Chapter 10

The knock on the door interrupted his journaling. Something he had taken up doing in the evenings since leaving the university. He put down the quill and slowly stood.

Serena had taken to staying with Mara in her cabin, the two had grown incredibly close during their short time together. He was relieved by that, the girl needed friends besides him, and it reassured him that he had made the right decision by coming along.

Exhausted from the day’s ordeals, he slowly opened the door.

Astrid stood waiting, still dressed in her thick robes. Her eyes were reddened from crying, standing out against her pale skin.

“Can we talk?” She asked quietly, with an almost desperate need. Not replying, Wil simply stood back, gesturing with his hand for her to come in, before closing the door once more. Offering her the room’s only chair, he sat on the bed, waiting for her to start.

“I wanted to thank you, for letting me come along, and I’m sorry for everything. I…I should have trusted you. I read a lot of the lore and research on Tieflings, how their blood can be used in rituals. I was terrified it would happen in Ur, that everything would be destroyed.”

“So, when I saw Serena, I panicked. I should have known that you wouldn’t let something like that happen, that you would do whatever it took to keep me…keep everyone… safe.” She finished, her voice a whisper.

Wil let out a deep sigh, leaning his back against the cabin wall.

“I would never let anything like that happen. Not to you, or Ur, or Serena. What I had to do, the damage I caused in order to escape your parents, I hated every second of it. I just wish you had more faith in me.” Wil said, looking at the woman in front of him.

“I did…I do, it was just so sudden. Can we…can we ever be like we were? Can you ever forgive me?” She asked, her eyes pleading with him.

“I don’t know Astrid, but I believe in second chances. That’s why I told Annabelle to let you on board. Maybe, with enough time, things will change. That’s all I can promise.” He said, standing and leading her out of the room.

“I understand. Good evening, Wil. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She whispered, stepping forward and kissing his cheek, before leaving. Closing the door once more, he let out another sigh, shaking his head.

He had barely had time to sit at his writing desk when another knock sounded on the door. Curious, he opened it to find Annabelle Quentin standing there.

“Is she here?” She asked, pushing pass him, and entering the cabin. Seeing Wil was alone, she let out a sigh of relief.

“Who? Astrid? She just left, she wanted to talk about things.” Wil explained, closing the door again.

“I don’t know why you let her on board, after what she did. We should have strung her up and left her for the guards to find.” She said, scowling as she thought of the silver haired woman.

“She wants to make up for what she did, Annabelle. Everyone deserves a second chance. We can’t all be perfect, like you.” He said, jokingly. She let out a ‘harumph’ at the comment.

“As long as you recognize that I am. You should listen to me more. You wouldn’t be in this mess if you hadn’t gone running off to Ur in the first place.” She commented, sitting on the only chair, leaving Wil with the bed.

“I believe it was because of you that I joined the Guild in the first place. So, in a way, you’re indirectly responsible.” Wil remarked. Quentin gave him an unimpressed look, shaking her head at the comment.

“I wanted your help obtaining a license, you could have stayed at the Port, questing from the branch there. At least then I could keep an eye on you. Admit it Wil, whenever I’m not around, you get yourself into trouble. Aachen, Ur, that desert with the black sand.” She stated, ticking them off with her fingers.

“The trouble in the north was because of you. I wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for you.” Wil said, leaning back in his bed.

“Me? I think you’re just a magnet for misfortune.”

“Then I’m lucky to have you around to protect me.” Wil said dryly. Standing, Annabelle walked over towards him. Leaning down, she gave him a kiss on his cheek, before standing and walking away.

“As long as you remember it, Wil. Good evening,” She said, smiling and leaving the room. The door closing behind her. Wil sat there, confused, rubbing his cheek in wonder, and staring at the closed door.

‘This is going to be trouble.’ Wil thought. Just when he was about to continue his writing, another knock sounded on his closed door. Opening it, he was surprised to see Mara standing there, a bottle and two glasses in her hand.

“Mara! Is everything all right?” He asked, worried about Serena.

“Everything’s fine. She just went to sleep. I’m not feeling tired, so I thought you could use a drink?” She asked, holding up the bottle and giving it a little shake. Grateful, Wil opened the door for the third time this evening, inviting Mara in. Sitting in his chair, Mara poured two glasses of strong wine, before handing one to him.

Sinking onto the bed, Wil took a large gulp of the alcohol, feeling it burn as he swallowed.

“Good?” She asked, taking a sip of her own.

“This is Elven!” Wil said, surprised. He recognized the taste from his time in Elvenhome. Elven wines were sought after, but few bottles ever made it to market.

“Miss Quentin found a few bottles in Lund. I thought you might like it.” Mara replied.

“I get the feeling your trying to butter me up for something?” Wil asked, raising an eyebrow at the woman seated before him. She smiled widely in response.

“I want Serena to come to Aachen with me. I know you don’t get along with your family, and I thought she might like to see the city instead of dealing with that cesspool.” Mara offered.

“Aachen? I thought you were living in Ebling with Bell and Quentin?” Wil asked, confused.

“I am, but I have a house in Aachen. The real estate was cheap during the rebuild, and I wanted to have a place of my own. It’s really nice, they did a wonderful job designing the new city, I think she would really enjoy it. All the people, the shopping is fantastic, and they have art galleries and restaurants. As long as she wears her ring, no one would know who she really is.”

Wil thought about. He wanted her to remain close to him, for her safety, but he had to admit, Brookmoor wasn’t going to be a warm welcome. And they didn’t really have a plan for afterwards. Maybe Aachen would be a nice place to start over.

He had bad memories of the place, but the old city was gone. Maybe he could rebuild his life in the same way the city had. When he didn’t respond right away, Mara thought he may have been hesitating out of fear for Serena’s safety.

“I’ll look after her, Wil. My parents will visit, so she’ll be surrounded by people I trust. And at my Rank, not many people in Illyria would give us any trouble…unless you’re worried about people from Lund finding us?” Mara asked, concerned.

“No, no. Nothing of the sort. With her ring, and you watching over her, no one will know who she is. And of course, I trust you to keep her safe. I was just thinking about…” Wil trailed off.

“Oh! I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking! Of course, you wouldn’t want anything to do with Aachen after the time you spent there. But it’s completely changed! You would never recognize it now. Why don’t you come and stay with me for a few days? Maybe you’ll fall in love with it like I have?” Mara asked, draining her glass, and pouring another.

“It wouldn’t be an inconvenience? I wouldn’t want to intrude.” Wil asked. She hadn’t mentioned much of her personal life since they reconnected.

“Friends are never an inconvenience. And besides, I would love the company. Aachen is great, but it can be lonely, especially when I split my time between there and Ebling. The only person who comes visit is Bell, and he’s been too busy with work that he never finds time anymore.” Mara waved off his concerns.

“Really? In that case, I’ll take you up on your offer. A few days in Aachen sounds great.” Wil said, refilling his glass with the strong elven wine.

“Excellent! It’s a date!” Mara said, watching with a smile as Wil spat out the wine he had just sipped, spraying a jet of liquid across his bed. Laughing, she handed him a handkerchief before standing and draining her glass.

“Alright, I’ll let Serena know in the morning. Have good evening, Wil.” Still laughing, the lithe warrior darted forward, giving him a peck on the cheek, before gliding out of the room as if she were dancing.

Cleaning the spilled wine, Wil returned to his desk, determined to finish his journaling. Staring at the door cautiously, he dipped the quill in ink, waiting for an interruption. After a minute, when nothing happened, he resumed writing.