept it?” Will asked, his question giving the boy the chance to withdraw if he wanted to.

  Oakes hesitated for a moment, then walked slowly down the steps, his piercing blue eyes not leaving Conlan’s face. As he got closer, Will could see him trembling,
but he kept walking.

  “Hello, Oakes,” Conlan said when the boy stopped in front of him. “I have heard a great many complimentary things about you around the camp. Many of my men have told me what a help you are to Will and how useful you have been running errands and delivering medicine. In recognition of this effort, I would like to give you this mule.” Conlan turned and, taking the lead reins from Davlin, pulled the animal forward. “His name is Alaric,” Conlan continued. “He is a fine animal, and if you take good care of him, he will take good care of you.”

  Alaric looked at Oakes for a moment, then gently bent his head down and rubbed it into the boy’s chest. Giving Will a frightened glance, Oakes took a deep breath and slowly raised his hand to give the mule an awkward pat on the neck.

  “Thank you, Sire,” he said, taking the lead reins from Conlan and running his hands along Alaric’s body, a smile slowly brightening his face.

  “That was a very thoughtful gift, Sire, thank you,” Will said.

  “Having Rand was a huge help to me… in the beginning,” Conlan said, his eyes straying to Rand’s image, painted on the side of the cart Will and his family now called home. “Perhaps Alaric can help Oakes.”

  “It is a lovely gift. Thank you,” Amelia said, tears in her eyes.

  May frowned. Anger replacing his fear, he stamped over to Conlan. “Where is my present?” he demanded.

  Conlan looked down at the boy. “I did not bring you a present.”

  “Why not?” May asked incredulously.

  Conlan scowled. “I have received good reports of how Oakes is a helpful, useful member of the camp. I have received no such reports about you.”

  “But I help all the time,” May protested. “Just the other day I helped the chef with his cooking.”

  Conlan arched an eyebrow. “You set fire to one of the supply tents.”

  “Only a little bit. And the food inside got cooked,” the boy pointed out. Conlan’s mouth gaped, as he was momentarily floored by the unfailing logic of a six-year-old. Eleanor and Freddie dissolved into giggles, and Will had to bite his lip to keep his own silence.

  “You do not need a present, May,” Oakes said with quiet authority, taking the boy’s hand and pulling him away. “You can share Alaric with me. Would you like a ride?” They watched Oakes take May and Arabel out of earshot, showing them Alaric and helping them onto the mule’s back so he could lead them around.

  The delegation in front of Will were suddenly serious and still. As he looked at their faces he recognised, with a heavy heart, that his idyllic life was about to disappear.

  “You said you were here for two reasons,” Amelia said in Dwarfish. “And I do not believe it was necessary for the king and three of his commanders to come and give a boy a present, however generous.” Amelia’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What else are you here for, Sire?”

  “The council would like some of your time, Will,” Conlan said, a blank expressionless mask firmly in place. “Now, please. Amelia, if you wish to accompany him, you are welcome. We have brought Elroy to stay and keep an eye on the children until you get back.”

  “Just try and keep me away,” Amelia muttered in English, giving Will an alarmed glance.

  Their short walk back to Conlan’s command tent felt, to Will, like he was heading to the gallows. Nobody spoke. Amelia held his hand tightly, just as Eleanor gripped Conlan’s. Will could feel the unease, see it in the tension in Conlan’s and Freddie’s bodies. He saw each of them every day, but Will tried to remember the last time all five of them had been together. It had been a while.

  Inside the tent, Cai and Erit were already sat around the large table. They stood when Conlan entered, and he waved everyone to take seats.

  “What’s the matter?” Amelia blurted out.

  “In Dwarfish please, Amelia,” Conlan said, his own Dwarfish low. “So we can all understand what we are about to discuss. I would also remind everyone at this table to keep their voices down; I do not wish us to be overheard, for reasons that will become obvious in a moment.”

  “It is the children—you want to send them away,” Amelia guessed, her Dwarfish halting in her horror.

  “No, Amelia no,” Conlan reassured her. “I would not do that to you, or them. For good or bad, Oakes, Arabel and May are family now.”

  Amelia let out a gasping breath of relief and nodded.

  “We have a request to ask of Will,” Davlin said quietly. Amelia stared at him in silence, so Davlin continued. “We have a problem. While Moylan has not had a seizure since the North Tower fell, we know from Arran that we are still being watched by the Source. We need to know more about this person. We need detailed information about what the Lords of Mydren know about us, and, if possible, we need to kill this Source. Until we do, every plan we make carries huge risk to us all.”

  Numb shock hit Amelia’s face as what Davlin was asking became clear. Will’s body broke into a cold sweat.

  “You want me to infiltrate the Central Tower…” he said.

  “Yes,” Davlin replied, and Will felt like all the oxygen had just been sucked out of the tent.

  “Are you totally insane?” Amelia hissed, leaning across the table, glaring at Conlan. He stared back, the distress in his eyes too strong for his blank mask to hide.

  “This was not my idea, Amelia,” he said with forced calm. “And I do not support it.”

  “You said you would let Will make up his own mind in this matter,” Cai snapped.

  “You forget who you speak to, Captain,” Conlan retorted. “I said I would allow you to present your request and Will could make his own choice; but it was never my intention to leave him thinking I approved.”

  “My apologies, Sire,” Cai said, dropping his head.

  “So, Will can decide not to risk his life on some fool mission?” Amelia asked, staring at the assembled company. Davlin nodded. “Wonderful,” Amelia snapped. “As a father of three children, Will is needed here. Find some other brave idiot to do the job.” She turned her flushed face to Will, her eyes flashing. “Come on, Will. We had best get back before Elroy realises the trouble he is in.”

  Will did not move, his eyes skipping across each face. They were asking because they were desperate—that much was obvious. The fact that Conlan’s evident dislike of the plan had not stopped them from pushing for it meant it was too significant for Will to ignore. If they were coming to him, knowing the physical state he was in and his personal situation, there was a reason—and he wanted to know what it was. Maybe this was the solution he needed to his own problem.

  “I would hear them out, Amelia,” Will said.

  “Why?” Amelia asked. Will held her confused gaze until he saw the devastation her understanding brought her. “You are going to do as they ask,” she said, all emotion drained from her voice, just as the colour drained from her face.

  “Perhaps,” Will agreed. “But before I make a decision, I would like to understand exactly what I am being asked to do and why it has to be me. I would give my friends the chance to explain themselves. Cowering behind them in fear is not the example I wish to set for my children.”

  “But throwing your life away and abandoning them in a stupidly courageous gesture is?” Amelia spat.

  Will did not answer; there was no answer. He knew she was never going to agree, even if she knew everything—especially if she knew everything.

  Amelia dropped into her chair, a boneless weight, and stared at him with listless eyes. “You’re going to leave us…” she whispered in English.

  “I’m going to do what I’ve always done…” Will said, forcing himself to make the English sound determined. “Whatever it takes to protect the people I love.” He paused, waiting to see if Amelia was going to speak further, but she just stared at him in distraught misery.

  “Would you like me to continue, Will?” Davlin asked. Turning to give the man his full attention, Will nodded. “We do not ask this of you lightly,” Davlin continued. “But we ask it becaus
e we have to. If you refuse, another must be sent, and their chances of success would be considerably less than yours…”

  “Nice guilt trip,” Amelia said in English, staring at Eleanor.

  “It’s the truth, Amelia,” Eleanor replied. When Amelia did not respond, Davlin continued.

  “We can get you into the Central Tower easily enough, posing as a newly recruited Protector. Once inside, we want you to stand out as someone they could promote. Your age is an advantage, and we can teach you more, give you a good story to explain yourself. Once you have a position with access, we want you to start digging for information.”

  Will nodded. He had an idea why this job had to be his, but he waited for Davlin to explain it, taking advantage of the extra time to think it through.

  “How would he ‘stand out’?” Amelia asked in Dwarfish.

  “He would need to be defiant, in the first instance,” Davlin said. “But for intelligent, well-considered reasons that he can articulate. However, he should ultimately bow to the Lords’ power.”

  “You want me to challenge things until I get the attention of a Lord?” Will asked.

  “Yes,” Davlin replied. “And then we want you to befriend this Lord, so that you can manipulate him.”

  “I have spoken to the men in this camp,” Amelia said. “I am not stupid. In the Protectors’ world, challenging things gets you flogged.”

  “Yes, but a Lord needs to sanction this action; and any Lord meeting Will would see his potential immediately,” Davlin said.

  “Would seeing his potential stop them from tearing the skin from his back?” Amelia asked, her voice hollowed out by her fear and anguish.

  “No,” Davlin said. “They would use the punishment to learn more about him and how he reacts under pressure. They would be watching closely.” There was a painful silence.