by B. T. Narro
Leo had a bad feeling that Gartel somehow had found out more than he should have.
“What do you mean, sir?” Leo asked.
“Perhaps if I explain, it will ease your worries. I’ve been working with someone who knew your father well. You’ve probably seen him a few times. He’s a tailor named Raenik, but he has other skills.” Gartel made a sour face as he stopped. “Leo, I want to trust you with something in hopes that you will trust me as well. I didn’t choose for the situation to occur, but now that it has there is no reason for us to keep our knowledge to ourselves.”
Leo felt as though he’d taken a blow to his stomach. He couldn’t speak.
“I see you know what I’m discussing.”
Leo was too obvious; he’d already given up everything. He wished he could be more like his brother and keep control over his demeanor.
“It’s all right,” Gartel said. “No one can hear us in here if we talk quietly, and nothing we say to each other will reach the ears of anyone else. I promise you this. Can you promise me the same?”
“I don’t keep anything from my brother,” Leo warned. If that was enough to stop Gartel from continuing, then that was fine with Leo. He was not the one who wished for this conversation. What good could come from it?
Gartel let out his breath. “I’m sure we can trust Andar with this. Even if he does steal things, he has proven he knows how to keep a secret better than most grown men. Speaking of…” Gartel went to fetch something from one of his desk drawers. He took out a book and set it down. “I have something for him for his birthday.”
“How did you know it’s today?” Leo asked. If Gartel hated Andar, why put an effort into not only remembering his birthday but getting him a book?
“I was reminded of it when I spoke with my friend, Raenik, this morning. But before I continue, I need your agreement.” Gartel extended his hand. “Promise not to share this with anyone else except your brother.”
Leo shook Gartel’s hand. “I promise,” he said, though he would have no qualms about breaking it if necessary. He already figured he would tell Rygen what Gartel said.
“Good, then let me begin. The whole city has heard about what happened last night. I found out at the market this morning, where I met Raenik. There’s something you need to know about him. He worked with your father a while back. He helped your father with something, and your father helped him in return. But the kind of help your father provided turned him into a man that Darren was not proud of. This was the man I met in my guild, the man I assumed to be the only version of your father. He was a brute, but only because he had to be at times.”
Again, Gartel spoke as if telling a story. There was a note of respect in his tone that lightened Leo’s mood.
“I know from Raenik that you and Andar were not aware of your father’s relationship with Raenik. Your father took great measures to make sure of it. In fact, I had begun to wonder if you even knew any of the truth. But then I remembered that you had lied to me.” He lifted a finger. “You told me that Rygen was living with all of you—including your father. You told me that Darren would take care of her like he took care of the rest of you. You can tell me honestly now, Leo. Your father has not been in Jatn since the army came. Has he?”
Leo took his time to think through the outcome of each answer. He didn’t see any benefit in telling the truth, but he saw no way of getting away with a lie. Whoever Raenik was, he seemed already to know Darren as DVend. He must’ve told Gartel. But Leo still couldn’t figure out why Gartel would confront Leo with it.
“No, he never returned home when the army came,” Leo said. It would be easy to lie, he realized. He could even bring himself to cry if he dug deep within his buried emotions and told Gartel how worried he was for his father. The only lie would be when Leo said that he had no idea where his father was now.
But Gartel had changed drastically in the last few months. This was a man who hated the army. He didn’t try to hide this fact. He wanted people to know. He wanted them to join him in despising the crooks in uniforms who had come here and taken so much from the people of Jatn.
“I know who my father is,” Leo said calmly.
Gartel took on a prideful grin. “And you kept it to yourself, as did Andar. I commend you both for that. When did you find out?”
“Less than a year ago.”
“Please tell me the details. I want to know.”
Leo couldn’t help but ask. “Why?”
“Your father is a remarkable man. How did he decide to tell you, and when? There must be a story there.”
Leo had never seen the guild master speak so enthusiastically about anything as he did now. It was only then that Leo realized that Gartel must love stories as much as Leo and Rygen did.
“He changed when Rygen brought over Quim and Kin: Crowns and Betrayal.”
“Of course!” Gartel let out a triumphant laugh. “I should’ve known.” He folded his arms and leaned close. “Tell me how he reacted to it.”
Leo did not share this man’s enthusiasm. Seeing Gartel this way reminded him of the first time he met his aunt. There was nothing good that could come from discussing these details. It was dangerous and nothing else.
“He was not himself for a while. He wanted to read it, but he hadn’t shown any interest in the other books we’d brought, so Andar and I thought it to be strange. He had a particular interest in the…” Leo stopped.
“In the what?”
“Are you sure we should be discussing this?”
“Leo, I couldn’t be more sure of it. Trust me.”
Leo supposed he had to trust Gartel now, even if he didn’t want to. The guild master already knew enough about Leo’s father to go to the authorities. Nothing else Leo could say could hurt them any more than that.
“He had a particular interest in finding out about the author.”
“And do you know who she is now?” Gartel asked with a hinting tone.
“I do.”
“Isn’t it marvelous! Oh, I hope they were able to reunite. You must tell me what happened and where Yune Quim is now.”
Leo hesitated. Did Gartel really care about Leo’s family or was it the same kind of pretend care that he’d shown Rygen?
Leo needed to know something before he continued. “Why does this change what you think of my father?”
Gartel looked confused. “Why wouldn’t it? He is not the man I thought he was.”
“My brother is not, either,” Leo snapped.
Gartel frowned at him, then dropped his gaze. He seemed to be in thought as his mouth twisted about.
“You’re right. He is not the boy I thought he was. However, I will not argue with you about whether or not he is a thief because I know he is, and I’m sure you know as well. But there is a lot of good to Andar, a lot of maturity, too.” Gartel leaned back and glanced at nothing in particular to his side. “He’s an extraordinary boy. I’ve always known that.” He looked at Leo pointedly. “And I’ve always felt the same about you, even before finding out about your father. But now that I know who he is, there is no denying it. Of course finding out the truth changes how I feel about Darren. He is a man of honor and always will be. He does nothing for himself.”
Gartel took a quick breath as if partially frustrated. “Now I see that you feel uncomfortable sharing everything about him. I understand that, Leo. It must be difficult to divulge a secret that you’ve kept a long time.”
Leo supposed that was true. He didn’t reply, though.
“Let me tell you something about your father that you perhaps don’t know. He met Raenik many years ago, when Darren first came to the city. He needed falsified papers so that he could work. He had no coin to pay Raenik, though, so he promised a service instead. Raenik, unfortunately, had been involved in nefarious affairs that sometimes called for certain people to feel…intimidated. Your father was Raenik’s weapon, though he refused to ever hurt anyone. Nonetheless, he still had to learn how to make it seem like he
would. That is the man that I met. But I know it’s not who he is in his soul. He had many battles with Raenik as to what he would and would not to. No matter how desperate he became, he never compromised his morals. Raenik respected him for that. He only shared this with me this morning, for he and I have come to trust each other, as I hope you and I will. He was amused to hear of how DVend had come back into the city to steal a horse and carriage, then disarm and disable twenty guards on his way out. Raenik and I might not be rebels, Leo, but we certainly sympathize with them. If the opportunity arose, I see no reason as to why I would not help them with their goals. Do you see why you can trust me now?”
Leo nodded.
“Have you heard any of this about Raenik and your father?”
He shook his head. He did believe it, though.
“Did you see your father last night?”
Leo nodded.
“I figured,” Gartel said. “Do you know where the rebels are going now?”
“He didn’t want to say because it would endanger us,” Leo lied.
“I figured that as well. Do you know when you will see him again?”
Leo held in his tears as he shook his head.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Leo. It’s easy to forget how hard this must be on you. I have to ask, though. Why did he decide to leave with the rebels when the king’s army came? According to Raenik, the army did not know he was here. He could’ve stayed.”
“He didn’t choose to leave with them. He was meeting with them to tell them that he would not join them, but that’s when the army attacked.”
“Oh.” Gartel was silent for a long time. His face went from surprised to regretful. “And now he’s stuck with them.”
Leo nodded.
“But I hope he has joined their cause now that he has no other choice.”
Leo nodded.
“I know you must be afraid,” Gartel said. “But your father must’ve told you how to deny?”
Leo wasn’t sure what Gartel meant.
“Soldiers have asked about your father’s disappearance, I’m certain. What did you tell them?”
Leo realized what Gartel meant then. “Yes, we told them nothing.”
“Good, and you will continue to deny if you get questioned about anything else. You know your father as Darren. He did not come home when the army took the city, and you have not seen him since. You are worried. Do you understand?”
Of course, I’m not stupid. “Yes sir.”
“I’m glad. I don’t want anything happening to you or your brother. We never spoke about any of this. You don’t know who Raenik is, and I have no idea who Darren Litxer really is. But Leo…” Gartel took on a hard look as he crouched. “I hope you will come to me if you or your father needs help. With anything. I really mean that.” He offered his hand again.
Leo shook it and tried to put on a proud smile. “I will.”
Leo left and was glad to be out of Gartel’s office. He did believe that Gartel had intentions to help rather than hurt, but besides offer coin or shelter, which it was clear he would not do, how was he supposed to give the rebels assistance? It seemed instead to Leo that Gartel just wanted to feel part of this rebellion even though he wasn’t involved. Even Leo himself didn’t feel part of it. Was there even a rebellion happening? From what his father had described, it seemed that the rebels were just trying to survive.
Leo felt such pity for his father that he couldn’t hold back his tears. Father must be so miserable, and for many years he would continue to be miserable. Leo left the building to take a quick walk as he cried to himself. He figured Gartel wouldn’t punish him so long as he returned soon enough. The whole city gossiped about his father as if what he’d done was heroic, but really he was just trying to live. Gartel’s questions about Leo’s father were posed as if he was jealous of Leo’s situation. What was there to be jealous of?
As Leo walked around and heard more laughter and gossip about what DVend had done to the guards, he felt as if all of Jatn was part of a joke at his expense. He knew it was not that way at all. They were angry, like Leo was. They wanted to feel that the army would be punished for their crimes. Perhaps there was a joke after all, and it was only Leo and his family who were in on it: There would be no further punishment to the guards. This was not the beginning of change. This was nothing but a man trying to survive.
Leo felt that it was time for a change, though. He needed it to start with himself, but he just didn’t know how.
He returned to his work desk feeling angry and frustrated. He spent the rest of the day pretending to work as he linked the various objects around him.
He headed home at the end of the day. His brother was home, and so was Rygen. Leo’s spirit lifted. Rygen was in her room, Leo’s father’s old room, with the door closed. He could hear her shuffling about, which meant she was changing. She had just arrived home like he had.
When she came out, she perked up at the sight of Leo, which took away the last bit of stress he had brought home with him.
“Hey, Ry,” he said.
As she started to greet him back, Andar asked Leo, “Did you hear about what Father did last night?”
“I did,” Leo said. “Everyone at the Bookbinding Guild was talking about it most of the morning.”
“It was the same on the farm,” Rygen said. “Your father’s a hero.”
Leo wasn’t surprised when he noticed Andar rolling his eyes. “They don’t know Darren at all. They think they know DVend.” He shook his hands. “Never mind. There’s no reason—”
“I felt the same way,” Leo interrupted. “You wouldn’t believe Gartel today.” He went on to explain how the guild master acted as if Gartel and Leo had joined the rebels in their “cause” against the king.
But Andar’s first comment wasn’t about their father or Gartel. “He really said I’m extraordinary?”
“He did. And mature with a lot of good in your heart,” Leo remembered.
“Perhaps he isn’t as bad as I thought.”
“He is.” Leo felt strange to have to remind his brother of this. “He never offered to share his home with Rygen, and he has no intention of risking anything to help our father.”
“Well of course, but that doesn’t mean he’s as bad as Rhenol.”
Confused, Leo asked, “You thought he was?”
“Yes. Need I remind you of how he threw me out of the guild and would’ve done the same to you if it wasn’t for Father?”
That was true, but Leo thought Andar was still exaggerating at comparing Gartel to the farm overseer who had planned to cut off Andar’s hand after “catching” him stealing. But Leo couldn’t bring himself to defend Gartel. The guild master had spoken as if they were allies, but Leo felt that his only allies were the people in this kitchen. Even his aunt seemed to have her limits as to how much she would do for them. Or perhaps it was just how little she actually could do for them.
Leo held no grudges, though. Gartel and Yune’s lives were too difficult for them to care for Leo and the others as much as his father did. He just didn’t want to convince himself to rely on them.
“It doesn’t matter,” Leo said. “Today has reminded me of Father’s advice. No matter what Gartel says, the only people I can rely on are the two of you and Father.”
Andar was nodding, but Rygen looked confused.
“What about your aunt?” she asked.
“I trust her,” Leo said. “But I wouldn’t rely on her.”
“Leo’s right,” Andar said. “We can only rely on ourselves, which leads me to something that I’ve thought a lot about since Father left last night. We do need to rely on each other, and ourselves. So if we want to make something out of our lives, then we have to change something, because it won’t happen otherwise.”
Leo felt a spark of excitement. Was it a coincidence that he and his brother shared the same thoughts or was it the link they shared? Either way, he was ready for change.
“What are you saying we do?” Ryge
n asked cautiously.
“We join the army,” Andar announced.
Leo’s heart lowered with disappointment. “That’s your idea?”
“Don’t judge so quickly.”
“I won’t do it,” Rygen said with conviction.
Andar’s mouth was open, but he didn’t speak for some time. “I’m surprised you’ve made up your mind so quickly, Rygen. You haven’t even heard why it’s the best decision for us.”
She folded her arms and said nothing.
Andar continued, “I spent most of the day talking with people around the market, and I learned a lot. Let me tell you about a woman named Lane Writhe who I heard much about. She was young when she first discovered her ability with Artistry, but she was very poor. Sound familiar? Well, she was a farm worker for many years, but eventually she became known as someone who could make a link. That’s when she was recruited by the Farmers’ Guild as a mage in training, no longer a farm worker. It was with them that she trained and eventually grew to become an Ascendant, and she isn’t even thirty! But the whole time she was training with the wretched Farmers’ Guild, she was speaking with rebels. She joined Erisena, and she was one of many who left with the Analyte when the king’s army came.”
“So she’s with Father now?” Leo asked.
“I would assume so, but that’s not my point. Do you see the benefit she received by joining her enemies for a time? She joined the Farmers’ Guild so she would have more time to train and would earn much more coin than if she trained on her own and stayed a farm worker. Then she abandoned them with a kick to their mouth when she left with the rebels. We’ll do the same to the army. We’ll join only until we’re ready to kick ’em in the mouth and join the rebels.” Andar was jubilant as he pointed at them. “It’s a great plan.”
“It sounds good, yes,” Leo said, “but there has to be something very wrong with it. Why else would Father forbid it?”
Andar sighed. “Remember Father, our father? He never wanted us to take a single risk if we could avoid it, no matter how much it might help our lives. He doesn’t want us to join because of the potential dangers, but I say they are worth it.”