by David Hodges
Cameron awoke in a large study. He looked around the room and saw Faron, Einar, and Bjorn with their hands and feet bound with white, translucent restraints.
General Marlow stood by a desk with a large wooden chest on it. He looked back at Cameron. He looked troubled. Two soldiers stood at his side. One of them had a tear in the shoulder of his coat revealing a white, shiny layer underneath the red cloth.
As Cameron continued to scan the room, he realized that Alexandra was not in it. “Where is she?” he asked.
“She’s safe now. You’ll see her soon.” General Marlow approached Cameron and helped him up. “I apologize for your injury, Cameron. The soldier who struck you will be disciplined.”
Cameron stared at Marlow, the man was genuinely concerned. “Is it true? You staged Alexandra’s kidnapping? You set all this up?”
Marlow nodded and sighed. “It had to be done this way. I would’ve liked to tell you from the beginning, but how could I have explained all of this to you? I hope you’ll forgive me for putting you through this.”
“I can forgive a lie, but what about all these people? This is their home.”
Marlow replied, “And it will remain so. I have no intention of hurting anyone here.”
Einar replied through gritted teeth, “Is that why two hundred men are marching on Talamh?” He glared at Ayalon, “Are we safe now?”
“What are you talking about?” asked Ayalon.
Einar looked at Ayalon and shook his head in disbelief. “You don’t even know. They’re taking the village.”
Ayalon looked to Marlow confused. “Tell me he’s mistaken.”
Marlow replied without looking at Ayalon. “Your methods aren’t meeting my needs. I’ve decided that more direct oversight is necessary in our arrangement.”
“This was not what we agreed to!” said Ayalon.
“Do you agree now?” Marlow asked sharply.
“Absolutely not.”
“I didn’t think so. Which is why I’ve made some adjustments to the administration on your estate so that it may hold up your end of the deal.” Marlow looked to Aatu.
Aatu kicked Ayalon to his knees. He pulled out the same white binding that was restraining Faron and Bjorn.
“Why are you doing this?” Cameron pleaded.
Marlow said, “This is a matter of our nation’s security. We have the opportunity to defend countless lives, to make England great. All we are asking for is a bit of help from these people, whose talents will allow us to achieve this. Is that so sinister?”
“I don’t know.” Cameron clutched his head in his hands. “And I don’t care. I don’t care about any of this! Why me? Why did I have to be brought into this!”
“You know why, Cameron. Your mother,” said Marlow.
“What mother! I hardly remember her! She abandoned me, and all she left me was this burden… and you, how long have you known? How long have you been manipulating me? I trusted you!”
“Cameron, I think it’s time you hear something that I’ve kept from you for too long.” Marlow looked down and began pacing. “I need you to listen carefully, will you do that for me?”
Cameron glared at the man.
“When I was your age, not a year older, I met a young woman, right here in Derbyshire. We were at a ball, just like the ones you and Alexandra loathe. I never enjoyed them much either, but this one, I was glad to have attended. She was so full of energy, so full of life, it was as if she was living a dream that night, and every night I saw her after. She was... flawless. I planned to propose to her, and when I told her this, she revealed something to me.” He stopped and looked at Ayalon. “Something they made her do. They changed her into one of them. They took her from me and drove her away.”
“You drove her away!” shouted Ayalon. “My daughter loved you, and you rejected her!”
His daughter.
Ayalon lowered his tone. “No one made her accept the Ladder, she chose it for herself. She believed you would love her for who she was.”
General Marlow scowled at Ayalon, “Take him out of here.”
Aatu picked him up and pushed him out of the room.
Marlow looked to Cameron and stepped closer toward him. “This girl, the woman I loved... was your mother.”
“What are you saying?” asked Cameron, afraid that he knew the impossible answer.
“Did you ever wonder why I bought your arrows so devotedly? Why you were always the one to deliver our groceries when you were a boy? I’ll admit, you’re an enterprising young man, but I didn’t care about your fletchery or your food. I wanted to see you.” He placed a hand on Cameron’s shoulder, the way he had for years. “I wanted to see my son.”
“You’re lying!” Cameron stepped back. “My parents are dead!”
“No, your mother is dead.”
“My aunt and uncle,” said Cameron desperately. He was beginning to feel lightheaded.
Marlow stopped him. “The Lewins have no relation to you. They took you in at my request and with my support. They have cared for you well. I don’t mean to replace them, Cameron. I only want you to know who you really are.” Marlow looked to one of the soldiers. “Bring him in.”
The soldier left the room. A moment later, Cameron heard a pair of footsteps approach the door and it swung open. Walking in front of the soldier, Uncle George appeared.
Cameron went to him and embraced him. “Uncle! What have they done?”
“Cameron, I came here of my own accord. I’m here to help explain...”
“Are you telling me?”
“Yes, Cameron. He’s telling the truth. We couldn’t tell you, we couldn’t tell anyone. I’m so sorry.” Uncle George began to weep.
For the first time in years, tears streamed down Cameron’s face. “They’re making you do this, aren’t they? Please, tell me they’re making you,” Cameron sobbed.
Uncle George shook his head.
General Marlow looked to a soldier and said, “Show Mr. Lewin to his room.” Then he stepped toward Cameron.
“Stay away from me!”
Marlow looked mournful, he spoke softly. “You’re distrust in me is deserved. I have deceived you your entire life. That was my mistake, but I can show you... if you wish.” He held out his hand to Cameron.
It was the only way to be certain. Cameron focused and reached for his hand.
Then he was Marlow. He was standing in the Lewin’s kitchen. It was dark outside.
He was greeted by a young man, it was Uncle George. He had a full head of hair but he was immediately recognizable.
At Marlow’s side was a pregnant woman who looked exhausted. She was young and beautiful, with honey blonde hair that was in stark contrast to her pallor. She looked so much like Hazel. Next to her, a small boy stood close to her and clutched her skirt.
A woman entered the kitchen with a toddler in her arms, Aunt Beth and Daniel. She set him down with the other boy, then rushed to the woman’s side and led her away to what was presently Hazel’s bedroom.
The memory passed.
He was in Hazel’s room. The decor was different, but he recognized the view from her window. Blue-gray light entered the window. There was a blanket of fog outside.
The beautiful young woman was lying in bed, awake but only just, her stomach flat. In her arms, she caressed a sleeping infant.
Aunt Beth spoke with Marlow. “She has a bad fever... it started two days ago, I fear it’s an infection.”
“What will you do? I can send a physician.”
“There’s not much to be done. I’ll keep her hydrated and fed as best I can and hope that the fever breaks. We should have a wet nurse come for the baby.”
The memory passed.
Marlow was in the dining room now. The sun was setting, its orange light shining over the table. The small boy that had clung to his pregnant mother sat on the edge of the table. His puffy cheeks were wet with fresh tears, but he was quiet, staring back at Marlow. Marlow brushed his cheeks with his t
humbs, and without a word he turned away.
He handed a pouch and an envelope to Uncle George. “Church records, identities for the children, and payment.”
“This isn’t necessary, Captain.”
“Take it, more will come. You must tell no one... his future depends on it. He is your nephew from now on, his parents are dead.”
“I understand. I’ll raise him as my own.”
Marlow took Mr. Lewin’s hand. “Thank you.”
Cameron let go of Marlow’s hand and staggered backward. His life was a lie, but that was not the worst of it. Not remotely. Alexandra. It was no wonder Uncle George had not readily encouraged him to propose.
“You’re thinking of her,” Marlow sighed. “Your affection was obvious the moment you laid eyes on her. I didn’t expect anything to come of it. It was an unfortunate coincidence, one that we can easily navigate. You can retain your name, your titles, and you can be with her, she’s—”
“But, if what you say is true,” said Cameron, appalled.
“She’s not my blood, she’s not your sister,” General Marlow continued calmly.
Cameron let out an unrestrained sigh of relief. He had felt no greater reprieve in his entire life.
Marlow elaborated, “Her mother was pregnant when we married. It was a mutually suitable arrangement. I gained her wealth, she avoided scandal.”
Einar said, “Cameron, none of this changes what he’s done.”
Cameron’s relief was quickly replaced with scorn as he remembered Einar’s wife’s throat being opened at Marlow’s command. “You killed his wife. Why? How does murdering an innocent woman achieve anything?”
“No such thing has happened,” said Marlow earnestly.
“He knows, I showed him everything,” said Einar.
Marlow looked to Einar. “It was a necessary display.”
“A display?” asked Cameron.
“Yes, a convincing one evidently. I knew he would flee if I let him go, and in making the decision to withhold the Sphere, he gave me no choice. I needed to give him a reason to stay. Vengeance is a motive that compels like no other.” Marlow approached Einar and with a facade of composure that did little to mask his despise, he said, “This man has taken something that doesn’t belong to him. We need it back.” He looked Einar in the eye and said, “Where is it?”
Einar laughed, almost hysterically with a recklessness about him, and said, “Why would I ever tell you? You have nothing to threaten me with, nothing to take from me... that didn’t occur to you when you killed her, did it?”
“Your wife is alive,” said Marlow bluntly.
“Rubbish,” Einar spat.
“I can take you to her,” said Marlow. “I have no reason to harm her or keep her from you, unless you choose to withhold the Sphere’s location again. You’re getting a second chance. I suggest you learn from the past.”
Einar’s incredulous demeanor had faded to disbelief and consternation. “Show me.”
Marlow nodded. He looked to Aatu and said, “Stay with these insurgents. We’ll be back shortly.” Marlow waved Cameron over to the door as Einar was lifted up by a pair of soldiers. “Come see for yourself, Cameron.”
“Where are you taking us?” asked Cameron.
“Just down the hall.”
Cameron followed Marlow to a closed door. A pair of heavily armed soldiers stood in front of it. Marlow unlocked the door and entered. Cameron followed after him.
Inside, a woman was lying asleep in the bed, her chest rising and falling slowly, the same woman from Einar’s memories. Einar approached the bed in shock. He collapsed to his knees and took her hand. “How is this possible?” he asked.
“Come now... how else?” Marlow picked up a vial and as he swirled it aimlessly, he looked to Cameron and said, “Concocted by her husband himself. It accelerates healing. We poured it on the wound as soon as she was out of sight.” He set the vial down.
“Why hasn’t she woken? Is she ill?” said Einar in a panic.
“No, it’s an induced sleep.” He pointed to a syringe. “Your poison as well.”
“You can’t keep her like this! She’ll die.”
“Tell us where the Sphere is and we’ll wake her. You’ll be allowed to be with her.”
“You’ll kill me as soon as it’s found.”
“That would be the appropriate punishment for treason, but you’re of great use to me. Your poisons and medicines have been difficult to replicate. They seem to lack a special ingredient. Cooperate with us, and you’ll be allowed to stay with her.”
“What... as prisoners? “
“Do you prefer the alternative?”
Einar stared down at the floor. “Don’t you see what this man is, Cameron?”
“Do not speak to him!” Marlow shouted, breaking his composure. “This is your last chance.”
Einar nodded. “Alright. I’ll tell you.”
“Would you read him for me, Cameron?”
Cameron went to Einar who stared up at him. There was a message behind his eyes as if he expected Cameron to know what to do.
Cameron focused before touching his exposed shoulder.
Then he was Einar. He was in a small room, crouched down by a burning woodstove. The floorboards underneath it were removed. He grabbed an open leather bag beside him, the Sphere was inside it. He pulled a cord to close the bag and placed in the floor before replacing the floorboards. He stood and turned toward a bed. Alexandra was sleeping in it, curled to her side. Her shoulders were bare. Her clothes were hanging beside the bed.
Einar walked out of the room and into a living room before exiting a door onto the dark street. It was pouring out, but Cameron could make out a heavily developed line of row houses. Across the street, the rain was splashing in a large river. There were a few large buildings alongside it in the distance. He recognized them as the spinning mills on the Derwent.
Cameron let go. He glared down at Einar, every drop of sympathy for him evaporated at the burning image of Alexandra in the man’s bed. “He showed me.”
Einar was forlorn as he shook his head and said, “It’s not...”
Cameron continued loudly, “A row house in Derby... in the floorboards under a wood stove.”
“Thank you.” General Marlow pulled a piece of paper from his coat along with a piece of charcoal and set them on a vanity. “Take Cameron outside,” he said to one of the soldiers.
A short while later, Marlow exited the room as he folded a paper and put it in his pocket. “He’s cooperated, so I’ll hold up my end of the deal. Neither of them will be harmed, his wife will be woken.”
Marlow took Cameron by both shoulders and said, “I’m not the villain they would have you believe I am. I’m only doing what I must, to protect the things I care about, the people I care for. You can understand that can’t you?
Cameron shook his head in exasperation, he did not know what to think, he did not care about any of this anymore.
Marlow continued, “Alexandra can be yours, this estate can be yours... everything you’ve wanted.”
“You would fulfill these promises even though I’m one of them?”
“If there was any other way, I would not have let them do this to you. It was necessary that it happened, that you acquired your abilities, but you and I both know you are not truly one of them.”
Cameron could not deny his matching sentiments.
“Cameron... son. I’ll give you the life you deserve. You must become the man you were meant to be. Will you? Will you join your father?”
He could only see one way to be with Alexandra, one way to keep the Lewin’s safe, one way to live the life he longed for. What choice did he have?
“I will.”
35
HAZEL
Hazel stiffened as she heard glass shattering in the distance. Then a series of gunshots sounded off from the manor, along with the continuous clashing of steel on steel. Alviva, Daniel, Fergus, Coinín, and Ralf all listened quietly with
her for a tense minute until the noises stopped. “We have to go help,” said Hazel.
“They might still be alright. We’ll wait a bit longer,” Alviva replied.
A quarter hour passed and there was no sign of the Laochra.
Hazel said anxiously, “They must be in trouble. We need to get in there.”
She was interrupted when a hawk cried out in the distance.
“Get down!” exclaimed Alviva in a hushed voice, pulling Hazel away from the window.
Hazel could hear footsteps approaching the stable, a group. There was a clinking of reins and bits as hooves began to trot away from the stable. The sound grew more distant. Hazel peered out of the window and saw half a dozen Redcoats riding in the opposite direction of the village. “Where are they going?” asked Hazel.
Alviva looked out the window beside her. “Dunno.” Her eyes changed, then her red kite dove down to the window. “I’m going to do Éirí, see if I can I tell what’s going on in there.” She sat back against the wall and touched the bird. Then her hand fell from the window and her stare became vacant, her eyes remaining changed.
“This isn’t looking good,” said Fergus. “We ought to flee while we’re out here. You saw that army marching toward the village. What good are we going to do throwing ourselves at them?”
“We’re going in there and getting the Spheres, then we’re saving as many people as we can,” said Hazel firmly.
Fergus did not contest her.
A few minutes passed and Alviva’s kite landed on the window sill, then hopped down beside her and touched her limp hand with her beak. Alviva’s eyes changed back and her blank expression turned to one of fear as she said, “Faron and Bjorn are restrained in the study, they’re being guarded. I didn’t see the others. There are at least a dozen Creachs and soldiers patrolling the manor.”
“What about the Spheres?” asked Hazel.
“I didn’t see them.”
“Faron told us to go back to the village and help there,” said Coinín.
“This may be our only chance to save them, to save everyone,” said Hazel, growing annoyed by their reluctance.
Fergus sighed. “If they were overwhelmed, how can we fare any better?”