Preserving Hope (38 page)

She also hadn’t asked how long she’d lived after giving birth to their children. The reality was that he himself didn’t truly know the answer to that, didn’t know if, in the future he’d visited, she’d still been alive.

She accepted her future destiny, much as he had. “I will wait for you, Will, until it is our time. There is no hurry, is there, if one has that much time to live?”

“I suppose not. I will visit with you, of course. And Eva as well. You should go to her as soon as you can.”

“She knows that I’m coming?”

He nodded. “She suspected that at some point, circumstances would lead you to leave those walls forever and at that point, the two of you could reunite. She loves you like a daughter, Elizabeth. You’ll finally know what it means to live in a home where you’re truly loved.”

Her glance was full of meaning, one that suggested another alternative to forming a home, but she said nothing.

“We do need to get you moving. They will know that I need some time alone to grieve, but eventually many will wonder why I am away for so long.”

Elizabeth nodded. She moved with a grace one would never suspect of one who had nearly died only a day earlier, and had come close to dying again earlier this day. They left the cave, walking through the forest. Will’s senses were on full alert, constantly scanning their surroundings for any sign of human activity. It would do neither of them any good for a member of the community to see him walking through the forest with a woman they thought they’d buried that morning.

That thought gave him pause, and he stopped. “We need to work on your appearance.”

She gave him an amused look, masked by a scowl. “You look lovely as well.”

He laughed. “I didn’t express that very well, did I? Your hair, in particular, makes you very notable. I don’t know if red hair is very common in these parts, but it’s something that identifies you very clearly to this village. It wouldn’t take long for people to mention seeing a lovely young woman with red hair. Eventually, the Traders would probably hear about it, and word would get back to Arthur. The hair… it needs to be a different color.”

She sighed. “That’s a wonderful idea, Will. But how do I change that? I was born with this hair color. I cannot change it, Will. It’s impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible, Elizabeth. I arrived here taller than the man you see before you, yet that changed. You can change the color of your hair; it’s a matter of choosing it.”

“Like my mother’s. Like Eva’s.” There was no hesitation; she wanted to look like the two women she most admired, the two women who’d been willing to sacrifice their lives to protect hers.

“Move that warmth, that Energy, so that it covers all of your hair, and imagine it changing to that color, and it will. That’s the thing about Energy; what you can do with it is truly limited only by what you can imagine and the amount of Energy you can build up.”

She acted without hesitation, her trust in his guidance total. He watched as the flaming red hair slowly lightened, the red becoming yellow and finally white, and the transformation was complete. He choked up very suddenly; she now looked just like he remembered her from his younger days, before time travel threw his whole world out of focus.

“Did it work?” she asked.

“It most certainly did,” he replied. They began moving again, and passed a small stream. She stopped to look at her reflection, making as if to pause only briefly, but she stopped. She stood there for several moments, and then knelt down in the grass, continuing to look at the reflected image.

“I miss you, Mom,” she whispered. She glanced up at Will, her face damp. “I look just like her. I know you didn’t know her, Will, but with the hair now a match, I look just like her. I can look at my reflection now and remember her. And I can remember that she’s the parent I want to emulate.”

She took one more glance into the water, took a deep breath, and stood. “I’m ready. For the first time in my life, I know things are going to be better tomorrow than they were today. You’ll help me to be sure that’s the case.” Her face was still damp, but there was a new fire in her eyes, a belief that her life was going to get better. Seeing her mother’s face in her own reflection seemed to steel and ground her. “I need you to know something, something nobody else knows now. They all know about the zirple root, but none of them know about the berry. It’s called morange, Will. Morange berries. They’ll make you horribly sick for a while, but it’s less painful each time you take it. Don’t use it every day. You need to take thirty each time; it will seem terribly painful, but you must struggle through it.”

He nodded at her. “Thank you for telling me. I know it’s something you’ve not been eager to share.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t want any of
them
understanding it or finding out. You never needed it for yourself; no sense giving them another person they might find it from. Now, though? You may need that information when I leave.” She glanced at him. “I’m glad that you know.”

“Me, too.”

They walked along the stream, one Will hadn’t seen before in his visits to the woods, until they came to the edge of the forest. He closed his eyes. “I can sense Eva’s Energy. To me, it sounds like a—”

“Harp.” Elizabeth grinned at his look of surprise. “I’ve heard it before, too. It’s never been quite so loud as yours, and I can’t sense it now, but I’ve heard it.”

Will spread his Energy to Elizabeth, and then reached out with it to Eva, setting up a telepathic three-way conversation.
Eva, can you hear us?

Her response was nearly immediate.
Will? Is that you? Is Elizabeth with you?

I’m here, Eva.

There was an audible sound of relief from Eva, and Will felt as if the breeze which kicked up at that moment was somehow tied to Eva’s doubtless audible exhalation.
I was so worried. I had a terrible dream yesterday, Elizabeth. I dreamt that they had all hurt you, that you had died, and I feared I’d never see you again.

Will put his hand out to steady Elizabeth, who had reeled at the memory the words evoked.
That wasn’t a dream, Eva. Arthur threatened her in front of everyone, and Elizabeth let loose with a burst of Energy that knocked him backwards. The entire community became fearful and attacked her. We are very fortunate she’s still here. All of them think she is dead, and that I am grieving privately at this time. I must return, but before that I must be certain that Elizabeth reaches you. I can teleport her to you.

There was a noticeable pause, and Will wondered if they’d lost her.
You don’t want to do that, Will. If someone new is suddenly inside these walls, it will raise suspicions. She needs to travel here in a traditional manner, arrive at the gates, and enter in that fashion, fully visible. She will stand out because of her hair, but she will still fit in better than if she is suddenly… here.

Elizabeth chuckled.
The hair won’t be an issue any more. It looks like yours now. It looks like Mother’s now.

Will became aware of someone approaching. His senses suggested it was someone he’d met before, but he couldn’t place the emotions, couldn’t tell if it was friend or foe.
We have a problem, Eva. I can tell you’re a great distance away, farther than we can comfortably walk. I need to return to the community to begin the rebuilding process, and Elizabeth needs to get to you. While I know she’s capable of taking care of herself, I’d be more comfortable knowing she was with someone else. Are you able to come to her?

Elizabeth turned to Will, her face full of concern. They could hear the clatter of hooves growing louder, and closer, and the unknown identity of the rider made them fearful. Instinctively, they moved back into the fringe of the forest for cover.

I can’t, Will. I am only now establishing myself here, and if I was to leave for several days and return I would be viewed with suspicion, especially if I suddenly returned with my daughter.
Elizabeth smiled at this statement.
This is a very secretive place. It is not exactly like our village, but similar, and they are wary of outsiders.

Will tried to think of a workaround. Could he teleport her close, and then walk her to the gate?
I can hear you, Will. No, they have guards watching the horizon. If you get close enough to walk her to the gate in the time you have, they’ll see you appear. Showing up at the gate on foot as a weary traveler will make them curious unless you look worn down. And if you arrive with her, see her inside, and then leave… they will probably evict her. She needs to arrive with someone who can stay.

The horse and rider rounded the bend. The rider was taller than most men of this time, and his brown hair was long. His eyes held the expression of a man lost, not in terms of his location, but of his purpose. Will finally recognized him as the man rode past the tree they’d hid behind.

He stepped out of the forest. “Richard!”

The horse came to a stop, and the rider turned around. His eyes widened in surprise. “You!” His facial expression was a contorted mix of fear, awe, and confusion. “You truly do exist?” Richard climbed down from his horse, sizing up Will. His eyes flickered briefly to Elizabeth.

Will smiled. “I’m right here.”

“I thought you were a ghost… or maybe a demon.”

Will walked over to him. “None of the above. Just a man.”

Richard snorted. “I dare say the word
just
rarely applies to you. Except, perhaps, in terms of punishing those who deserve it.” His eyes fell to the ground.

“Have you chosen a noble purpose to your life?”

The man shook his head. “I’ve been wandering these past three years, trying to find something, some purpose to my life. I’ve done honest work for honest pay, never enough to be wealthy, but enough to eat and shelter myself. And eventually buy a new sword.” Will recalled that the man’s sword had shattered upon striking his nano-based exoskeleton, and no doubt the former crime lord felt emasculated without his weapon.

Will, who wore no weapon, held out his hand. “May I?”

Richard hesitated, but then pulled the sword from the sheath across his back and handed it, hilt first, to Will. Will examined it, noting the etchings and designs carved into the blade’s handle, before handing it back. “An excellent and beautiful weapon.”

Richard seemed relieved when Will handed the sword back, perhaps believing Will meant to execute him with his own weapon. “I want to do something noble with my life, as you said, but I’m afraid I’m not skilled in work of that type, or knowing how to
find
work of that type. I don’t know
how
to make the proper choices. I only know that I want to be proud. And… a few spare coins beyond those required for basic expenses would be a nice change.” He smiled. “But I think I’d rather know that I was doing something… good.”

Will suddenly realized that Richard could meet his own goals while helping them with theirs, and sent a telepathic message to Elizabeth.
Do you trust him?

I do. He means what he says. I know what you’re thinking, and I agree.

Will returned his focus to Richard. “I believe I can help you there. This young woman requires a guard to see her safely through to her journey’s end. She knows the path, but requires a strong sword wielded by a man of bravery to ensure none of ill will do her harm.”

Richard bowed toward Elizabeth. “It would be an honor, my lady, to see you safely to your destination.”

Will pulled five gold coins out of his pocket. “Your fee for the journey. The lady has sufficient funds for lodging and provisions for the journey. I will know if she has reached her destination in safety.” Will allowed himself to frown, indicating that failure would not be tolerated.

“I will perish myself before I allow the slightest discomfort to befall her, my lord.” Will almost choked, but realized it was a respectful term, rather than a title, and allowed it to pass without comment.

Richard nodded. “And where are the lady’s possessions?”

Elizabeth glanced at Will, who nodded. “One moment, Richard. They’re in the forest still. I’ll get them for you.”

Will walked into the forest, just out of reach, and teleported one of the bags of coins to the spot, along with the pouch now containing just the hair pin. He carried the two items out of the forest to Elizabeth and Richard. “My lady, here is your coin purse. I pray that you always find it overflowing.” He knew Elizabeth would catch his meaning; if she was running low on money, he’d ensure more appeared in that bag if she alerted him to the problem. “And here is the hairpin my lady wishes to take on her journey.”

Elizabeth accepted both, and put the pin in her hair. She handed the pouch back to Will. “Thank you, sir. For everything.”

Richard held his hand out to Elizabeth, and she took it without hesitation. “My lady will ride and I shall walk.” His eyes appraised her, and his face made it clear he was quite pleased with what he saw.

Will heard Elizabeth giggle. After years of mistreatment, after being made a slave, after being told she was worthless, she was being treated by this man as if she were royalty. Will smiled at her, pleased that her prospects had brightened so thoroughly a mere day after being beaten nearly to death by her own community.