The First!

Will is introduced, a boy living on the streets of Crymer.

With one look, anyone could classify Will Eades. His disheveled appearance certainly gave the general impression, but his bare feet were solid proof that he was a street boy. On top of this, his marks of struggle were plainly visible. A faint scar was apparent above his left eyebrow, and despite his best efforts it was rather obvious that his right hand did not work properly. Of course, one could discount all this and simply see what Will was up to.

            He looked around subtly, bare feet silently padding on the cobblestones. Their slight warmth was a better sign of spring than any sprouting plant. Walking in the crowd, he brushed heavily against a fat man in a fur coat, a merchant if he ever saw one.

            “Sorry, sir,” he said earnestly, keeping his head down.

            He was brushed off, and made his way into a nearby alley. Will opened the merchant’s coin purse and poured its contents into his right hand. His fingers did not straighten, but he’d grown used to that. He clutched the coins in his hand. Two iron jots and three copper pennies, enough for a full meal and perhaps a bit to reserve for a rainy day.

His savings had decreased alarmingly during the winter. It was warming up, though, and he could soon sleep in his normal hidey-hole again. The fruit vendors were also making their way onto the streets--easy food.

Will headed to The Fox, the closest and friendliest pub he knew. The brisk air tugged at his threadbare shirt, and he wished he’d taken his jacket. It was mostly useless anyway, with more holes than cloth. As he approached the corner of the bar, Will heard the telltale sound of iron-tipped boots on cobblestone. He turned the corner quickly and dashed into The Fox, unconsciously clenching his right hand.

He’d learned the hard way of the palace guards’ vast knowledge of the streets, and he’d learned it young.

Will drew near the counter, his heart slowing to a normal pace. He looked around for Artie, the bartender who slipped him food on occasion. Probably his closest friend in the world. But another man came up, looking dubiously at Will’s attire.

“Clear on out,” he said gruffly. “We don’t need your like here.”

A kinder rejection than Will was used to, but he said nothing, only held up the coin purse.

A look of momentary surprise crossed the bartender’s face, but he nodded. “What do you want, then?”

The boy was soon happily seated with a full plate of food, ale to his side. He knew to eat slowly, though, as yesterday was an empty day. He’d nearly been caught in a bakery the day before, and didn’t want to push his luck. Taking it slow didn’t last long, though, and the food was nearly gone before he noticed. Luckily, his stomach didn’t rebel, and he sat content. He started to regret not saving the money, but caught himself before slipping into his usual planning mode. He stood to order more ale, and determined to relax and enjoy the day. Like his food, that didn’t last long.

Artie came out with a smile to greet him. “Good day today, then?”

Will grinned. “Very good,” he replied, rattling the remainder of coins in the bag.

Artie leaned in, for once a serious look in his eyes. “That’s lucky, ‘cause you can’t come by for a while.” He glanced over at the other bartender, and said, “he’s getting suspicious I’m stealing. Plus I’ve got to work overtime for a bit.”

Will’s heart dropped. The temporary loss of his backup plan hurt, but he’d be fine. He only came to the bar in desperation anyway. Nodding, he said “thanks. That’s fine.”

A bright smile crossed the bartender’s cheerful face. “Ale on me!”

Seating himself at the counter, Will noticed the raucous shouting die down rapidly and whispers begin. He turned in curiosity to see two palace guards in red and blue approaching the bar doors. His heart beat a little harder, and he met Artie’s uneasy gaze with wide eyes. He looked down at his ale in feigned nonchalance as the doors burst open.

The place was silent, nearly every man there guilty of one offense or another. It wasn’t what anyone would call a respectable bar. All eyes were on the two big and brutish guards, one sporting a tattoo on the side of his face. The other, slightly bigger one opened his mouth to reveal dark, badly cared for teeth. Odd, as the guards were well paid enough to afford care.

“Eades!” He shouted, unnecessary in the silent room.

Will’s eyes snapped up, meeting Artie’s panicked gaze. “Go,” the bartender mouthed.

Will was frozen, heart racing faster than he’d have thought possible.

“William Eades!”

He shook his head slightly. “You’ll get blamed,” he whispered, barely audible.

Artie stood still in the middle of washing a glass. “How would I have known who you are?” he murmured.

Will’s mind raced through possible actions as seconds ticked by faster and faster. Then the tattooed guard took one step forward, boot clicking. “We know you are here,” he said, an unfamiliar lilt to his low voice.

Will slowly set one foot down from the stool, unnoticed in the silent panic.  Then he abruptly darted up and around the counter, throwing the stool into the guards’ path. As he sprinted to the back door, he heard them curse amid the sudden uproar of the customers. His hands shook as he grasped the door handle, finally throwing it open after what seemed like ages. His panic began to subside once he came out into a wide alley, turning toward the street.

But as he turned, he saw two more guards standing right outside the door. His dark hair flopped into his wide, unblinking eyes as he froze, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He turned and ran to the end of the alley, leaping up on the wall of another building. His fingers and toes frantically searched for cracks in the surface, and he began climbing toward the gutter. Everyone one the streets learned to climb, and he was no different.

Just as he thought he’d be clear, a rough hand wrapped around his ankle and he lost his tentative handholds. He panicked, barely holding in a cry as he felt himself fall. He must have been lower than he’d estimated, he thought, as he hit the ground much sooner than he expected. It still hurt when he landed on his back with a crash.

It hurt more when the tattooed guard from before hauled him up by his hair. Being lifted off the ground brought him to eye level with the big one, whom Will assumed was in charge. Before he could catch his breath, the guard brought his fist hard into Will’s stomach, sending an explosion of pain through his body. Tattoos let him collapse, gasping for air in a most undignified manner. For once, Will didn’t care.

“That was for the stool,” Will dimly heard the big one say.

He lay there for a few seconds, coughing, then wrenched himself up into a sitting position. Breathing deeply for a moment, he looked up. “So what do you want then?” He was surprised at the strength of his voice, as he couldn’t be shaking harder on the inside.

He thought about his question, noticing the strangeness of the situation. There were four guards after him, not the standard one or two. And he hadn’t been caught in any of his exploits, he was certain. If he had, they’d have executed or arrested him already.

The guard in charge looked at him with disgust. “Stand up, rat,” he said, scorn dripping from the order.

Will didn’t think he could if he tried, feeling weak and shaking all over. “I think I’ll stay here, thanks,” he said.

He felt Tattoos lift him up again, muttering something about insolence and twisting his arm behind his back. He squirmed, trying to loosen the grip before it hurt. He received a quick shake for his troubles. Ignoring his captor, he continued to move while trying to search for a way out.

He was completely and obviously outmatched. His fighting was good for the streets, but it was hopeless against even one guard, as he probably weighed less than half what a guard did. And there were four, far more than necessary. What was so important?

Tattoos twisted his arm higher. “Keep fighting and I’ll break it,” he growled in his ear.

“I’m pretty sure you’ll break it anyway,” he said, still wrestling a little to get free.

His arm was pulled higher in response, causing a quick jolt of pain in his shoulder. “Ok!” he yelped, and stopped moving. He was beginning to feel lightheaded as his mind started to catch up to the present.

The leader opened his mouth, but Will wasn’t paying attention. The boy stared over the guard’s shoulder in horror, eyes wide and jaw dropped in fear. He had a look of unmistakable panic, and the guards turned to see what was there. Tattoos made the mistake of loosening his grip for a better view, and only gained a sharp elbow in the gut. 

Will spun and kicked him in a sensitive area for good measure, and ran past the slowly reacting guards into the main road. Relief swept through him as he heard how slow the pursuing footsteps were, and he turned the corner feeling rather good about himself.

Then he ran headlong into another guard. But to his surprise, the man merely looked at him in puzzlement and walked on into the path of his pursuers. One shouted after Will, but stopped in front of the new guard. Will kept running until he reached cover by an empty vendor’s cart, turning just in time to see the four guards running from the other, who stood in confusion.

Will melted back into the shadows. As he began to walk back to his home, he thought about the peculiar incident. He reached his corner on the roof between two apartment buildings, a bit richer and much fuller than before. In more pain, surely, but that would fade sooner than his questions. Bad teeth, four soldiers, no upright explanation?

They hadn’t been guards.

Author's Note

These chapters may not be consistent or in chronological order, they're just miscellaneous adventures of Will and Co. :) Please review, any comment welcome!

Reviews

[Aelia Darkshadow]

I love it! It's very well written!

[Ninja'sMuse]

Thanks so much!