The Crooked Staff (The Chronicles of Will Book 1)

by Jared Campbell

  Will headed along a stone path toward the voice, which sounded like it came from inside a home on the left of the path. Inside, Tareen and Rika sat in chairs suited for kings. They were lined with gold and a deep cherry-colored wood that reminded Will of the Professor. In the back of the room lay what looked like an old white beagle, drooling on the red carpet that lined the floor.

  “Come in, Hiktar,” one of them said. It was hard for Will to tell in this lighting.

  “Where is his staff?” Rika asked.

  “Go get the staff!” Will left quickly and brought back his crooked staff.

  Rika asked to hold it and Will obliged. Rika then lifted it into the air and waved it around. His face was paranoid, expecting a lightning bolt to strike, or some sort of explosion to occur.

  “I think you’re suppose to slam it in the ground or something,” Tareen declared. Will chuckled quietly to himself as the two chiefs attempted to work the staff.

  “Fine, then you try,” Rika tossed the staff to Will.

  Will could see Tareen nod his head, insisting that he show them, as he realized that he didn’t know how to work it himself. His head started racing trying to recollect any past instructions or hints he may have been given, but he came up with nothing. Then he remembered what he did the night the Thohg came, which was exactly what Rika attempted.

  “Your Hiktar doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing, Tareen.” Rika’s voice sounded irritated.

  Will tried to spin it, slam it, wave it around, and even accidentally threw the staff, which hit the old dog in the back.

  “I swear to you, Rika, I saw it with my own eyes. We would have all been dead if it were not for him and that staff.”

  “There is nothing in that boy, or that staff, that can help us win this battle. Give it up. It’s a fool’s dream. And you,” he said, pointing to Will, “get out of my home.” Out of the corner of his eye, Will could see Tareen’s disappointment in him.

  Will turned to leave and muttered, “God, please.” Suddenly, instead of leaving the home, he turned and slammed the staff into the ground.

  Outside the house, Tripp continued talking to Kellin, discussing genealogy, cartography and other common interests. Behind Kellin, Tripp could see Rya standing by herself, staring at the house, waiting for Will’s return. When Will had emerged for the staff, Tripp could see in her face that she was ecstatic that he was back. When he left again, she just stood there, watching and waiting for him.

  “Hey, Rya?” Tripp called when he knew Kellin’s sentence was over.

  She looked over, and Tripp signaled for her to come over to them. She looked back at the house longingly, then turned to speak to Tripp and Kellin.

  “Are you alright?” Tripp asked.

  “Yes, I am just waiting for Will.”

  “Well, come wait with us,” he smiled. He could tell she needed friends.

  “Thank you.”

  Boom!

  The clay house, which Will had just taken the crooked staff, suddenly flew straight up – fully intact – and landed right in the lake. Tripp, Kellin and Rya were startled and unsure of what just happened. The scene looked rather comical as both chiefs cupped their ears and brought their knees up to their chests.

  Eventually, Tareen stood up and screamed, “I give you, you’re Hiktar!” He stretched out his hand toward Will, who stood where the house had been, holding the crooked staff.

  The whole area erupted in praises and shouts for the one they called Hiktar.

  Rya ran up to Will and embraced him where he stood. The initial explosion had frightened her and she could not see Will. She thought she had lost him. Will just stood there, in the middle of the city, receiving praises from the Algaer and Ruik people, with Rya hugging him, and the staff still in his hand. His eyes were staring out over the lake, filled with fear. The sounds of praise didn’t even enter his mind. His eyes went to the staff, the source of his fear. His only thought was, I don’t know what I’m doing.

  The rest of the day was full of feasting and preparations. A large red tent was erected in the middle of the city for the festivities. Inside, Will sat at the head of a small table set apart for the elders and leaders. They were all trying to learn more about Will’s world and his powers. Will answered their questions distractedly, but when the subject of the staff came up he tried to answer in general terms. The food was magnificent, and the feast was enough to keep the majority of the crowd from bothering Will. Most everyone had a black oily drink that tasted like fish oil, but Will refused and so did most of the Algaer. To the Ruik, the drink was delicious and could be seen rolling down their chins as they guzzled it down. The very smell was repulsive and filled the tent within minutes.

  After an hour or so, Will excused himself from the table and walked toward the lake. The cool night air was comforting and sobering. A thick fog rolled in over the city. Will brought the staff with him, fidgeting with it along the path toward the water. The lake, called Lake Arsena, beckoned to Will with its quiet water. He eventually found a spot between two smaller trees strong enough to hold his weight. He leaned back and closed his eyes, feeling the cool humidity of the fog rest on his face.

  To the east of the city, the Algaer had set up camp while the feast was prepared. A few Algaer slowly trickled out of the celebration and made their way back to their tents, attempting to get some sleep, which they all needed.

  Awad laid on his back on top of a mat issued to him by the Algaer. He hadn't been sleeping very well since they woke up on the planet. Nightmares of the crash and the monsters he had seen haunted him every night.

  "I hate this," Awad mumbled to himself, his eyes growing teary.

  "Do you hate me?" A voice came from his left.

  Awad jumped up into a sitting position. He looked in the direction of the voice, but couldn't see anything.

  "Who is that?... Daleh?"

  A chuckle echoed around his head. He liked the sound, he thought.

  "Have you forgotten why you're here already"? she asked playfully.

  Awad paused. He was so tired, and he had to actually concentrate to remember.

  "That's not good, silly," she continued, toying with him. "Will must be stopped, at all costs." The last part came as a whisper, sending goose bumps up his neck.

  "I don't understand what you want me to do about this..." Awad paused, frustrated. "He keeps performing... miracles."

  "My dear Awad, he is fooling these people. You and I know this. Now you have to show them that his way is death. My way is life."

  "I'm just so tired, Daleh, I can't even think."

  Daleh the Mudalillah emerged behind him, as beautiful as ever. Her skin was bright and, for a moment, Awad worried someone might see her. My secret, he thought.

  Daleh reached up and grabbed Awad’s curly black hair. He feared she would try to rip him apart. Why would he think that?

  Her fingers went in between his curls and slowly lifted up without pulling at all. Her touch was mesmerizing.

  "I can help you fall asleep. You're going to need your rest for tomorrow." She winked at him.

  "What's going to happen to..." As Awad spoke, Daleh leaned in and kissed him. The pain was excruciating, but it was a kind of pain that felt so good he wanted more. Slowly Awad’s eyes closed and the world was forgotten.

  Awad lay there, with a mind full of monsters and his heart burning in anger.

  14 The Choice 2

  Will opened his eyes and felt the sting of the flames that were just licking his lips. In front of him was the man again. He was back in the Qarib II.

  “You have a choice, Will,” the man said, as if Will had never left. “Only you will be able to make this decision.”

  “What decision?”

  “The choice to die alone, or with friends.” The man paused, allowing the heavy words to sink in. “I cannot tell you what the outcome will be.”

  Will’s eyes opened wide, “You mean You already know what’s going to happen?” His tone sounded slightly
irritated.

  “I know all things that have passed, all that are present, and all that will come.”

  “Then, can’t you help me make the right decision?”

  “Only you can make the decision. Will. You will decide the fate of these people.”

  Right then, Will realized that this man was talking to both the Will in the present and the Will on the Qarib.

  “It sounds like the decision is already made,” Will said with an exasperated attitude. “It looks like I have no choice in the matter at all, if you already know what I do.”

  The man smiled, “And yet you will still make a decision that is of your choosing, Will.”

  There was a moment of silence.

  “That planet you just saw is where you’re going, Will. Where you will die. When you attempt to land, you will have to make a choice; the choice to die alone, or with friends. Either way, once again, it is your choice.”

  Then almost as if it had echoed from inside his own mind, he heard the same man’s voice. “You will either go to the Thohg Rine yourself, or you will drag all the people down there to their deaths. Either way, once again, it is your choice.”

  “Do I have to go to the planet, or can I turn back now and return to the moon?”

  “Do you remember the fire that you saw on the Earth as you were leaving? Earth has been destroyed. The people have been judged, and my bride has come home. There is nothing to return to.”

  Will stepped back, his heart racing and his mind reeling.

  Once again, in his mind, Will heard, “You have escaped that, only to find yourself in a much more dangerous place. The land below you is riddled with evil, pain and sorrow, and the people long for justice. I have come to deliver it to them and pull them out of the darkness that they have placed upon themselves.”

  “How did they place it on themselves!? They are trying to flee from those demons, not embrace them.”

  “Their ancestors fled from me and escaped to this planet, so I chased them. I brought Enoch, my faithful servant, to bring My word to these lost people. They forsake him and continued to retreat away from me. So I left them to their devices. Now I have returned to pull them out of this wicked world and bring forth peace and prosperity. So that they may know Me, and I may embrace them.”

  “Couldn’t you just go down there and destroy them yourself?”

  “That wouldn’t be free will. How can I force a people to love me as I do them? No, it is their choice.”

  Another moment of silence.

  “What should I do?”

  “I would start by steering this ship to the planet,” the man smiled again.

  Every word the man spoke was truth, and Will knew. Yet he wanted to fight it, to find a flaw in it. He could see truth, kindness, love and patience in the man’s face, but of these mostly love. Will stepped toward his seat and buckled in.”

  Click.

  Will’s eyes opened wide to the sound. There in front of him was Tripp, who had stepped on a twig next to him.

  “I’m sorry,” Tripp began.

  Trying to regain his grip on reality, Will lay there confused, staring at his friend.

  “I was jealous,” Tripp said quietly.

  “Jealous?” Will had no idea what was going on. Did he miss something while sleeping?

  “I worked so hard to learn the Algaer language and God just seems to be continually blessing you with gifts. I felt like it was unfair. You see, I’ve been a Christian since I was a child, and I couldn’t perceive how God would choose you over me.”

  The thought had occurred to Will several times before. Why him? Could he ever conceive that maybe he could be blessed?

  “But, I have to trust that God knows what He is doing with us, it’s just hard. You’re obviously really important to whatever’s going on, Will. At first it was hard to accept that. I was prepared to carry the team through this, including you. Instead I’ve learned that I have to take a support position in this and allow you to lead.”

  Will was still foggy from his dream but trying to keep up with the conversation.

  “I will follow you wherever you’re led, Will. I’m prepared to help you through this, to do whatever it is we’re here for.”

  Suddenly the man from the Qarib’s words rang in Will’s ears, “...the choice to die alone, or with friends. Either way, once again, it is your choice.” It was at that moment that Will knew what he had to do; he had to go it alone.

  “So what’s our next move, Will?”

  “Uh, sleep, and in the morning we’ll leave with the army.” Will was sure that he shouldn’t tell Tripp his plans. He would definitely try to stop him. Especially after that last speech.

  “Have you talked to Rya?” Tripp asked.

  “No, not yet. Where is she?”

  “She’s waiting by your tent. Just thought you should know.” Tripp stood up and walked away.

  Will’s heart hurt the moment he thought of Rya, how she waited for him all the time. He would have to leave during the night. But before that, he would tell her goodbye.

  As he neared his tent, Will thought it must have been near midnight, but it was hard to tell which moon would provide a more accurate estimation. Underneath the fog around his tent he could see her, in all her beauty. She had fallen asleep waiting for him. It was hard to believe, but she looked even more beautiful sleeping.

  Will cleared his throat softly, trying to wake her.

  She startled awake and looked around until her eyes met with Will’s. “I was, umm…”

  “I have to talk to you,” Will interrupted.

  “Alright,” she smiled, delighted he wanted to speak with her. This made it all the more painful for him to say what was next.

  “I’m leaving tonight.” He decided to just throw it out into the open.

  “What?” Her face dropped. “Why are you leaving?”

  “God told me I had to go to Thohg Rine alone, otherwise other people would die.”

  “Y… You can’t. You can’t leave me.” Rya’s words would’ve broken anyone.

  “Rya, there are a lot of other people here to take care of you. I have to do this.”

  “I don’t want any other people!” She nearly shouted. “I want you,” the words sounded childish at first, but she meant it. “You’re the only one in my life who has treated me like an Algaer, like a human. I am coming with you, even if just to the island of Thohg Rine. I will not leave you.”

  Will shook his head. This moment could have been amazing, but he was facing his death and now possibly hers.

  “Do you want me or not?” Her question was strong and matter-of-fact. It was like nothing Will had ever experienced before with a girl. He had to answer quickly; he couldn’t just leave that out in the air.

  “No.” As he said it, he regretted it and a pain shot down his neck into his back, his body literally fighting his answer.

  “No?” By her expression you would have thought he hit her, he practically did. Her eyes began to well up again and Will could see a frail young girl in need of love and attention. But he knew that he had a date with death and couldn’t drag her to the grave with him.

  “No.”

  She turned, holding her face, hiding her tears and went off into the shadows of the city. It was too late now to go back. Will entered his tent and packed up all his belongings. His stomach was churning and his eyes watering as he angrily packed his bag. He punched his bag a few times, fighting back the tears. He finished packing and opened up the flap of his tent.

  Wham!

  Will heard it before he felt it. The fist struck his jaw so hard he thought it would break. His eyes closed automatically, preventing him from seeing his attacker. He waited for another strike, but instead heard nothing and felt nothing. He opened his eyes to see Tripp standing in front of him. His face was red and he appeared unsure of what he just did, confused and angry.

  “What was that for?” Will cried out.

  Behind Tripp were Rya and Kellin standing with e
xpressions of anger and impertinence.

  “You thought you would just leave without us?” Tripp shouted back.

  Will looked around to see if anyone else could hear; there was no one.

  “I have to Tripp. I have to do this alone, I was told so.”

  “By who?” Tripp retorted.

  “By… By God. I’ve been having the same dream over and over again, where he tells me what to do.”

  “He told you that you had to go alone? That you couldn’t receive help all the way to the Thohg Rine? Will, you don’t even know where you are.”

  “Well, he said you would all die if you came with me.”

  “I told you, Will, that I would follow you anywhere. Did you even listen? If I help you, but die in the process, then so be it. This is bigger than all of us, Will.”

  “I can’t let you do that, Tripp,” Will turned to walk toward his horse. He had had enough of this conversation. This was going to be hard enough as it was.

  Slam!

  Another blow struck Will’s shoulder this time, merely managing to irritate him. Will reached around, his hand in a fist, a habitual reaction. Will’s eyebrows came down and his nostrils flared as he prepared to deck Tripp. He looked into Tripp’s eyes and saw only fear. He had obviously never done this before. Will stopped halfway and stared at Tripp, whose eyes were now closed and his shoulders raised in preparation for the blow. Will dropped his fist to his side, though it remained balled up, making his knuckles white.

  “I’m not going to hit you, Tripp,” Will said in a sigh.

  Tripp lowered his shoulders and opened his eyes, trying to recover his composure.

  “I’m trying my best, Tripp,” Will said, defeated. “I don’t want you all hurt. If anyone has to die let it be me, I’m the one who was chosen for this in the first place.”

  “I truly believe that God wants us to help you, Will,” Tripp said pleadingly. “We are coming with you, or you’re not leaving.”

  “I can make sure of that. I can arrange guards to come every hour,” Kellin jumped in now.

  Will stared at the three of them for a moment with frustration, yet overwhelmingly relieved. He really did have no idea what he was doing. At least now he could be confused with friends.