What Will Be | Chapter 69

Thank you all for your continued support, it means the world to me.

“Strange how we seldom start at the beginning when referencing texts on a subject. Rather, we sort through them to select only what we need. At least, that is common practice, and I cannot help but wonder what is lost in doing so. I often think of Skills the same way.”
~Unknown

Aylesbury pulled away from Tina and I, turning his attention towards Rosita whose expression snapped back to calm neutrality. Given the history he seemingly shared with my mother, the casual detachment Aylesbury displayed in response to the situation felt decidedly off and I couldn’t articulate exactly why. Once again, he reached into his satchel, this time withdrawing a neatly folded letter. 

“Thank you for your patience. Please accept this delivery.” In a movement that spoke of practiced ceremony, he folded one arm behind his back and dipped into a half-bow, of sorts, with the hand brandishing the letter extended in front of him. 

Rosita did not reply, instead opting to simply take the letter and study the glossy, wax seal that protected its contents. The sight of it was enough to inspire a frown harsh enough to break through her facade. Before opening it, she rounded on Lionel and Tulos, though her eyes briefly flicked back towards Tina as well. 

“Withering though your glare may be, and sharp as I am sure your mind is, you had best peruse the contents of that missive,” Lionel said. Beside him, I saw Tulos’ shoulders dip as some residual tension left his body. 

“Suppose I decide to focus on my current duties and read it later?” Rosita’s voice was flat. 

“It will not change the validity of the contents, and I am now free to act on them.” Lionel punctuated the point by slightly wetting his lips, drawing attention to them. In anyone else, the action might be seen as coy or flirtatious. Coming from Lionel, it was more akin to a threat. 

“I am going to tend to Cortez,” Aylesbury interrupted. “Please do not delay the conclusion to your business. I wish to speak to my former pupil.” His eyes passed over Fudge. “Her offspring, too.” With that, he made his way back towards the duck, rather, back towards Cortez. 

Out of sensible options, Rosita snapped the seal, sending crackling flakes of wax scattering to the ground before she unfolded the paper and started reading. 

“Mama, what is happening?” I heard Bella’s question cut through the relative quiet that settled as Rosita’s eyes darted over the page. 

“What is happening, child, is that you will no longer have company on our journey to Sentrodah.” It was Rosita who replied. If she felt exasperated by the contents of the letter, she did not let it show. 

There it was, confirmation that Lionel had pulled through for me. What should have been a moment of relief was instead violently strangled by the implications of Rosita’s answer. I wasn’t the only one who felt that way, either. 

“What does she mean?” It was Lianda who asked, directing the question towards Tulos. Tina was still struggling to regain her composure, but I felt her grow still under the accusation in Lianda’s voice. 

“She-” 

“If not for the request of Master Aylesbury, I would admonish you, perhaps gently, for attempting to speak on my behalf,” Rosita interrupted. Tulos was still weak from whatever restorative magics had burned through his body and could not muster a rebuttal. “What I mean is that the boy’s parents made arrangements for him; odd that they did not include you in them.” She let the insidious sentiment hang for a moment. “Now, release the girl into my custody or I will remove her by force. Your reluctance speaks poorly to your priorities. For a child to receive The Crown’s guidance is a privilege.” 

As Rosita started making her way towards the increasingly distraught family, I turned to look at Lionel whose mouth was set in a thin line. Upon noticing my gaze he slowly shook his head. 

There’s nothing he can do for her - nothing legal, at least. An obvious alternative crossed my mind. How could it not? I had the opportunity to make some grand statement about trading places with Bella, so that she might join The Slayers in my stead.

I kept my mouth shut. 

Even if such an audacious request were within the realms of possibility - and given the politics involved I was skeptical - I couldn’t bring myself to risk the sacrifice. Lionel’s involvement alone made The Slayers a better option for me. 

Besides, I told myself. Lionel made it clear that being recruited by The Slayers was more of a lateral move when compared to conscription by The Crown. 

It was one of the several justifications I fed myself to distract from the scene playing out before me. Tina held me close as Bella was pulled from her mother, and I told myself that Rosita probably wasn’t representative of The Crown as a whole. Bella’s confusion quickly turned to alarm, and when she called for her mama and papa both were forced to cling to each other as they watched their daughter unceremoniously loaded onto the carriage. Bella was young, I told myself. She would adapt. 

My goals, my ambitions, could not - should not - be sabotaged for the sake of some kid. Every one of Bella’s increasingly frantic cries tore at my resolve, but I refused to let it crumble. Bella was not threatened, nor told to stop, as if her new chaperones were content to let her simply tire herself out. The only thing they denied her was her parents. Rosita did not spare us any grand, parting words, save to offer a brief, farewell to Aylesbury and Lionel.  

“Slayer Lieutenant, I must congratulate your maneuvering. It is not often I am denied.” 

“That is, perhaps, not the revelation you might envision it to be,” Lional replied while simultaneously giving the Grand Inquisitor a formal salute. “Safe travels to you.” 

“To you as well. I look forward to learning why you had leave to attend this matter personally, given recent events.” 

“One might inquire the same regarding you.” Lionel then held her gaze long enough for them to silently communicate something. Throughout the exchange, Bella did not cease her cries and her parents wore brave faces as they fed her lies about seeing eachother soon. Those desperate attempts at comfort were likely having the opposite effect, given Bella’s Skill, but tragedy often superseded rational decision making. I knew that all too well. 

Once the carriage was receding into the distance, taking the sound of Bella along with it, I felt bile gather in the back of my throat. 

I am despicable, I told myself, knowing that if given the opportunity I’d still make the same decision. Lionel helped Tulos to his feet, hunching under his friend’s armpit to help guide him over to Tina and I. 

“You knew Will was not going to be taken.” Lianda spoke up, stepping towards us on shaking legs. “You knew, but you had us here anyway under some notion of a joint front, as if our circumstances were the same.” She practically spat the accusation. Behind her, Figuello watched through a stony expression, the tears he’d held back for his daughter now on the edge of bursting forth. There was no light in his eyes, the boisterous energy I’d come to associate with the man had left with Bella.  

“We did not know, but we hoped,” Tulos said, punctuating his point with a wince, as if still plagued by some ghostly ache of the pain he’d been experiencing.  

“You say that as if it makes any difference,” Lianda snapped back. “You hid your hope in our despair, and for that I will never forgive you.” She spared a glance towards Tina, just long enough to waver on the edge of compassion before giving into her impotent frustrations. “Either of you.” 

There was nothing that could be said to reconcile things, not then, not while feelings were raw as they were. 

“We understand,” was all that Tulos said. Lianda looked like she had more to say, but the words died in her mouth, for there were no words that could convey her feelings. Bella’s parents left. I wondered if they would ever return.   

There is something that touches upon the absurd about watching the fracturing of a years-old friendship in the looming shadow of a giant duck, punctuated by the occasional sounds produced by such a massive body. I tried not to dwell on it. 

“I am always humbled by the differences in values shared by the many communities in our country,” Aylesbury said, having wandered back to the group when Bella’s parents departed. He wielded a large feather in one hand, easily larger than me, presumably having collected it from their preening companion. “In Sentrodah, Crown conscription is celebrated. Now then, Tina, I take it you can spare the time for a conversation.”

I saw a flash of annoyance cross my mother’s features but she quickly schooled them.

“Of course I can make time for you, Master,” she said. “There will be plenty of time for nightmares once you have left.” She spoke cordially, all things considered. I could only imagine how’d I’d be faring if I’d had to endure whatever agony Rosita unleashed upon her and Vigil, the latter of whom was still asleep. 

“Splendid. In that case, come with me to Cortez. He misses you, and it was difficult to convince him not to eat the Grand Inquisitor when he saw your state.” 

Why did you bother stopping him? I thought, but didn’t dare voice my spite. 

“I would like that,” Tina said. After Aylesbury helped pull her to her feet she quickly ran to Tulos to give him an embrace that reminded me of a koala lunging at a tree before checking on Vigil and making sure he was comfortable. Only then did she follow him. 

“Now, about that special project of ours, how is she-” Their voices abruptly cut off, and Lionel chuckled. Upon seeing the question in my expression, he just shrugged. 

“Aylesbury is a courier who sometimes handles important documents. He can keep information private, when he wants to, and I am somewhat infamous for eavesdropping.” 

“Right… Thank you, Lionel, for saving my dad.”    

Lionel scratched the back of his head and chuckled. 

“Believe me, your father would have been fine. My presence merely smoothed the way. Though perhaps more importantly, you had best get in the habit of calling me Lieutenant. For all intents and purposes, you are now a Slayer recruit.” 

It was hard to feel happy about the news. 

“How long?” Tulos asked, and he didn’t need to elaborate for Lionel and I to infer the specifics of his questions. 

“Not long enough, I am afraid,” Lionel said while giving Tulos a smack on the shoulder. “Officially, Will and I will be departing immediately. Master Aylesbury, unfortunately, is unable to provide transportation, so we will have to make our way on foot, which is a dreadfully unreliable way to travel.” 

Tulos narrowed his eyes.   

“One day,” Lionel said. “I can spare you one day to spend as a family and say your goodbyes. I realize it is not a lot, but-” 

“It is more than we could have hoped for,” Tulos said, looking off in the direction Bella’s parents went. We all did. “Thank you, Lionel.” 

One day… I tried not to think about what would come after.