The following day Willow received a message from Edward letting her know the contract was in the process of being written up and should be ready the following day for her to check over and adjust. Agnes had delivered the wax-sealed note, and the look of impatient curiosity etched into her face was priceless. Jonathon continued to jovially tease his wife over it all too, earning many a whispered scolding when she thought Willow wasn't paying attention.
Willow continued to play ignorant, silently enjoying Agnes' growing attempts to wheedle the secret from her. It was maybe a little mean, but with all the horrors that had happened recently, even this little amusement helped keep Willow in the light. This continued throughout the day and into the evening, but she had not broken just yet. She never asked outright what Willow was hiding, perhaps expecting an instant denial of such a secret. To be fair, that's exactly what she would have received, but she didn't know that for sure, and that was what Willow found most amusing about the whole thing.
Willow wondered if anyone had tried this hard to hide anything from Agnes before. By her behaviour Willow presumed no, no one ever had, but out of curiosity, she'd asked Jonathon.
Jonathon had laughed, a deep belly laugh that had rattled the tea set before answering.
“No, now that you mention it, I don't think so!” He continued to chortle. “Most people would have given in and told her by now. It rarely takes long. Can I ask why you're holding this secret so close?”
Willow smirked mischievously. “I've been having too much fun to fill her in,” she admitted.
Jonathon laughed again.
Willow smiled. “In all seriousness, it's because I don't want it spread all over the compound. If Agnes thinks it’s benign or knowledge everyone 'deserves' to know, she'll spread it and I'm not ready for that to happen just yet.”
Jonathon had nodded mutely, watching as his grumpy wife re-entered the room. He drew a finger over his lips with a wink before turning to open a conversation with her, attempting to distract her long enough for Willow to hide her amused laughter behind a cough. Willow reached for the pot, trying to look busy as she stamped down on the traitorous laughter still bubbling close to the surface.
Willow had sent a message back to Edward, showing a time for delivery. The following day, Willow dismissed Agnes, claiming a desire for some time alone.
“I'll meet you in the Hall for the midday meal?” She offered, hiding her teasing smile. Agnes had agreed readily and departed, unaware of the trick being played.
An hour later, a young man came to her door. Willow could hear his hesitant steps from the other end of the hallway, and she listened with an indulgent smile as she heard him hesitating at her door.
Edward had sent in his last message that his messenger was a shy young man, trustworthy and dependable but a little slow. His mother had organised for him to take the role to both provide training and to help him become more comfortable around people. The role required extraordinarily little speaking or interaction on his part but did require being around people.
Edward said that he'd noticed a marked improvement in him in the months since he had started working for him and he had assured Willow that he was just shy and to not take offence if he refused to speak. He often did, it was no reflection on her.
Willow rose and waited by the door for the quick, feather-light knock and gently pulled the door open. Jace stood staring at his feet, looking very uncomfortable, his mop of ginger hair obscuring his face.
Willow just smiled gently and invited him in. He shuffled in quietly, and Willow offered him a cup and a seat. He looked up, unsure how to respond, appearing panicked.
Willow smiled again. “It's all right, you can just shake your head if that's better?” He smiled a little.
Slowly, he took his seat, and Willow placed a cup in front of him. Her tutor had been of similar persuasion as Jace, although she wasn't sure what things he might find uncomfortable, so kept a healthy distance until she knew better.
“I believe you have a delivery for me?” She asked, as the boy took his first sip. He nodded as he set the cup down, pulling a tightly wrapped bundle from inside his jacket and placed it on the table within her reach.
“Thank you. You enjoy your tea. I was told you’re to wait until I have perused it, so feel free to refill your cup if you want some. I’ll just be here.” He nodded, and Willow turned her attention to the bundle.
It was a typical contract, not so different from the one Richard had signed on her behalf for her shop back in Tanut. Inside the bundle had been a carefully packaged quill and inkpot, tightly corked and she unravelled and placed them down on the table while she turned her attention to the words scratched there. She would eventually unstopper it to make her requested adjustments, but they were few. Edward had almost entirely taken her requests and put them on paper. Using the scrap, she wrote a quick note, verifying that all had been received by her, and signed it with a flourish.
Adjustments complete, she used an included scrap to fan the ink to dry it and once assured it was, rolled everything back up the way it had been and returned her attention to Jace. He had made himself comfortable to her relief and appeared to have refilled his cup while he waited.
She quietly called his name, and he snapped back to attention.
“I'm done now. Could you run this straight back to Edward for me now?”
He nodded quickly, gave her a quick, hesitant smile as he collected the bundle back up, carefully hiding it back in his tunic before giving her a short bow and departing. She finished the now cold tea, giggling to herself quietly.
She could almost guarantee someone had seen the Leader's personal messenger entering or leaving her quarters, and the rumour mill would have reached Agnes well before she saw Willow. She laughed again. Again, she had missed the gossip and Agnes was sure to be burning with curiosity: what business could she be keeping a secret that required this level of secrecy?
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Willow rose and stretched before navigating herself down to the Hall for lunch. She heard the whispers, the grapevine already in overdrive, trying to puzzle out what could possibly be going on. No one was brave enough to approach and ask, though. Willow laughed a little at that. In the early days, she had become known for set-downs, caring very little for feelings or emotion, and this reputation continued.
Willow met Agnes in the Hall with a small wave. The sour look on her face was priceless and as Jonathon walked toward her, he gave her a bright smile and a high-five. Willow greeted them both easily, and they moved to collect their food. Willow finished quickly, sharing private smiles with Jonathon. The curious whispers filled the room and Jonathon found the whole thing hilarious. Nothing had rattled the compound like this small brunette had in his memory.
Willow had to duck her head to hide her laughter every time Jonathon caught her eye. Agnes shifted around like a five-year-old in class, driven insane because she didn't know the gossip, although mildly mollified that no one else did either.
Willow chatted quietly with the children who had gravitated around her, happy for the distraction when Jace appeared once more and tapped her on the shoulder, asking her quietly to follow. Willow extracted herself quietly and trotted after him, out the doors and under the veranda where Edward was waiting for her.
He handed the bundle back to her, and she opened and perused it as he spoke.
“The council will approve your changes on one condition,” he said, all business.
“And that is?” Willow asked, eyebrows raised.
“You'll start this afternoon.”
Willow froze, considering quickly, then sighed heavily. What difference did it make when she started, really, in exchange for all her changes? She’d have to start at some point, why not now?
Willow nodded. “I agree.”
“That is your copy,” he waved a finger toward the vellum in her hands. “Keep it with you and keep it safe. It is binding and attached to the Resistance, not me. That should ensure that if I die, the Resistance is still culpable for your wishes and the organisation will still meet payment.”
Willow nodded. “How do you want to proceed?”
“We are happy to allow you to dictate how to run this. How do you intend to find the Bearer?”
“I will need an hour after lunch to peruse the guide,” she touched the necklace around her neck idly. “I will know how to proceed from there.”
Edward nodded. “I will leave it in your hands then.”
Willow curtsied, and he and Jace departed. Willow stayed for a moment before, after taking a deep breath, she pulled the necklace forward.
The soft light faded as the book appeared and she carefully opened the pages, surprised to find exactly what she was looking for on the first page. She skimmed the pages, perusing the information she needed. It reaffirmed that an in-depth sweep of the mind would do the trick. With a firm nod, she closed the book and returned to the hall to finish her food before pulling Agnes and Jonathon aside amid fresh whispers.
“I need you to do something for me,” she stated quietly once they were far enough away from people that she was sure that no one would overhear them.
“This wouldn't have anything to do with the recent secrecy?” Agnes questioned shrewdly.
Willow smiled a little. “Perhaps. Will you help me?”
Agnes huffed but agreed as Jonathon laughed softly.
“I need you to bring ten young people to my quarters in an hour. I leave it to your discretion who exactly but keep track of who you find. Start with people twenty to thirty and we'll work from there. Understand?”
Agnes and Jonathon looked confused but agreed and hurried off while Willow made her way back to her rooms. Once there, she turned to the books she had requested earlier in the week in the Bearers and began reading where she had left off. Most of the information seemed like nonsense, but she took it all in. It stated that a Bearer's magic felt different from a typical person's magic, and it was the easiest way to tell a Bearer from a regular person. The magic felt more like the wild magic of the elves, but yet still different. Willow skimmed over this; how could she find something by what it was not? The book stated that an older Bearer would conduct the ceremony fourteen years after the previous Bearer had died, since a new Bearer usually came into the world within two years of the previous one's death.
Willow didn't have such narrow parameters to work within. It had been centuries since the last Bearer’s had died, but she had to start somewhere. She only hoped the compass could find them; she had no other way of identifying them. Her magic was far too weak and unmanageable to perform any kind of rigorous examination.
The books remained vague about any other physical markers, but Willow drank in all the information she could. Many times, she had to force down the panic, feeling desperately limited and unprepared. She hoped beyond all things that her short brush with Nianti’s magic would be enough for her to understand the difference between the Bearer and Wild magic. How in the world was she to train a completely different kind of magic when she herself had little training in her own magic?
She settle the book back on the table with another heavy exhalation before she rose and made herself comfortable in the main area.
Agnes and Jonathon waited for her just beyond the wall with the ten young adults, all standing around looking sheepish and confused. Willow nodded and made her way to stand in front of the group, waving her hand toward the hardwood chairs around her.
Willow looked around and began. “I have received authorisation from the Leader to check everyone for innate magical ability with the potential of being this Realms Bearer.” She announced watching each person for their reaction.
The shock was palpable as she studied the surrounding faces. Even Agnes had not expected this from all the secrecy. Willow almost regretted how vehemently she had protested against all this. It would have made the whole situation less awkward, but she pushed that thought aside.
“I will invite each of you in for a short conversation. Nothing more, that’s enough. Is that okay? It is not as invasive as it sounds. You don't have to do anything. I will also do a short sweep of your person, to determine the presence of magical ability.” Willow licked her lips, nervously messing with the scar over her eyebrow.
The group shuffled a little, but slowly, one by one, filtered forward. As each settled with her, she offered them tea and made small talk before showing them the small charm, having unclipped it from the chain for this purpose. Each person marvelled at the little charm and when asked, described the reaction of the needle.
Each time, they described the almost angry spinning Willow was accustomed to. While they were distracted, she gave a gentle sweep of their person, the same way she would for the children back home. It didn’t tell her much, only showed the presence of magical ability but it was enough to verify the truth spoken.
None had any latent magical gift and while each seemed a little disappointed, they moved on quickly. After each, she gave them a gentle pat on the shoulder and sent them on their way. After the first three, Willow sent Jonathon and Agnes to collect another ten. They arrived just as Willow finished with the first five and she gave them the same speech before continuing.
After the eighth, Willow felt exhaustion set in but pushed through the final two. She didn't find any latent magical ability, let alone anything different enough to qualify as a Bearer, and throughout the entire process, Willow repeatedly wondered just how she was going to find this needle in this very large haystack with only a small charm and her fledgling abilities.
After completion, Willow collapsed into her couch, exhausted.
“Grab me a Rej on your way up, would you?” Willow requested tiredly of Agnes as she departed.
Edward joined her and she tiredly informed him that they had made no progress, but it had only been the first ten people. Edward had taken pity on her and kept the questioning short. As he departed, he reminded her to take care of herself and left her to her potion.
Willow forced herself to eat that night while instructing Agnes and Jonathon the numbers to bring.
“Arrange for another twenty people tomorrow morning before midday. Once you run out of twenty to thirty, bring in people forty to fifty. After midday another twenty. I don't think I can do more than that in a day without overexerting.”
With that said, Willow nodded her good nights and dragged her body to bed and passed out.