Alternative Life

by Matt Harris

  James-ifinally-ifound-iMadeleine-iat-ithe-ifar-iend-iof-ithe-itent,-icurled-iup-ion-itop-iof-ia-ibedroll.-iShe-iwas-ipaler-ithan-iusual,-iwith-ia-ithin-isheen-iof-isweat-ion-iher-iforehead.-iAs-ihe-iwalked-iover-itowards-iher,-ithe-ihealer-istanding-iover-iher-isaw-ihim-icoming-iheld-ia-ifinger-iup-ito-iher-imouth-ito-isignal-ihim-ifor-iquiet.-iWhen-ihe-igot-iclose,-ihe-icould-itell-ifrom-ithe-irhythm-iof-iher-ibreathing-ithat-ishe-iwas-ifast-iasleep.

  The-ihealer-iwalked-iover-ito-istand-ibeside-ihim,-iand-iJames-iasked-iin-ia-ilow-ivoice-i"How-iis-ishe?"

  "She's-itaken-iill,-ibut-ishe'll-ipull-ithrough.-iProbably-igot-iit-ifrom-ithe-ipestilence-ithat-igreenskins-itend-ito-icarry-iwith-ithem."-iThe-ibearded-iman-ireplied.-i"It's-istrange...-inormally-ithat-icomes-iwith-ia-ifever,-ibut-ishe's-ibone-cold-ito-ithe-itouch.-iI-iwould-ibe-iworried-iabout-iit-iif-ishe-iwere-ihuman,-ibut-ishe's-inot,-iso-iperhaps-iit-iworks-idifferently-ifor-iher."

  "Normally,-ishe's-ipainfully-ihot-ito-ithe-itouch,-iso-imaybe-ia-ichill-ifor-iher-iis-ia-ifever-ifor-ius."-iJames-isaid,-ispeculating.

  "Perhaps.-iI've-icertainly-iseen-istranger."-iThe-iman-isaid,-iappraising-ithe-isleeping-igirl-iin-ifront-iof-ihim.

  After-iwatching-iher-ifor-ia-imoment-iand-iconfirming-iagain-ithat-ishe-iwas-ialright,-iJames-ithanked-ithe-iman,-iand-iworked-ihis-iway-iback-iout-iof-ithe-itent-iand-iinto-ifresh-iair.-iThe-icontrast-iin-ismells-iwas-iso-istark-ithat-ihe-ispent-iseveral-ilong-imoments-itaking-ithe-iclean-iair-iin.

  James-ilooked-iaround-ithe-icamp-iagain.-iWell,-inow-ithat-ihe-iknew-iwhere-iMadeleine-iwas,-iand-ifor-isure-ihad-ino-iidea-iwhere-ihis-iaxe-iwas,-ihe-ididn't-ihave-imuch-ielse-ito-idelay-ihim-ifrom-imeeting-iwith-ithe-ibrothers.-iHe-icould-iprobably-iuse-ilooking-ifor-iRose-ias-ian-iexcuse,-ibut-ihe-isuspected-ithey'd-ialready-ispoken-ito-iher,-iand-ishe'd-ibe-ijoining-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ifor-ithe-isit-down.-iAt-ileast,-ihe-ihoped-ithat-iwas-ithe-icase.-iThe-iidea-iof-ientering-iwhat-iwas-iprobably-igoing-ito-ibe-ia-ifull-blown-iinterrogation-ialone-iwasn't-ireally-ithe-imost-iappealing-ithought.-i

  ###-iChapter-i111-i--iMeeting-iof-ithe-iMinds-i(Part-i1)

  When-iJames-ifinally-imade-iit-iinto-iFarien's-iroom-ia-ishort-itime-ilater,-ihe-iwas-isurprised-ito-ifind-inot-ionly-ithe-itwo-ibrothers,-ibut-iRose,-ithe-ihealer-iAbigail,-iand-ianother-iolder-iman-iwith-ia-ibroad,-isun-weathered-iface-iand-ishoulder-length-iwhite-ihair-ithat-iflowed-iinto-ia-ilong-iwhite-ibeard.-iTo-iJames,-ihe-ilooked-imore-ithan-ia-ilittle-ibit-ilike-ia-itan-skinned-iSanta-iClaus,-iif-iSanta-iwas-ialso-icompletely-imade-iof-imuscle-iinstead-iof-ifat.

  When-ihe-iwalked-iin,-ithe-iconversation-ihappened-istopped,-iand-ithe-igroup-iof-ithem-iturned-itheir-iattention-ito-ihis-iarrival.

  "Glad-iyou-icould-imake-iit."-iUrien-isaid,-inodding-ito-ihim.-i"Sorry-ito-idrag-iyou-iin-ilike-ithis,-ibut-imy-ibrother-iand-iI-ihave-isome-iquestions,-iand-isome-iinformation-ito-ishare,-iand-iI-ifelt-iit-iwas-ibest-iwe-idid-iboth-iin-iprivate."

  "I'd-ihonestly-ibe-isurprised-iif-iyou-ididn't,-igiven-ithe-irecent-icircumstances."-iJames-isaid.-i"And-iI'm-ihappy-ito-iprovide-iwhatever-ianswers-iI-ican."

  "I-iappreciate-ithat."-iUrien-isaid,-ithen-imotioned-iover-itowards-iRose.-i"There's-ia-iseat-iavailable-inext-ito-iyour-ifriend,-iif-iyou-iprefer-ito-isit."

  James-iwalked-iover-iand-itook-ia-iseat-inext-ito-iRose.-iHe-ifelt-ia-ilittle-iawkward-iby-ithe-itone-iof-iformality-iaround-ieverything-iso-ifar,-ibut-isaid-inothing.-iRose,-ifor-iher-ipart,-ialso-iseemed-ia-ibit-ion-iedge,-ithough-ishe-iwas-iin-isome-iways-istill-ias-imuch-iin-ithe-idark-ias-ithe-iothers.-iWhat-ihe-icouldn't-ifigure-iout,-ihowever,-iwas-iwhy-iAbigail-iwas-ithere.-iOr-iwho-ithe-ibuff-iold-iguy-iwas.-iSince-ihe'd-iwalked-iin,-ithe-iold-iman's-ieyes-ihad-inever-ileft-ihim,-ifixated-iwith-ia-ipiercing-igaze-ithat-iindicated-ithere-iwas-ia-ilot-imore-igoing-ion-iwith-ihim-ithan-icould-ibe-iimmediately-iassessed.-iOut-iof-ieveryone-ithere,-ihe-iby-ifar-imade-iJames-ithe-imost-inervous.

  Once-iJames-iwas-iseated,-iUrien-icleared-ihis-ithroat.

  "Since-iwe-inow-ihave-ieveryone-ihere,-iI-ithink-iit's-iproper-ithat-iwe-imake-iintroductions."-iHe-isaid.

  After-iJames-iand-iRose-iintroduced-ithemselves,-iAbigail-ireintroduced-iherself.

  "I'm-iAbigail,-ichief-ihealer-ifor-ithe-iGreen-iCompany.-iSince-iI'm-isure-ithat-idoesn't-ifully-iexplain-imy-ireason-ifor-ibeing-ihere,-iI-iwill-ialso-iadd-ithat-iUrien-iin-imy-ihusband,-iand-ithat-iI-ihelp-irun-ia-ilot-iof-ithe-icompany's-iday-ito-iday."-iShe-isaid.-i"I-ialso-ihappen-ito-ibe-itrained-iin-ithe-iDruidic-iarts,-ifor-iwhat-iit's-iworth."

  The-irealization-ithat-iUrien's-iwife-ihad-ibeen-icaring-ifor-ihim-ipersonally-iwas-istrangely-imeaningful-ito-iJames.-iThere-iwas-ithe-iimplication-iof-ihim-ibeing-ivalued-ior-iimportant-ithat-imade-ihim-ifeel-iboth-ispecial-iand-ia-ilittle-iawkward.-iThen-ihe-irealized-ithat-iUrien's-iwife-ihad-iseen-ihim-inaked.-iAnd-ithen-ithings-ijust-igot-isuper-iuncomfortable.

  Before-iJames-icould-isit-iwith-ihis-ifeelings-ifor-ilong,-ithe-iold-iman,-iwhose-igaze-ihad-istill-inever-ileft-iJames,-ifinally-ispoke.-iHis-ivoice-iwas-ideep-iand-iresonant,-iand-iseemed-ito-ifill-ithe-ientire-ispace-ithey-ioccupied-iwithout-ieffort.

  "And-iI'm-iFarlo.-iThis-iis,-iwell....-iwas....-imy-imercenary-icompany.-iNowadays,-iI-ispend-imy-itime-iranging-iwhile-imy-itwo-isons-ihere-ikeep-ithings-irunning.-iI-idon't-inormally-icome-iback-iinto-icamp,-ibut-iat-itheir-iinsistence,-iI've-ireturned-ibecause-ithey-iinsist-iI-ineed-ito-imeet-iyou."-iThe-iold-iman-isaid,-ilocking-ihis-isteely-ieyes-iwith-iJames's.-i

  James-iswallowed-ihard.-iHe-ihad-ian-ioverwhelming-iurge-ito-iavert-ihis-ieyes,-ibut,-ithinking-ibetter-iof-iit,-igrit-ihis-iteeth-iand-istared-iback,-iforcing-ihis-iface-iinto-ian-iexpressionless-imask.

  "They-itell-ime-ithat-iyou-ican-idisapparate-iand-ireapparate-iat-iwill,-iaccessing-isome-ikind-iof-iarmory-iin-ithe-iprocess,-iwield-imagic-iweapons,-icast-ihigh-level-ispells,-iand-ican-iapparently-icompletely-irecover-ifrom-iwounds-iin-ia-iday-ithat-iwould-ikill-imost-imen-idead-iand-icripple-ithe-irest."-iThe-iold-iman-icontinued.-i"Now,-ihearing-iall-iof-ithis,-iI-ithink-iI-ihave-ia-ipretty-igood-iidea-iof-iwhat-iyou-iare,-iJames."-i

  ###-iChapter-i112-i--iMeeting-iof-ithe-iMinds-i(part-i2)

  James's-iheart-ijumped-iinto-ihis-ithroat.-iWhat-idid-ithe-iold-iman-imean-iwhen-ihe-isaid-ihe-iknew-iwhat-iJames-iwas?-iHad-ihe-ibeen-ifigured-iout-ialready?

  Farlo-iappraised-ihim,-iletting-ihis-iwords-isettle-ibefore-icontinuing.

  "Now,-ithere-iare-ionly-ia-icouple-ipossibilities-ifitting-iyour-idescription.-iEither-iyou're-ian-iagent-iworking-ifor-ione-iof-ithe-ikingdoms,-ior-ian-iadventurer-iworking-ifor-ione-iof-ithe-itop-ranking-iguilds.-iBoth-iof-ithose-iwould-iexplain-ithe-imost-iof-iwhat-iI-ihave-ibeen-itold."-iHe-isaid.

  James-ialmost-istarted-ia-isigh-iof-irelief-iwhen-iFarlo-icontinued,-icutting-iit-ishort.

  "But-iI-ihave-ia-ihard-itime-ibelieving-ieither.-iFirst,-iI'm-ion-iclose-iterms-iwith-iall-iof-ithe-iguilds-iof-inote-iin-ithe-iregion,-iand-inone-iof-ithem-ihave-imentioned-ia-inew-irecruit-ithat-ican-isomehow-iwield-imagic-iand-iweapons-iwith-iequal-iproficiency-iwhen-iI've-ienquired.-iNow,-ieither-ione-iof-ithem-iis-ikeeping-iyou-ia-iwell-kept-isecret,-ior-iyou're-inot-iwith-iany-iof-ithem.-iSo-ithat-ilikely-irules-ithat-ipossibility-iout.

  However,-iyou're-ifar-itoo-iconspicuous-ito-ibe-ian-iagent,-ieither.-iSomeone-iworking-ifor-ione-iof-ithe-iNoble-iKingdoms,-ior-ithe-iEmpire,-ior-ithe-iMagistrate...-ithey-iwould-iknow-ibetter-ithan-ito-idemonstrate-iunique-ihybrid-iabilities-iaround-iothers-ioutside-iof-itheir-iorganization.-iThey-ialso,-iif-ithey-ihad-iany-iinkling-iof-ibeing-ithreatened-ior-ifound-iout,-iwould-ivanish-iwithout-ia-iword-ior-ia-itrace.-iThey-iwouldn't-ijust-iwaltz-iinto-ia-imeeting-ilike-ithis,-ihappy-ias-ican-ibe-ito-igive-iaway-iall-iof-itheir-isecrets-ior-ibe-iinterrogated-iin-ia-iposition-iof-iweakness."

  Farlo-ilocked-ieyes-iwith-iJames,-iwho-iwas-isquirming-iuncomfortably.

  "So-itell-ime,-iJames...-ijust-iwhat,-iexactly,-iare-iyou?"

  James's-imind-iwas-iracing.-iWhat-icould-ihe-isay?-iThere-iwas-ino-iobvious-ior-ieven-ireasonable-iexplanation-ithat-ihe-icould-igive-ithat-ithey-iwould-ibelieve.-iAnd-iwhat-iif-
ihe-itold-ithem-ithe-itruth?-iFirst,-ihe'd-ibe-iopening-ihimself-iup-ito-iall-isorts-iof-irisks-iif-iit-iturned-iout-ithey-iweren't-iactually-ipeople-ito-ibe-itrusted.-iAnd-isecond,-iwhat-iare-ithe-iodds-iof-ithem-iactually-ibelieving-ihim-ieven-iif-ihe-idid-itell-ithem?-iHow-ion-iearth-iwould-iany-iperson-iin-itheir-iright-imind-ireact-iwhen-ithen-iheard-ihim-isay-i"Oh,-idon't-imind-ime,-iI'm-ijust-ithe-igod-chosen-isavior-iof-imankind-iteleported-ifrom-ianother-iplane-iof-iexistence-ito-isave-iyou-ifrom-ithe-ilord-iof-idarkness.-iOh,-iand-iyou-isee-ithis-ired-skinned-igirl-ihere?-iShe's-ipart-iof-ithe-ihand-selected-isex-iharem-iI-iwished-ifor.-iHow-ido-iyou-ido?"

  But-ihe-ihad-ito-isay-isomething.-iHe-icouldn't-ijust-isit-ihere-iand-istare-iat-ithem-iblankly.

  He-isighed.-iHe-iwas-igoing-ito-ihave-ito-itry-iand-ibe-istraight-iwith-ithem.-iHe-iwould-ideal-iwith-ithe-iconsequences,-iif-ithere-iwere-iany,-iafter-ihe-iwas-iout-iof-ithis-isituation.

  "You're-ihonestly-inot-igoing-ito-ibelieve-ime,-ieven-iif-iI-itell-iyou-ithe-itruth."-iJames-isaid,-ishrugging.-i"But-iif-iyou-iwant-ithe-itruth,-ihere-iit-iis."

  He-iproceeded-ito-irecount-ithe-istory-iof-ihow-ihe'd-igotten-ito-ithis-iworld,-iand-ia-ishort-isnapshot-iof-ihis-ilife-ibefore.-iHe-irecounted-ihis-iwishes-iwhile-iomitting-ithe-iharem-iaspect,-imeeting-ithe-igirls,-itraining,-ithe-iencounter-iwith-ithe-ignolls,-iand-itheir-itravels-ito-irescue-iEleanor.-iHe-iexplained-ihow-ihe'd-icome-iby-ihis-ipowers-iand-iequipment-iwithout-idirectly-itelling-ithem-iabout-iFrumpkin-ior-ithe-iTerminal,-iand-ihow-ihe'd-ibeen-iable-ito-irecover-iso-iquickly.-iFinally,-ihe-itold-ithem-iabout-ihis-icoming-ichallenge-iwith-ihis-irival,-iand-iwhat-iit-iwould-imean-iif-ihe-ilost.-iHe-idid-iwhat-ihe-icould-ito-ibe-ias-ithorough-ias-ipossible,-iwhile-iomitting-iany-ifine-idetails-ithat-iwould-ibe-itruly-iuseful-ifor-isomeone-iattempting-ito-ireport-iback-ito-isomeone-iwanting-ito-ido-ihim-iharm.-i

  ###-iChapter-i113-i--iMeeting-iof-ithe-iMinds-i(part-i3)

  After-iJames-ifinished,-ihis-iwords-ihung-isuspended-iin-isilence-ifor-iseveral-ilong-imoments-ibefore-iUrien-icleared-ihis-ithroat.

  "Well,-iI-ihave-ito-isay,-ithat-iexplanation-iwas-idefinitely-inot-ithe-ione-iI-iwas-iexpecting."-iHe-isaid,-iafter-ia-imoment's-ipause.-iHe-ilooked-iat-iJames.-i"And-ihow-iam-iI,-ior-iare-iwe,-isupposed-ito-ibelieve-iany-iof-ithat-iis-itrue?"

  James-ishrugged.-i"I-idon't-iknow-iwhat-ito-itell-iyou,-iother-ithan-iI-iwish-iI-ihad-isomething-imore-ibelievable-ito-itell-iyou.-iI-iknow-iwhat-iI've-ijust-idescribed-isounds-icrazy.-iTrust-ime-iwhen-iI-isay-ino-ione-iin-ithis-iroom-iis-imore-ipainfully-iaware-iof-ihow-inuts-imy-isituation-iis-ithan-ime."-iHe-isaid.

  "And-ifor-iwhat-iit's-iworth,-iI-ican-ivouch-ifor-ithe-ifact-ithat-iwas-iJames-iis-itelling-iyou-iis-ithe-itruth,-ias-ihard-ias-iit-imay-ibe-ito-ibelieve.-iAnd-iwere-iMadeleine-ihere,-ior-iour-imissing-isister-iEleanor,-ithey-iwould-itell-iyou-ithe-isame.-iWhat-ireason-iwould-ihe,-ior-iwe,-ihave-ito-ilie-iabout-isomething-ilike-ithis?"-iRose-isaid,-iher-iface-iearnest.

  "And-iwith-iall-idue-irespect,-iRose,-iwe-iwant-ito-ibelieve-iyou.-iIt's-ijust....-iso-ivery-idifficult-ito-iaccept."-iAbigail-isaid.

  "I-ihave-ia-iquestion."-iFarien-isaid,-ichiming-iin-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime.-i"How-iis-iit-ithat-iwe-imanage-ito-igo-iundiscovered-iby-ithe-ilocal-ignoll-itribe-ifor-imonths,-iand-ithen-ias-isoon-ias-iyou-ienter-iour-icamp,-iwe-iget-iambushed-iand-ilose-imost-iof-iour-ipeople?-iHow-ion-iearth-idoes-isomething-iso-iconvenient-ijust-ihappen-ito-ioccur-ias-isoon-ias-iyou-isettle-idown-ifor-ithe-inight-iaway-ifrom-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iCompany?"

  There-iwas-ia-ilook-iin-iFarien's-ieyes-ithat-igave-iJames-ithe-isense-ithat-ihe'd-ibetter-ichoose-ihis-inext-iwords-ivery-icarefully.

  James-isighed.

  "I-ihonestly-idon't-iknow,-iFarien.-iThe-ionly-ipossibilities-iI-ican-ithink-iof-ithat-imake-isense-iis-ithat-ieither-ithey-isomehow-imanaged-ito-itrack-ime-iand-ithe-igirls,-iand-ithen-itailed-ius-ito-ithe-icamp-iwith-ithe-irest-iof-iyou,-ior-iit's-ijust-ithe-iworst-icoincidence-iof-iall-itime,-ibecause-iI-ihave-ino-iother-iexplanation."

  Farien-ileaned-iforward,-ihis-ieyes-iflaring.

  "So-iyou-iexpect-ime-ito-ithink-ithat-isuddenly-ithey-ican-itrack-ius-iwhen-ithey-ihaven't-ibeen-iable-ito-ido-iso-ibefore,-ior-ithat-ithey-ijust-ihappened-ito-istumble-ion-ithe-icamp-iwith-ia-iwar-iparty-iwithin-ihours-iof-iyou-iarriving?-iThat-iseems-ia-ilittle-ihard-ito-ibelieve,-idon't-iyou-ithink?"-iHe-isaid.

  James-ifound-ihimself-igetting-iangry.-iThey-idid-inot-ihave-itime-ifor-ithis-ishit.-iEleanor-iwas-istill-ihostage,-ithe-iattack-ihad-ibeen-irepelled,-iand-ihe-ihimself-iwas-ithe-ione-ito-iturn-ithe-itide-iof-ithe-ibattle,-iaccording-ito-iUrien.

  "Well-ihere's-iyour-ialternative,-iasshole.-iI-icoordinated-ian-iattack-iwith-ithe-isame-imonsters-ithat-ikidnapped-ione-iof-imy-ifriends-iand-itried-ito-i****-iMadeleine.-iFor-iwhat?-iWhat-icould-iI-ipossibly-iwant-ifrom-iyou?-iAnd-iwhy-ithe-ifuck-iwould-iI-isuddenly-istart-ikilling-ia-ibunch-iof-ithem-iafter-ithey-istarted-ithe-iattack?-iIncluding-ithat-ione-iwith-ithe-ienchanted-isword-ithat-ialmost-ikilled-ime-iwith-ia-idagger-ithrough-ithe-ileg,-imight-iI-iadd."

  Rose-iplaced-iher-ihand-ion-ihis-ishoulder,-iand-iwent-ito-ispeak,-ibut-ihe-icontinued-iover-itop-iof-iher,-ihis-ivoice-irising-iin-ivolume-ias-ihe-ispoke.

  "My-ifucking-ifriend-iis-iout-ithere-ibeing-iheld-iprisoner-iby-ithose-iflea-ridden-idogs-iand-iprobably-ibeing-iraped-iand-itortured-ias-iwe-ispeak,-iand-iinstead-iof-ihelping-ime-iget-iher-iback,-iyou're-iaccusing-iME-iof-ileading-ithe-ignolls-ito-iyour-icamp?-iWell,-ihere's-ianother-ione-ifor-iyou--iwhat-ithe-ifuck-ido-iyou-ithink-iyou-icould-ido-ito-istop-ime-ifrom-idoing-iit-iagain,-iif-iyou're-iso-icertain-iI-idid-iit?-iHuh?"

  By-ithe-itime-iJames-ifinished,-ihe-irealized-ihe-iwas-ishouting.-iHe-iclosed-ihis-ieyes-iand-itook-ia-ideep-ibreath-ibefore-ilowering-ihis-ivoice.

  "I-idon't-iknow-ihow-ithey-ifound-iyour-icamp,-iand-iI-idon't-icare.-iAll-iI-iwant-iis-ito-iget-imy-ifriend-iback.-iAnd-iyou-ican-ibelieve-ithat-ior-inot,-iand-ibelieve-iI-iam-iwho-iI-isay-iI-iam,-ior-inot.-iI'm-inot-iinterested-iin-iwasting-iany-imore-itime-itrying-ito-iconvince-iyou-iotherwise."-i

  ###-iChapter-i114-i--iMeeting-iof-ithe-iMinds-i(part-i4)

  Farien-iglowered-iat-iJames,-ihis-ijaw-itensed.-iHe-iopened-ihis-imouth-ito-ireply,-ibut-iFarlo's-ivoice-ispoke-iover-ihim-ibefore-ihe-icould-irespond.

  "I-ipersonally-ihave-ino-ibelief-ithat-iyou-iare-iresponsible-ifor-ithe-iattack,-iJames.-iMy-isons-imean-iwell,-ibut-ithey-iare-inot-ias-iinformed-ias-iI-ihappen-ito-ibe.-i"-iHe-isaid,-ihis-iface-istill-ia-istoic-imask.-iHe-ileaned-iforward,-iand-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-icast-ihis-iglance-ito-ithe-iothers.

  "The-iHounds-ihave-ia-inew-ichieftain,-ia-igiant-iShaman-iby-ithe-iname-iof-iRawgh'faz,-iwho-iseems-ito-ibe-iparticularly-iambitious,-ieven-iby-ignoll-istandards.-iSince-ihis-isudden-irise-ito-ipower,-ihe-ihas-iaggressively-iseeking-ito-iamass-ias-imuch-iplunder-ias-ipossible-iand-iexpand-ihis-itribe's-iinfluence.-iSeveral-iof-ithe-iother-itribes-iin-ithe-iregion-ihave-ialready-ibeen-icrushed-ior-iassimilated-iinto-ihis-iown,-iand-ievery-iday-ihis-inumbers-iare-igrowing-ilarger.-iI-iam-inot-icertain-iof-ihis-iaim,-ibut-iconquest-icertainly-iseems-ito-ibe-ithe-idirection-ihe-iis-iheading."

  Farlo-ishifted,-iand-ileaned-iback-iinto-ihis-ichair.

  "The-iraiding-iparty-ithat-iattacked-ithe-icamp-iis-ione-iof-inearly-ihalf-ia-idozen-ithat-iI've-iseen-iin-ithis-iregion-iover-ithe-ipast-iweek.-iIt-iis-ihonestly-iinevitable-ithat-ione-iof-ithem-iwould-ifind-ithe-icamp-ieventually-iregardless,-ibut-iI-ispeculate-ithat-iJames-iis-ipartly-icorrect-ithat-ithey-iwere-ibeing-itailed.-iIf-ithey-iwere,-ifinding-ithe-iCompany-iwould-ibe-isimple-ienough.-iIt's-inot-itheir-ifault,-ialthough-iit-iis-ia-iterribly-iunfortunate-icoincidence."-iHe-isaid,-icrossing-ihis-iarms.

  "I've-iencountered-ithis-ishaman-iyou're-ispeaking-iof.-iFirst-ihand,-iactually."-iJames-isaid,-iclenching-ihis-ijaw.-i"He-iwas-ileading-ithe-iraiding-iparty-ion-ithe-itown-iwhen-iwe-iarrived.-iHe-iand-iI-ifought-ibriefly-iin-ithe-itown-isquare.-iHe's-ithe-ione-iwho...-iwho-itook-iEleanor."

  "You-iare-ilucky-ito-istill-ibe-ialive,-ithen."-iFarlo-isaid.-i"He-iis-ifrighteningly-iclever-iand-ipowerful."

  "More-iso-ithan-i
me,-iit-iwould-iseem."-iJames-isaid,-ibitterly.

  Urien-iglanced-iover-iat-iFarien,-iwho-iwas-istill-ifuming-iand-iglowering-iat-iJames.-iHe-icleared-ihis-ithroat-iagain.

  "Well,-ithat-iaddresses-iour-ilargest-iconcern.-iI-iwouldn't-ithink-iof-idisbelieving-iFather's-iopinion-ion-isomething-ilike-ithis."-iHe-ilooked-iover-iat-iFarien,-iand-iadded-i"and-iI'm-isure-imy-ibrother-ifeels-ithe-isame."

  "Now,-ias-ifar-ias-iyour-iother-iexplanations,-iI'm-igoing-ito-ibe-ihonest-iand-isay-ithat-iI-ifind-ithem-idamn-inear-iimpossible-ito-ibelieve.-iBut,-ithat-isaid,-iI-idon't-ineed-ito-ibelieve-ithem-ito-ibe-iable-ito-itrust-iyou,-ior-iexpress-imy-iappreciation-ifor-iyour-ihelp.-iYou-ihave-imade-iit-iclear-ithrough-iyour-iactions,-ibased-ion-iwhat-imy-iFather-ihas-isaid,-ithat-iyou-iare-ian-ially.-iAnd-ione-iworth-ihaving."-iHe-icontinued.

  "Well,-iI'm-ihappy-ito-ihelp,-iin-iwhatever-iway-iI-iwas-iable-ito."-iJames-isaid.-i"Feels-inice-ito-ifeel-ilike-iI-iactually-imanaged-ito-ido-isomething-iright-ifor-ia-ichange."

  "I'm-igrateful-ifor-ithat."-iUrien-isaid.-iHe-iglanced-iaround-ito-ithe-iothers.-i"I-ibelieve-iwe-iall-iare."

  He-istood-iup,-iwalked-iover-ito-iJames,-iand-ioffered-ihis-ihand.-i"Thank-iyou."

  James-itook-ithe-iman's-ihand-iand-ishook-iit,-ifeeling-imore-ithan-ia-ilittle-iawkward-ias-ihe-idid-iso.-i"Yeah,-isure.-iNo-iproblem."-iHe-isaid.

  "So-inow-ithat-iwe-ihave-ithat-imatter-iresolved"-iUrien-isaid,-ireturning-ito-ihis-iseat-i"let's-italk-iabout-iwhat-iour-inext-icourses-iof-iaction-iare-igoing-ito-ibe.-iWe-ineed-ito-iget-ia-iplan-iin-iplace-ifor-iwhat's-igoing-ito-ihappen-inext."

  "Rose-iand-iI-iand-iMadeleine-iare-iheading-itowards-itowards-ithe-itribe's-ihideout.-iThey-ihave-iEleanor,-iand-iI'm-igoing-ito-iget-iher-iback."-iJames-isaid.