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

by Christensen, Erik

  After weeks of hardship, of near-death experiences, of wondering if he would ever return home, he finally found himself alone with her; he vibrated with nervous joy. Despite his comment to Jack, William had no clue what to say. He fell back on his only plan. “Hello,” he said with a stupid grin.

  “What did they do to you?” asked Melissa.

  She looked cute when she was concerned. The crease between her eyebrows deepened with every injury she noted; William caressed it until it disappeared. “Nothing I couldn’t handle,” he said. “When they…when things got difficult, I pictured you—talked to you in my head. In a way, you helped me through the worst of it.” The crease returned, deeper than before. “What’s wrong?” he asked, gently lifting her chin to look into her eyes. They were as mesmerizing as he had remembered.

  “Will, we have to talk.” Elation gave way to dread, but he caught himself before it controlled him. There’s nothing to fear, he told himself. She was struggling to tell him something she didn’t want to, he understood that much. Whatever she had to say wasn’t likely good news, but he resolved not to make it difficult for her, or harder on himself than it needed to be.

  “Okay,” he said. “But maybe this isn’t the place? Or the time?” Melissa nodded, wiping away a stray tear. “How about I take you on a picnic tomorrow, and we can talk about whatever you want. Is that okay?” She nodded again, unable or unwilling to speak. “I have to talk to Lester now, and then I need to go home to prove to my mother I haven’t been killed, but I promise we’ll talk tomorrow.” He kissed her forehead and turned to leave.

  “Will?” said Melissa as he reached the door. “I really am glad you’re back.”

  What a strange reunion. He couldn’t guess what the future held for them, but he vowed not to let fear complicate it. As bad as it might be, it was not something to be afraid of.

  “The rumors are true, the victorious hero has returned,” said Cairns as William entered his office. “Let me look at you. Ah yes, a bit of damage here and there, but nothing time won’t heal. I trust you’ll have scars to remember your adventure by?”

  William laughed. “I expect so, yes.”

  “Good, good. No sense in having an adventure without souvenirs. So, the task was completed?”

  “Yes. I have quite a lot to report, so—”

  “Is any of it a matter of life or death?” asked Cairns.

  “Um…no, I suppose not. At least not anymore.”

  “Good. Report to your mother immediately. She was tormented by worry, and making her wait longer would be cruel.”

  “But I have—”

  “They can wait until tomorrow, William.”

  Had the path not been downhill, William might not have gotten home. Emma Whitehall fell to her knees when her son arrived, so relieved was she to see him. She then rushed to his side to inspect his injuries. “What have they done to you?” she asked as she held him at arm’s length.

  “You have no idea how many times I’ve been asked that recently,” said William.

  “Well, obviously something happened. Don’t evade the question.”

  William gave an abridged version of the story, excluding the dragons. He trusted his mother with his own secrets—well, most—but her knowing about the dragons was not crucial to trading with them. More importantly, he softened the truth about the attacks by wolves and rebels, and said nothing about being starved and beaten. It was disconcerting how easy it had become to lie, even to his mother.

  “You are so much like your father,” she said, causing William to beam with pride. “He withheld details, too,” she added, quickly deflating William’s ego. “Very well, you don’t need to tell me the gruesome parts, but I’m calling a doctor. I don’t have much money, but I am sure I can—”

  “Mother, don’t bother. We had a doctor with us, remember?”

  “Well, she apparently didn’t do a good job. Look at you!”

  William almost answered “you should have seen how bad I was before,” but he stopped short, realizing it wasn’t a smart thing to say. Instead, he simply said “I’m fine, Mom. I need sleep more than anything. We traveled for almost four days straight, and I was tired before that.”

  “Have you eaten?”

  He suddenly realized how famished he was. He stayed awake long enough for her to boil soup from her meal the night before. “What did you mean when you said Dad withheld details?” he asked as he soaked a hunk of bread in the broth.

  She smiled and shook her head. “Your father never wanted me to worry, but what he didn’t realize was that not knowing made it worse. He would go on secret missions, and I would have to ask Kevin where he had gone and how long he would be away.”

  “You mean Sir Kevin?” asked William.

  “Yes,” she said, looking at him quickly. “What did I say?”

  “You said—or I thought you said—never mind. I must have misheard you. I’m tired, is all.”

  She took the empty bowl from him. “Get some rest. We’ll talk more later, and you can tell me whatever details you want.”

  Was she giving him permission to keep secrets? Or was she asking him not to expose hers? William headed to his room with a sense of guilt. Before he fell asleep he concluded that maybe she was simply treating him as an adult.

  He awoke to find he had slept through the whole day and into the next morning. He was so stiff and sore that he found it difficult to get out of bed. Maya had predicted this, and was waiting with his mother in the main room, medicine in hand. He was grateful of course, and said so, but he noted with sheepishness his mother’s accusing stare. Thankfully, Emma must have felt compelled not to say anything in front of a guest.

  When he and Maya arrived at the Library, William was surprised to find not only Jack there, but his father Hiram as well. “It’s good to see you again, William,” said Hiram as he clapped his shoulder. “You’ve had quite the ordeal, and you overcame long odds. Your father would be proud.” As always, the glow of Hiram Doran’s smile warmed him. It was easy to see where Jack got his charm.

  He had missed a lot while sleeping. Someone had told both Hiram and Cairns about the dragons, a decision William agreed with but felt he should have been consulted on. More than that, the two Dorans had already devised a plan for trading with the dragons. “Earl Bradford must establish a settlement at the rebels’ camp,” said Cairns. “We know the rebels haven’t been completely eradicated, so a presence there is necessary. The Duke will send men to help garrison it.” William understood Cairns was implying that none of this was the Earl’s decision, and that Duke Vincent would force his hand. But he didn’t see how this would help them trade, and he said so.

  “Someone has to be the settlement’s Administrator,” said Cairns. William began to sweat as he guessed what was to come next—until Cairns said, “That’s where Hiram comes in.”

  Relief flowed through every vein of William’s body as he realized the burden would not be his. “Mr. Doran will be the Administrator?” asked William.

  “It’s Sir Hiram now, but call me Hiram,” said Jack’s father. “You’re an adult now, and we’ll be working together, so we may as well be on a first name basis now.”

  “You’ve been knighted? That’s fantastic! Wait a minute…working together? That means I’m leaving again?”

  “You did say he was quick, Lester,” said the elder Doran.

  “It’s temporary, William,” said Cairns. “Both as a liaison to the dragons, and as a clerk on behalf of the Library. It’s voluntary of course, which is why I have already accepted your offer.”

  “Um…yes, of course,” said William, his mind in a whirl from so much news in such a short time. “Mr. Doran—I mean, Sir Hiram—you’ve already been confirmed as Administrator?”

  “Signed and pledged,” said Sir Hiram. “Even packed. The Earl can move quickly when he doesn’t have a choice. Actually, Duke Vincent promised me a position like this last year, and we were simply waiting for an opportunity like this. I promised
Jack’s mother I wouldn’t go on the road anymore. It’s still a distance from home, but who knows—we might make a permanent home there one day.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Jack. “I’ll be there to keep you out of trouble.”

  “Since when have you done anything but the opposite?” asked William.

  “It looks that way to you, because you usually don’t know how much trouble you’re in until I help you out of it.”

  “Do you have any idea what they’re talking about, Maya?” asked Cairns.

  “Not a clue. I’d better go with them to keep them out of trouble.”

  “Excellent suggestion,” said Cairns.

  “Oh! I thought you’d be going home, Maya,” said William. “Not that I want you to leave, of course.”

  “No,” said Maya. “I still have work to do.”

  “With all the excitement about dragons and rebels and metal, we’ve lost sight of the fact that there was a job to be done,” said Cairns. “While you have completed the difficult part, Maya must still monitor the river until we know for certain. She has decided the new camp is the best place to conduct her tests.”

  “That’s great!” said William. “It’s too bad we won’t have Charlie and Rachel there, too.”

  “Well, then,” said Jack. “I have good news for you.”

  “Charlie will be on Guard duty at the camp,” said Maya, cutting in.

  “And Rachel has agreed to sign on as scout and hunter,” said Jack.

  William’s head reeled from excitement. How attached he had become to these four people, only one of whom he had known more than a few months ago. But this time the burden of leadership would not be on his shoulders; he could relax and enjoy their company.

  “How soon do we leave?” he asked.

  Doran explained that they could not leave earlier than two weeks from now. A large company of Guards had been dispatched from Faywater Port, and there would be much more to pack for the establishment of a real encampment than was needed for their previous mission. This time they would have not only horses and mules, but wagons as well.

  Excited as he was to be part of this new mission, two things worried William. When the meeting ended, he asked Cairns for permission to go home early to deal with the first. “Not again,” said Emma when William broke the news. “You are not leaving again. I nearly died from worry last time.”

  “Mother, there’s nothing to worry about this time—”

  “King’s tongue, William! It’s as though your father was standing in this room right now.”

  “Mother, listen to me. Dozens of Guards are coming up river with us. We won’t be five people in the middle of nowhere this time.”

  “William, they don’t send Guards where there’s no danger.”

  “In this case, they do. It’ll be a base of operations for them. The danger is in the wild, and that’s not my job this time.”

  Her face softened, though she still appeared suspicious. “What is your job?”

  “Clerk, and assistant to Sir Hiram.”

  “Oh! Jack’s father was knighted?”

  “I just heard it myself. You didn’t know?”

  “No, we never heard anything.”

  “We?” asked William, before he could stop himself. “Who is ‘we’?”

  “I mean, I never heard,” Emma said quickly as she went back to her stitching.

  It was time to let her off the hook. “Mother, are you in love with Sir Kevin?”

  She stared at him, with an expression on her face that suggested she would rather discuss any topic than this one. “I—what do you mean?”

  “What makes you think I’d be upset about it?” he asked.

  She heaved a ragged sigh that seemed somehow to contain both sadness and relief at the same time. “Oh, son…I’m sorry I tried to hide it from you, but I know how you feel about your father, and how you felt robbed of the time you would have shared. I worried about how it would look to you.”

  “Does he love you?” asked William.

  “Yes. He has told me so many times.”

  “Then it’s time you were happy, Mom. What’s it been, nine years now? You’ve raised me alone all that time, and Dad on patrol much of the time before. I’m an adult now, with a job. Perhaps you’re holding on to the past a little too much?”

  “Oh, William,” she said as she hugged him and laughed. “You’ve grown so much faster than I expected. Yes, you’re a man now, and your father would be so proud to see you. Just as I am. Go on this trip of yours. Go with my blessing, since you don’t need my approval. But be sure to come back.”

  Time now to address the more difficult issue. He scavenged through the larder for picnic-worthy items, and when Emma found out she scolded him for leaving it so late to arrange, chased him from the kitchen and quickly prepared a basket for him.

  “She’s a lovely girl, William,” she said as he left. “I hope it works out for you.”

  It took some convincing for Melissa to leave early, but Cairns assured her it was more than acceptable. They walked in silence down the back slope of Administration Hill, strolling along trails that William had walked alone or with Jack in years past when he wanted to avoid Oz and the other bullies. The foliage and early spring blossoms surrounded them, forming a cool, colorful tunnel of the path. They soon found a clearing bathed in late afternoon sun, and William set out the basket’s contents, noting the small skin of wine and two cups his mother had included. Melissa said nothing as she watched William, her worry crease disappearing when he smiled at her, returning when he looked away. He resolved not to upset her any more than she already was. Whatever was bothering her would come out in time. He handed her a cup of wine, poured one for himself, and waited for her to speak.

  “Is it still painful?” she asked after a timid sip.

  “Well, I’m not hurting much right now. But I’m not sure if that’s the medicine or the rest.”

  “Is it true that rebels captured you? Is that who…did these things to you?”

  He repeated the story he told his mother, but with two differences. First, he bragged a little, enough to portray himself as the hero that some people claimed he was. Second, he knew Melissa believed every word of it. Reading people didn’t rank as his greatest skill, but he could not mistake the wonder and respect in her eyes.

  But when he finished, her admiration faded and she became distant and anxious again. “Oh, I just remembered,” he said. He dug into his pocket and clutched the gem he had carried since their first days in the dragon hive. He sensed that he had to give it to her now or forever lose the chance. He searched for a string to tie the gem to, and found only his boot lace. Her look of puzzlement turned to astonishment as he slid the hastily-crafted amulet over her head. The sunlight shone through the gem as she held it up to admire it, and William noted it glowed the same vibrant shade of purple as her eyes. She let the stone fall to her throat where it bounced in time to her heartbeat. She leaned over and kissed him. “Thank you,” she said, her voice a mere whisper.

  She looked down again at the stone and fidgeted, her worry line forming a deep channel. Unwilling to see her in this much pain, he took her hands in his own. “Just tell me,” he said.

  “I can’t be your girlfriend.” She held his gaze for a moment before looking away as though to deny the words were hers.

  Stunned, he withdrew his hands. “Why not?” he asked, trying not to betray any hurt or anger that might make her defensive.

  “I can’t tell you,” she said. “I just…can’t.”

  If Ray Findlay’s bamboo club had missed his battered ribs and pummeled his heart directly, it would not have hurt like this. But through his own agonizing fog, William knew Melissa was feeling worse. She could have lied, and said she no longer had feelings for him. Or that she liked someone else. Or that she was too young for a serious relationship. But she had been honest with him, at least as far as she was capable, and it hadn’t been easy. Her parents put her up to this, he decided. Sh
e was a good daughter, and would be loyal and not speak ill of them; she would do their bidding, of that he was certain. He wouldn’t be the first young man rejected by his love’s parents for lack of money or position.

  “It’s okay,” he said.

  She looked at him in surprise. “Really? You’re okay with this?” She appeared almost angry at the suggestion.

  “No,” he said. “Of course I’m not okay with this. I think you know how I feel about you, and I have a pretty good idea what you feel for me. But you can’t tell me why, and that’s what I’m okay with.”

  She buried her face in her hands and rocked back and forth. “I’m sorry, Will. You really don’t deserve this. And I don’t deserve you.”

  “Of course you do,” he said, stroking her hair.

  “No, I don’t! And I don’t deserve this either,” she said as she yanked the amulet from her neck.

  “Hey, wait a second,” said William. “I can’t make you love me, and I won’t badger you into explaining. I respect you too much to do that. But don’t you dare give that back to me. It’s a gift. Wear it, bury it, or hide it in a closet; do what you want with it. But don’t you dare try to return it.”

  “Okay,” she said. “I’ll keep it out of—respect for you.” She stared at the ground, avoiding his eyes.

  Silence fell over the clearing as the shadows grew longer. This was worse than the worst he could have imagined, but even in this mood he knew he had been right not to fear it. Fear changes nothing, he thought to himself, except to amplify the pain. “Well,” he said. “This has been a pretty good picnic so far, wouldn’t you say?” She laughed despite her mood. This was the release he had wanted. He joined in, and they hugged and laughed until the worst of the pain passed. They sauntered back to town in comfortable silence, but there was no hand-holding, and no kiss at the gate this time.

  As he trudged home, the evening breeze off the river chilled him.

  During the terraforming process, an attempt was made to create diverse ecological zones in order to allow as many species of flora and fauna as possible to survive the transition. Special attention was paid to islands and relatively isolated continental areas, where various trees and plants were matched based on expected climate models.