Willow

The following weeks were perhaps some of the hardest in Willow's life. She had lost many, many people to the King, some in no less sadistic ways, but never had she lost so many children. To have their lives taken before even reaching adulthood was a true atrocity of the world.

Willow tried her best to take Mina and Agnes' words to heart. It was not her fault; it was an accident, but it took time for that to sink in. Besides, she had many other concerns on her plate now. Her outburst put an even greater target on the Compound now. The King, already so paying attention to the place, could not have missed Willow's outburst and now she was just as culpable if anything happened.

This dragged on Willow's mind, left to wander since she had not picked up teaching again. It left her a lot of time to think and consider what was to happen next.

Willow had never stopped to consider just how much danger she was putting the people within the compound in. If the King discovered Willow, not only would he brand her a traitor but also a fugitive, and harbouring a fugitive carried a heavy price. If the King was feeling overzealous, he could choose to put every single person living there to death just for allowing her to live among them. Of course, they would receive the death penalty regardless for insurrection, but that was beside the point. If the King got even the slightest wind that a fugitive was here, he could come for her.

And then there was the Bearer to consider. If the Bearer was here in the compound, that placed an even larger target on all of them. That too would lead to an instant death. Willow doubted he would spare the children in that scenario. Being here was dangerous, Willow had always acknowledged that, but she was kicking herself now for not considering the repercussions for those who lived here.

And then you had the powerful magical signature that had absolutely been traced back to a general location. He had a range to look within. That was a disaster waiting to happen already even when everything else was ignored. Both she and this Bearer served as enormous, visible targets already. They were already preparing for the inevitable move after the note recovered from the beast, hoping to be out before the inevitable attack. But if Willow left, that still left a Bearer somewhere in the state. They were a danger to themselves and everyone around them while remaining untrained. What if it was a mere child?

With a heavy sigh, Willow came to a reluctant conclusion: the only way to significantly reduce the danger presented to the Compound was to remove herself from the equation. If she wasn’t here, then the King had less of a reason to attack. But Edward and his council wouldn't let Willow leave without taking the Bearer with her and with the Bearer being both a risk and at risk could she really justify leaving them to their own devices when she knew she could help?

But first, she'd have to identify this, Bearer. She picked up her charm. People had called it a guide wondering just how that would work. It only seemed to spin wildly in circles. How could that lead her to anything?

Willow froze.

Growing up it had swung wildly like this as long as she could remember but during the kidnapping, as she’d travelled farther from Tanuk, it had slowed. She’d barely noticed the difference, so lost in the situation, near delirious with sickness and hunger. But it hadn’t been spinning then. It had been lazily pointing in several different directions. Four different directions. Four Bearers.

Oh, she realised. It was a compass, it pointed to each Bearer. The wild spinning, she was accustomed to must mean she was close to the Bearer. How would it react if she found a Bearer?

With a fortifying breath, she carefully began to form a plan and before she knew it, Agnes was calling her for dinner.

Willow ate ravenously before she bathed. She called Agnes over after asking her to get a message Edward, requesting an audience in his office at his earliest convenience. She scurried away, returning promptly with an affirmative for the following day. Agnes eyed her curiously but didn't probe for further information, just nodding her head before departing, leaving Willow to crawl into bed.

Willow retired to bed with her necklace book. Confused, Willow turned to what she thought was the same page to continue her research, but it seemed like the book's contents had changed since she last opened it. The page opened now to a series of techniques she could teach the Bearer if she found them. Either way, Willow found the information fascinating now that she was taking the time to read it. It contained so many stories she had never heard, stories she had heard from differing perspectives. Books were a rarity, Willow had only seen burnt remnants of such things, since the King had seized and burned most such materials when he had taken power. This book was only the second she had ever seen in her life. To find such a treasure trove of historical information was a miracle in and of itself.

#

Willow had Agnes escort her to Edward's office, having never visited before, but given what she had come to discuss, it seemed appropriate that she arrange to meet him, rather than letting him know she wished to speak.

He'd been surprised by her letter but had set time aside for her in his busy schedule without question, and for that Willow was thankful. She had knocked polity and when she was bid to, she entered and took the indicated seat.

“So, to what do I owe this pleasure?” Edward asked, leaving the floor open for her.

Willow considered her words carefully. “I have had much time to think since the funerals,” she announced. “I have decided.” She paused., searching for the words.

Edward raised an eyebrow, confused. “I cannot imagine what on. I was not aware of any pending decisions you might have.”

Willow shrugged. “I think it’s time I search for the Bearer,” she stated, blunt and to the point.

Edward spluttered, eyes bulging as he tried to get his breathing back under control.

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“May I ask what has brought this on?” he choked out after a moment.

Willow shrugged again, watching his reaction with concern. “I am already a dangerous target for the King. With my outburst, he will probably come. For a magic user to be outside the city… he must see it as a genuine threat,” she reasoned. “The Bearer, whoever they are, according to the stories, would be significantly more powerful than me. They have just as much a chance of exploding as I did. No one realises just how lucky we've been that the storm hurt no one. But what of the next one? I cannot guarantee it won’t happen again. Or the Bearer could be the next one. Both of us are a danger to the people here. We also do not understand how far the King’s influence stretches. For all we know, he stationed those Beasts in the woods because the King sensed magic here.”

“I'm not saying by removing the magic we also remove the target. But if we were to depart before or during the move, the new location could remain secret a little longer and we could not give that location if they captured us.” Willow sighed and shrugged, “I guess I'm offering to get the last of that danger out of here.”

“You're afraid of the King's attack. That's understandable, but have you considered all the reasons why you refused before all of this?” Edward asked gently.

Again, Willow shrugged. “I don't think it matters anymore. The King will be after me regardless now. For the rest of my life. He definitely knows of me now. I think I would be safer on the road. Here I'm a sitting duck, waiting for him to come. Out there, I'm harder to track. My logic was that you wouldn't let me go without the Bearer, as my parents,” she spat the word, “sent me here to track them down. Taking them along also removes them as a further threat to your safety.”

“I will accept your offer, Willow. I must as the Leader of the Resistance. But keep in mind what it is you're doing.”

Willow held up a hand, “I wasn't finished. I have one condition. A business transaction if you like.”

Edward straightened and Willow saw the Leader of the Resistance come forward. “And that would entail?”

“I wish to make this arrangement in some way beneficial for me. Since I had no say in this, I would change the agreement to suit me.”

“What are your terms?”

“I will go hunt down your Bearers for you to the best of my ability. If I survive, I want a comfortable home, somewhere as safe as can be expected. To facilitate this, I will need help in disguising myself, and my dowry doubled. I want this in writing and signed by you as the Resistance Leader, ensuring that in the event of your death I will still receive the payment and help I request upon completion. Richard sent my dowry paperwork to me; he intends to keep my portion open to me. I want you to double it.”

“And your dowry is?”

“I brought the paperwork for you,” She handed it to him to peruse. “I am asking for an equivalent here. If the King remains undefeated, I will have to set up far from home. I imagine my father will have no issue transporting my dowry to wherever I am at that point.”

“You’ve thought thoroughly on this, haven’t you?” Edward questioned, appearing impressed.

“If I am to risk my life for this, I will gain what I feel I am owed from it: A comfortable home and the means to get it.”

Edward studied her a moment. “I feel this is a fair deal, all things considered but one question: what happens to this in the event of your death?”

“I would imagine it would vary on how many Bearers I have collected. If after collecting all the Bearers I was to perish before receiving my payment, all is to go to my sister, Siobhan, for her care and upkeep. It would go down on a scale the fewer Bearers I collect split into quarters. If, when you next write to my father, you could please let him know that my dowry is to transfer to Siobhan in the event of my demise. This excludes the apothecary which I leave to my fiancé.”

“This I can agree to. I can have a formal contract drawn up within the next few days and delivered for your perusal?”

Willow thanked him and departed. She felt both heavier and lighter as she met up with Agnes and made their way toward the Hall for dinner. Willow hadn't been back there since the children, and she was already dreading that factor. Add in what she had discussed with Edward, and she was a mess. Agnes' asked some probing questions, but Willow's short, clipped answers quickly put her off that line of discussion. She wasn't getting answers that way. She had joined Jonathon, and they slowly made their way to their destination.

Upon entering, Willow immediately wanted to turn and run the opposite way. All she could see was the panic, the mangled bodies. But, with a deep calming breath, she took Jonathon's arm and Agnes' hand and made her way forward. After collecting their food, they directed her to the opposite side of the room, far from the memories. The whole time, Willow had Jonathon gently squeezing her arm, as if he knew when each bout of flight gripped her and Agnes' speaking soothingly of the goings on about the compound.

It was so heartrendingly normal, compared to the events that had transpired here, but with their help, she felt strong enough to get through it. Felix and several of the children and their parents also moved to sit with her. The loud, animated voices of those around her helped to soothe her frazzled nerves.

Once all were done, Willow bid everyone goodbye, stopping to hug those that requested it before slowly making her way back to her rooms.

She kept her eyes carefully averted away from the ashy circles still present in the dirt.

Once back in the comforting space of her rooms, she slumped into her chair, exhausted. It seemed to be a permanent companion in her life, this bone deep tiredness, doggedly following her everywhere. Ever since the prophecy, the first gentle fingers of it had seemed to curl around her limbs until now… now some days she struggled to move, battled to get out of bed against this oppressive weight that clung to her.

She passed her hand over her face. If she had made the right decision, if she had done as she was told and thrown herself into the quest, could they have avoided these events? The kidnapping and the injuries, the Beasts arrival and attack, the threat of the King, the children... could it all have been avoided?

Sighing, Willow gave Agnes a small smile, accepting the tea. Taking a deep breath, drawing in the flavour she smiled: Daisy tea with a little Rej in it, the plant used to make Rejuvenation Potions. Rej calmed the nerves, and Willow was grateful for it. Sipping slowly, she noted that Agnes and Jonathon were having a whispered conversation by the door before they shared a look and came to sit by her.

Willow smiled to herself. Agnes was plotting, and she wasn't a person who enjoyed having secrets kept from her. She'd do all in her power to get whatever Willow was hiding from her out in the open. Willow had always found it amusing. She'd never had reason to deliberately hide anything from Agnes, but in this situation, Willow wasn’t ready to confirm or deny what she had decided. She was too tired for such a serious conversation. But because of this, Willow wasn’t sure how this interrogation was to go.

Agnes waited, pouring herself tea, and watching her as if hoping Willow would share all without asking.

Willow smiled. She had no intention of sharing the contents of her discussion with Edward that day and was perfectly willing to wait this out.

Jonathon too seemed to find the whole situation amusing too, a wide grin pulling his lips up the whole time. He kept the idle conversation going until it was around the time Willow would normally retire to bed. She'd started creating her own supply of Sleeping Draught, a concoction that suited her physiology better than the standard draught could. Willow'd had a dreamless sleep since and was glad she'd had the forethought to memorise these potions.

With a sly smile, she wished the older couple goodnight and turned for her bedroom.

The look of frustration on Agnes' face almost shattered Willow's calm demeanour, as she caught a glance of her sour look when she turned to close her door behind her.

She chortled quietly to herself as she readied for bed, the merriment not having passed as the potion took effect and she drifted off to sleep.