The Defender of Rebel Falls: A Medieval Science Fiction Adventure (The William Whitehall Adventures Book 1)

by Christensen, Erik

  Melissa giggled behind her hand. She wore a green silk dress accented with a braided copper necklace, and she had tinted her eyelids violet to match her eyes. Lovely was an understatement. He turned back to Cairns who looked almost regal in his robes of office. He let out a heavy sigh. “What’s the occasion?”

  “A banquet in honor of your group’s departure. Common practice. As the son of a Guard I would have expected you to know that.” Cairns stormed out and left William with his mouth hanging open.

  Melissa’s grin faded. “That wasn’t fair. He shouldn’t have said that.”

  “No, he has every reason to be upset with me.” William sat and rubbed his eyes. “So do you, I guess. I’m sorry I never noticed your dress. It really is nice.”

  Melissa shook her head and returned to her work. “You sure know how to make a girl feel special, don’t you?”

  William glared at her. “No, I guess I don’t. And I’ll probably never figure it out either. But in the meantime, why not kick me while I’m down? It’s not enough that my boss thinks I’m a thief, I’m crowded out of my own office, and my best friend is taking over my mission. You should feel free to pile on.”

  “Will, I didn’t mean—”

  William hung his head and raised his hand to stop her. “No, don’t apologize. It’s me who should be sorry. It…hasn’t been the best day. I’m tired, upset, and embarrassed, and I took it out on you.” He took a deep breath. “Can we pretend I never said that?”

  She crossed her arms and gave him an icy stare. “First of all, I didn’t apologize and I had no intention of doing so. Second, no we can’t pretend you didn’t say it, because you did say it.”

  “Fine.” He stomped out and locked himself in the supply room. The last thing he wanted right now was to go to a banquet, especially one in his honor. He deserved no honors, but it was expected of him; he followed orders and dressed. He found a candle-mirror to check his hair; his reflection stared back with grumpy defiance, daring anyone to touch his hair, including himself. He left it unstraightened.

  He found the others waiting for him at the main door. Jessica snagged his sleeve as he tried to walk past them. “William! What have you done to your hair?” She pulled a comb from her own hair and groomed him while he stared at his feet and listened to the chuckles around him. “Better,” she said, after what felt like hours.

  The Town Hall evoked bitter memories for William. Cairns, as head of the Library, sat beside the Earl’s large, empty chair, in the same seat he had drafted William from. As the expedition leader, William took the seat on the right. He was relieved Melissa and Jessica were also on the dais; the more people at the table, the less conspicuous he would be. Jack, too, found a seat, and contrived to sit next to Rachel. Maya accepted being pushed over one seat, which in turn moved Melissa next to William. He ventured an awkward smile at her, and was relieved when she answered in kind. Charlie joined Cairns and Jessica on the other end.

  The tables on the main floor were mostly empty. A few Guards and laborers had come for a free meal, but William doubted they knew the purpose of the banquet. His mother arrived, resplendent in a blue gown, on the arm of Sir Kevin Welford. It was gallant of his old sword-fighting tutor to do his mother this favor; it might have been awkward for her to sit alone. He even wore his old dress uniform to mark the occasion. And to his surprise, William’s old teacher, Miss Plevins, joined them.

  Earl Bradford Masterman made a grand entrance, flanked by two footmen, and decorated in his official robe and chain of office. Massive silver and gold rings glinted in the lamplight, and squeezed into the puffy flesh of his fingers. Masterman posed in front of his great chair, and the hall fell into silence.

  His voice boomed. “Fellow Townspeople, today we honor the expedition ordered by our…great…Duke Vincent. A mission of exploration—of science and learning—that will bring new knowledge of the lands around our town!” A spattering of applause broke out, mostly from his mother’s table. William’s jaw dropped. The Earl didn’t even know the mission’s purpose, or else he was denying it. He raised an eyebrow at Cairns, who gently shook his head in response. William fumed as the Earl continued, naming each expedition member, including Jack. He announced William as the leader, laughter broke out at the back of the hall. Sir Kevin’s icy glare quickly silenced it.

  The Earl ordered everyone to stand. “We drink to the health of King Duncan Thorsten, long may he reign.” His toast was echoed with several mumbled calls of “to the King.” The Earl drained his cup, turned on his heel and marched out of the hall.

  William stared in disbelief at the retreating Earl, then turned to Cairns. “He’s not staying?” he asked.

  Cairns leaned across the empty chair between them. “No. It seems his Lordship is angry about a missing shipment of food.” William swallowed hard and stared at his empty plate. How much did the Earl know? Had he made an enemy of him as well as Sir Hendrick?

  Luckily, the feast chased all dark thoughts away. Footmen brought wave upon wave of food the likes of which William had never seen, smelled or tasted. Slow-roasted lamb; pork braised in cider and honey; baked apples with sharp cheeses; a luscious potato soup. Only the fish remained untouched, as no one wanted to risk it. A different wine was served with every course, and it soon went to William’s head. He had rarely drunk before, and after the third glass he began to wonder why. In this relaxed state he laughed and joked with everybody, even Melissa, their earlier spat as forgotten as the cold wind outside.

  The Earl’s absence was hardly noticed. In fact, the banquet was far more enjoyable than his presence would have made it. Before the meal ended the great chair had been shoved to the back of the dais, leaning askew against the wall. After the footmen cleared the last plates they all pushed their seats closer and laughed and talked as the wine flowed. Emma and Sir Kevin joined them on the dais after the freeloaders departed. Jessica surprised them with parting gifts: rain hats made from waterproofed sheepskin. They looked utterly ridiculous and fitted perfectly. “I guarantee they’ll keep your heads dry,” she said. “And won’t let the rain run down your face, either.” She showed them how to pull the side flaps down and tie them under the chin so the hats wouldn’t fly away in the wind. William did as instructed, and even joined in the laughter that followed.

  During a quiet moment, William asked his mother when she wanted to go home. “Sir Kevin has graciously offered to escort me,” she said. “Why don’t you ask Melissa to walk with you? She’s all alone here.” William kicked himself for not thinking of it first. Melissa’s face lit up when he offered, and his heart leapt.

  Jack tried to catch his eye, but William ignored him as he helped Melissa with her coat. The cold air felt refreshing on his face after the warmth of the hall. The walk back to town began pleasantly, but the wine that loosened his tongue earlier failed him now. He struggled to think of something to say, but before he could think of something Melissa missed her footing on the darkened path and stumbled. William caught her arm before she fell, and on impulse slid his hand down to meet hers. Relief washed over him when she didn’t pull it away.

  They walked for a few moments before she broke the silence. “It’s about time, you know.” She held up their clasped hands. “How much more obvious do I need to be with you?”

  William sighed and nodded. “I guess I don’t take hints well. Not even obvious ones. Besides…I don’t like rejection, and I wasn’t really sure if you liked me.”

  “This might be awkward then. I mean, since we’re both shy.”

  “Yeah…”

  She giggled. “See? Even now you don’t know what to say to me.”

  He groaned and then laughed. “I know. I’m like that with most people, at least until I know them better. And the more something means to me, the more I clam up.”

  There was more silence, and then she said, “Okay, that was pretty good.”

  William laughed despite his nervousness. Or was it because of it? Perhaps that was the key: humor. Not too
much, though…just enough to relieve the tension. That must be why Jack was always joking: it could be quite disarming.

  The route she led them on took them to an area of town he rarely frequented. They stopped in front of a gated fence. “This is my place,” she said. He was nervous again; he was supposed to kiss her now—that much he was aware of—and this was not the moment for a joke. Before he could muster the courage she raised a finger. “Wait here, I have something for you.” She opened the gate and disappeared inside.

  William scrutinized the house. It was smaller than Jack’s, but much larger than his own. The walls were real baked brick, not cheap mud ones, and not a bit of thatch to be seen. Beams of bright light leaked through shutters into the night; apparently they could afford lamps instead of candle. He looked around, nervous; someone might see him standing here alone, away from where people like him lived, and assume the worst…

  Melissa emerged before he could dwell on it for long. She slipped through the gate and handed him a wooden shield, smaller than his father’s had been, just large enough to use as a buckler. “I painted this for you,” she said. In the dim light he could just make out the symbol: a white fist, like his father’s, but holding a golden lantern. “I hope you don’t mind that I changed the symbol a bit. I know your father’s shield had a white fist, but I wanted something different for you, and I thought a lantern would indicate knowledge, and—”

  He kissed her. No shyness or doubt could have stopped him at that moment. His arms enveloped her, and pressed the length of her body against his; her hands hesitated, then buried themselves in his hair. He smelled the sweet scent of wine on her warm breath and breathed it in greedily. She shivered; he gripped tighter.

  Uncounted minutes later a shaft of light from the house distracted them. “Daddy says you’ve kissed him for long enough, and it’s time to come in.” A young girl stood in the doorway and waved. “Hi, William.”

  “Um…hi,” he said.

  Melissa hid her face on William’s chest. “King’s teeth…tell me this isn’t happening.”

  “I didn’t know you have a sister,” said William.

  Melissa nodded and mumbled. “Katie.”

  “Hi, Katie,” William said to the girl. She giggled and closed the door.

  “I guess I have to go,” said Melissa.

  “Me too. We’re leaving at dawn.” He kissed her gently on the forehead. “I’ll be back soon.”

  “Stay safe,” she said, her voice quivering. “Use that shield.”

  “I will.”

  William waited until Melissa closed the door, and then began the long walk across town. His house was cold and dark when he arrived. His mother was not in bed, and her boots and coat were not where they should be. As he built up the kitchen fire, the truth hit him. He wasn’t the only one to find love that night.

  In the early days of Azuria’s colonization, the population was concentrated around the new town of Marshland Crossing. Once the construction of the Library was completed, and the plans for a bridge across the Faywater were abandoned, the population slowly drifted downriver to Faywater Port and other towns along the coast. The shrinking population of Marshland had a cascading effect, and many nearby places experienced a similar decline.

  Planet of Hope: A History of Esperanza

  It was cold and damp, and William shivered as he pulled himself out of bed. The sun had not risen yet, but he felt around in the dark and found everything he needed: his pack, his new shield, and the old bronze sword soon lay ready by his bedroom door. He grabbed some bread and cheese for a quick breakfast and saw his mother’s cloak hanging by the door. She must have come home late; he decided to let her sleep.

  William arrived at the Library and found Maya writing at his desk and Charlie packing gear. “How long have you two been here?” he asked.

  “I got up early to test the water you brought from the fountain,” said Maya.

  “And?”

  “You were right to bring it in,” she said. “It was pretty bad.”

  “So the poison killed the baby?”

  Maya folded the paper and stuffed it into an envelope. “I never examined the poor thing, so I’m not certain. But yes, I’d guess it contributed. I wrote a note for Lester to follow up and have that fountain shut down.” That wouldn’t make those farmers happy. Where would they get their drinking water? And how would they water their crops? But then again, how many more might die if the tainted fountain still flowed?

  His office table was covered with equipment, food and clothing. Maya joined Charlie in packing. “Maya, that pack is bigger than you are,” William said. “There’s no way you can carry that.”

  “Don’t be silly. Charlie’s going to carry this one.”

  William looked at Charlie who grinned back at him sheepishly. “Charlie, can you carry that and still be ready to fight?”

  Maya squeezed Charlie’s huge bicep. “Of course he can.”

  “How, Charlie?”

  “Relax, Will, he does this all the time.”

  William wasn’t happy burdening Charlie like an ox, and the fact that Charlie was letting Maya answer for him didn’t comfort William either. But he had to be certain. “Look,” he said, “I don’t want to be rude—”

  Maya grumbled. “Fine. Charlie, show him.” She tied the pack shut and handed it to Charlie.

  The Guard lifted the huge pack and slung it on the butt end of his spear and rested the spear itself on his shoulder. “We march like this all the time,” he said. Charlie carried the weight easily, and with his hand low on the spear he could shift the pack with ease if needed.

  But William still worried whether Charlie could fight off an attacker with the spear weighed down. “What if I attacked you?” he asked. He jumped at Charlie with a pretend stab to the stomach.

  Charlie reached over his shoulder and yanked on a strap, and the pack dropped to the floor. Charlie met William’s lunge, the spear point stopping an inch from William’s belly. He quickly lowered the spear as his face turned red. “Sorry, Will. They make us practice that.”

  “No problem,” said William his voice shaking slightly. “That’s pretty impressive. Is anything in the pack broken?”

  “King’s boots, William,” said Maya. “Of course not. I’ll carry the fragile stuff. I won’t be fighting or hunting, and no one will be more careful with my equipment than me.”

  “Okay, okay…sorry I asked.” William avoided Maya’s gaze and looked over the remaining items on the table. Even if Rachel packed lightly, he and Jack could carry the rest. Having Charlie was almost like having a pack animal. Better, in fact, since mules would be useless in a fight.

  Jack arrived and surveyed the room. “What did I miss?”

  “All the hard work,” said William.

  Jack snorted. “Not likely. There’s no way you could finish it all.” He grabbed a few items from the table and shoved them into his pack. He looked around. “Where’s Rachel?”

  “Getting Steve,” said Maya.

  William scratched his head. “Um…Steve?”

  Maya nodded. “Yes, she said for us to meet her at the bottom of the Hill.”

  He wanted to ask who Steve was, but he was distracted by Jack who was still jamming things into the pack. “Hey Jack, don’t take it all. I can carry some too.”

  “Don’t be dumb,” said Jack. “This one’s yours.” Jack shoved the bag into William’s hands.

  “I should have known,” said William as Jack pulled a smaller pack from inside his coat.

  Cairns arrived as they finished packing and took William into his office and closed the door. “Remember what I told you, William. You are the leader of this mission. I don’t expect you’ll encounter any danger, but should anything happen, it is vital that Maya return if anyone does. I assume you understand why?”

  “I do.”

  “Good. Are you fully prepared?”

  “Physically, yes.” William hesitated, not certain whether he should speak his mind. Fina
lly he added, “Mentally, I’m not sure. I’m the youngest person in the group. What if they don’t accept me as their leader?”

  Cairns put a friendly hand on William’s shoulder. “They already have, William; they agreed to go with you. How much and how well they accept it depends on how well you lead.”

  “But they are all better than I am at what they do. Even Jack.”

  “So they should be. If they weren’t, you wouldn’t need them. Leadership isn’t about being the best at what needs doing. It’s about knowing what needs to be done.”

  The four travelers left the Library, burdened by heavy packs and buoyed by Cairns’ best wishes. As the cold air hit his face, trepidation and exhilaration dueled in William’s mind. For years he had dreamed of going on adventures, imagining the exciting places he would visit and things he would see, but here at the outset of his first adventure he began to question his readiness. Would there be danger? Would he be injured, or perhaps killed? And when would he next enjoy the shelter of a roof and four walls?

  Jack caught up to William as they walked down the gravel path. “So, Will…you left early last night. Where did you go?”

  William stared straight ahead, ignoring Jack’s grin. “You obviously know. Otherwise you wouldn’t ask.”

  “That’s a nice shield. I haven’t seen that one before. Where’d you get it?”

  “Jack, I’m not in the mood. Why do you care where I got it?”

  Jack’s grin widened as William’s frustration grew more evident. “Hey, I’m just trying to be a friend. Want me to carry some of your stuff? That pack looks kinda heavy.”

  “Of course it’s heavy, you idiot; you packed it that way.”

  “Well, I could carry that shield for you,” said Jack as he made a grab for it.

  William moved the shield out of his friend’s reach. “Shut up, Jack. And leave the shield alone.”

  “It’s nice. Where’d you get it?”

  “Leave me alone. I can carry my shield and my pack all by myself. I’m fine.”

  “Okay, be a grump. But if you ask me, you don’t look fine.”