Chapter 55: Hail to the Chief

Although there were still many details outside his control, Wil slept like a baby. He’d always been a worrier, but now he understood what it meant to shrug off things you couldn’t affect. It made the start of the day less stressful than it had to be, although there were plenty of reasons to be anxious.

From sunup, recently arrived bodyguards and security experts scoured the train station and positioned themselves along the path the president and company would take throughout the tour of Harper Valley. Some of the people getting things together complained, and soon Sharon had her hands full soothing bruised egos and reassuring government agents that things were as safe as they looked.

Wil, Bram, and Darlene arrived an hour early, though they didn’t need to worry about finding positions. The train station was beyond crowded as people found spots to wait for the president’s arrival and speech. As far as Wil knew, no president had ever stopped in Harper Valley for more than a few minutes. The three of them had front row seats near some of the more colorful flower arrangements.

“Are you okay?” Wil asked for the tenth time that day. It was hot, even before noon, and sticky. She had more and more trouble with the heat as her pregnancy went on.

Darlene grunted, cradling her stomach. “She’s kicking a lot, my stomach and back hurts, and I need to pee every five minutes.” She’d answered similarly each time he’d asked. “I’m fine, really. But I think I might stay here for most of the day. I don’t see a reason to get excited. Not after what you’ve told us about him.”

“He’s fine,” Wil waved a hand. “Don’t think it’s likely any politicians are much better, and I’m getting a solid chance. If we all kiss his ass a bunch, maybe he’ll give us that extension and we can make this work.”

“What if he doesn’t like us?” Bram asked as he continued pacing. Out of all of them in the front row, he was the only one standing. He hadn’t stopped moving for about twenty minutes, muttering under his breath. “What if we do something to offend him?”

“Then he’ll probably have us killed,” said Wil in his most serious voice.

Bram squeaked, and Darlene hit Wil in the arm. “Don’t do that, we’re all nervous. Except for you, apparently. Mr. Peace and Serenity right -- oof!” Darlene doubled over, groaning. “Ex-excuse me a second.”

Wil helped her up and to the nearby bathroom on site. She was right. Wil was calm, collected, and confident now that the time had come. Maybe he should try to spread it around and make sure Bram didn’t have a panic attack.

“If it helps, Bullworth seems like a bit of a blockhead. Flatter him and laugh at his jokes and you’ll be his new best friend for five minutes.” Bram visibly relaxed, and the mischievous side of Wil couldn’t help himself. “You do have to worry about impressing the grandmasters coming with him.”

Bram stopped pacing. His face turned white as a ghost.

“I’m sorry, I’m joking,” said Wil. “Well, mostly. You do have to impress them, but I don’t think it’ll take much and…” Wil followed Bram’s gaze to the west.

The delegation from Faerie arrived with half an hour to spare before the train rolled in. Security, both theirs and Calipan’s, escorted them over a platform of wood over the train tracks, so none of them would accidentally touch iron. It was a small group, no more than a dozen guards plus Jeb, escorting Arabella and Gallath. No wonder Bram froze up.

“Hey strangers,” Wil called out. “Welcome back!

The fae came up to them, while their guards hung back for privacy. Jeb and Gallath politely waved at some cheers and greetings from people in the sea of assembled chairs, but their focus was on Wil and company. Jeb looked Wil up and down and whistled sharply.

“Damn Wil, you clean up pretty nice. Did you rob someone with fashion sense?” he asked, as if his own golden armor wasn’t ostentatious and garish.

“Yeah, the government,” said Wil. “They gave it to me during my time in Marlowe Manor, for my tribunal appearance. Pleasure to see you again, Princess. And Gallath…Um. What title does the leader of the Ogre Federation have?”

“General,” Gallath said in his usual quiet, subdued voice. His eyes were locked on Bram. “I’m General Gallath now, though no one needs to call me that. I’ve never stood on ceremony, and definitely not with friends.”

“Are we still friends?” Bram asked in a tiny voice.

Gallath’s face split into a crooked smile. It was more than he usually showed, so he must’ve been pleased. “Always, Bram.”

Arabella sighed. “You two are so pathetic. Go somewhere to talk, get a room together, whatever you need to stop mooning at each other like children. Hello Wil, good to see you again. Did you get what you needed for your presentation?”

“Sort of,” said Wil. “All the faricite blew up, along with Bram’s house, and we’re left with only a few working machines and prototypes.”

“What!?” Gallath’s eyes widened.

Bram winced, but nodded. “Yeah…maybe we should talk.”

Arabella rolled her eyes as the two broke away to the side, then ducked out of sight behind the bathrooms. “Imagine crossing species lines and falling in love with a human. Pathetic.”

Jeb snorted. “Yeah, imagine.”

Darlene came out of the bathroom, looking flushed and sweating profusely. Wil rushed to her side in an instant. “You --”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Yes, I’m fine,” she said through short, sharp breaths. Every so often her face warped in pain, but she pressed on back to her seat. Wil helped her sit and joined her. She nodded in gratitude and then addressed Arabella. “Nice to see you again, Princess. I think.”

Arabella’s lips curled into a predatory smile. “Why Darlene, is that you? I didn’t recognize you at first. There’s a lot more of you than there used to be. And you’re sweating and heaving a lot more. Is everything alright?”

Luckily, at this point their barbs were friendly, though Wil didn’t miss the split second of homicidal rage in Darlene’s eyes. He chalked it up to the pregnancy. A second later Darlene smiled and said, “Princess Arabella! I’m surprised to see you still with Jeb at your side. I thought you had a new pet every week.”

Jeb’s eye twitched, but Arabella laughed and hugged his arm. “I do. I can have more than one pet. Sometimes Jeb even --”

“Fantastic,” said Wil. “How about a change in topic?”

Bram and Gallath remained gone as the minutes melted away and every available seat found an occupant. Bob came up and waited patiently, chatting with Sharon as they waited. They chatted for the next twenty minutes, until a familiar whistle pierced the air. The train rolled into the station, slowing to a stop over the course of hundreds of feet.

Wil stood and checked himself. Arabella and Gallath moved to their position as foreign dignitaries. Darlene remained sitting, huffing occasionally with a sharp grimace. No one would begrudge her for remaining seated, and if they did Wil would have some choice words for them. Some of his nervousness returned, but mostly he was excited. It was the moment they had worked up to.

Four bodyguards, two men with guns and two wizards cleared the way and took positions on either side of the train doors. A second later, President Bullworth stepped out. He favored everyone with a broad smile and waved. “Afternoon, Harper Valley!”

Cheers met him, and Bullworth reacted with false modesty, waving them off. Wil resisted rolling his eyes. He found Darlene’s hand and squeezed it before he moved into place to greet the president while still keeping his distance from the bodyguards. The president all but charged Wil, grabbing him by the shoulder and shaking his hand hard enough to hurt.

“Master McKenzie, fantastic to see you again. My aides have been keeping me appraised of your progress. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for me!”

“I’ve got plenty, sir. I look forward to showing what we’ve got.”

Behind them, Syl stepped off the train as well, dressed in mismatching clothes and a garish amount of jewelry, including a pocket watch tied around one of his horns. He sauntered over to them and grabbed Wil’s other hand and shook it. “What a trip this has been, Wil! I’m glad to finally be back in Harper Valley, among my favorite humans in the world!”

The assembled crowd cheered even louder. The president visiting was special, but most people in Harper Valley had grown to know Syl.

“Hello Harper Valley!” Syl shouted. A sharp whistle and loud ‘WOO’ made Wil flinch. “It’s so good to be back! President Bullworth and I are here for the next week to tour the basin and Faerie. It’s going to be such a pleasure to show him around the town that welcomed me and my kind so warmly. Mostly.”

There was nervous, scattered laughter. Bullworth released Wil’s hand and threw his arm around the much taller faun’s waist. “Hey, this is supposed to be my talk. Ahem. We’re here on a tour of your fine towns and a trip into our neighboring country of Faerie. I’m pleased to announce a pact of friendship between us and the Woodlands. A friendship I’d love to extend to the others here, in time.

Arabella curtsied, bowing low. Wil rolled his eyes as Bullworth’s dropped with all the subtlety of a teenage boy. “It’s our pleasure to meet you, Mr. President. I am Princess Arabella. The Fair Folk are open to the idea of friendship. I am also empowered by the Wee Folk to speak on their behalf, as their representative is running the Embassy.”

“And the Ogre Federation?” Bullworth asked.

Arabella raised up, clearing her throat. She whistled a sharp, haunting tune that made Wil take an instinctive step forward before he caught himself. A few seconds later, Gallath and Bram returned from around the side of the station, looking disheveled.

Gallath took his place next to Arabella and inclined his head respectfully. “General Gallath of the Ogre Federation. I hope that our dealings may be fair, honorable, and prosperous for all.”

Bram started back to join Wil and Darlene, but the president called out to him. “Hey there, you’re a large lad, aren’t you?” Bram froze, looking between the dignitaries and the people watching.

“Oh yes,” Syl chimed in with a wicked grin. “Bram here is not only brilliant and a good friend, he’s the only human who can go toe to toe with an ogre in a wrestling match.”

“Is that so?” Bullworth said, looking impressed. “Did you two wrestle? Who won?”

Gallath cleared his throat. “Both of us. Often.”

Bram’s face turned bright red. He shuffled awkwardly over to Wil and Darlene, as if going slow meant that people would have a tougher time noticing him. It had the opposite effect.

President Bullworth moved down the line, grabbing Bob’s hand and shaking it vigorously. Bob shook back just as hard. “And a pleasure to meet you, Mayor Bob. I can’t believe all you and your son have done for your town. What’s the McKenzie family secret?”

Bob laughed as he took his hand back. “Honesty, hard work, and knowing that no man is an island. We all live together, we might as well take care of each other.”

“Damn Bob, give it a few years and you might have my job!” Bullworth guffawed, and people joined him. And quick as a flash, he moved on to the next subject. Wil was impressed at the man’s ability to keep things moving. “I didn’t come alone. Along with me are some of Calipan’s brightest wizards, here to witness this historic discovery!”

From out of the train came a line of grandmasters, almost all of whom Wil recognized from his time at Marlowe Manor. Jim Rance was there, as was Rand Sandoval, Janet Yallon, and in the rear Ferrovani walked with the aid of a posh cane. All of them fanned out behind the president, eyes locked directly on Wil.

If anything could make him feel small, unimportant, and under scrutiny, it was people he feared and respected judging his every move. He swallowed hard and nodded respectfully to them. Rance and Sandoval smiled, but Ferrovani scowled at him.

“Chief among them is the legend himself, Enrico Ferrovani, along with his lead apprentice Master Thomas Elliot and crew.”

Wil’s stomach twisted in disgust. He looked down the aisle as Thomas strode up and stood by Ferrovani. He nodded at Wil, who returned it. And then, just to throw Thomas off, Wil smiled at him and waved. Thomas blinked, and half heartedly returned the wave.

Bullworth cleared his throat and finished up. “Tomorrow will be the big presentation, but for today? Mayor Bob promised me lunch at the finest diner in town. I’ll be seeing you!”

He gathered them all to pose for a picture. Wil’s eyes darted to Bram, who was left out, and Darlene, who looked to be in a lot of pain. She doubled over, and her breathing grew labored. The light flashed as the picture took. As soon as it was over, Wil dashed to her side.

“Are you --”

“Yes and no,” Darlene snapped. “I think it’s time.”

“It’s time?” Wil asked. Then he realized. “It’s time!? Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure,” Darlene said. “Either that or I just peed myself a lot. We need to get to the clinic, and fast!”