Preserving Hope Read online

  Will paused for a moment, pretending to consider the offer. “Deal,” he said. He pulled two of the coins from the bounty Eva had just distributed, and held them out to Arthur. “And I don’t expect any further negotiating, Arthur. I will be here after our morning bath tomorrow, and I do not expect to see Elizabeth walking away with Maynard or anyone else.”

  Arthur nodded. “You will have no issues in that regard, I assure you. Do keep in mind the rules, however. Elizabeth is not to be terrorized or made to suffer needlessly. And she is not to be taken through the gate to the outside. Is that clear?”

  Will frowned. “Not leave the gate? Why is that?”

  Arthur sighed. “I fear my daughter has a great desire to see the world, and I dare say that if she ever leaves the security these walls provide as part of her daily work, her curiosity would drive her to escape her host and vanish from our midst. It is for her protection — and yours — that the rule has been made.”

  The pause had made the message clear. Whoever lost Elizabeth would have an angry community rioting at them, much as they’d formed a mob to kill the girl’s mother. Anything preventing them from learning how to build the enhanced abilities they all so desperately sought would be at risk of serious injury.

  Will nodded. “We will go to the Schola, then. You may lock the door after we enter to ensure there is no escape. For her safety, of course.”

  Arthur nodded. “Then our transaction is done. I will notify Maynard, and see you in the morning, Will.”

  He closed the door, and Will walked back to his room, wondering if he’d just acted the part of the hypocrite for paying Arthur for the privilege of talking to a supposedly free young woman.

  XI

  Cave

  Will woke at dawn and rose from the cot he used for a bed. He had no blankets for cushioning and the cot was little more than a plank of wood. It was something he’d need to correct quickly; his back, though quite limber after the past few months of living and eating and exercising with the Alliance, was sore after the night’s sleep. He’d only slept through it for one night before going out on his first trip with the Traders, and he’d accepted the harsher sleeping conditions on the road. The bedding at the inn in Richland was comfortable, and Will wondered if he’d made a mistake in not purchasing blankets for his own use while he was there. Perhaps he could purchase some here in the village during the day.

  He recognized that he’d need to spend these early morning hours, before the other villagers woke, doing his own Energy work. There were several skills he’d not practiced or perfected under Adam’s tutelage, and he’d need a private locale to use for that work. The diary, as he’d come to think of the notes sent via the paper scroll computer, had recommended working on invisibility and flying, with basic instructions for each. Once he found a spot suitable for practice, he’d use the same place to work with Elizabeth on her Energy skills. She’d need to learn to control and grow her Energy, or she’d risk exposing her development to people who wouldn’t take kindly to her progress. He’d teleport them both to the practice site, for he had no intention of walking out the gate with her and raising Arthur’s suspicions, especially after he’d offered to let Arthur lock them in the Schola for the day.

  Will had only had a single chance to experience skill Adam had described as clairvoyance, and that experience came about by accident. Essentially, it enabled him to use his Energy to extend his senses of sight and hearing to remote locations. His brief work with nanos suggested he could probably accomplish similar functions with the tiny machines, but he knew he needed to get as much Energy work in as possible. He climbed back on his cot and sat with his back against the wall, closed his eyes, and projected Energy out of his body, attempting to “see” via a connecting strand. It was a practice much like running a long connecting cable from a remote video camera, and he found himself “seeing” the top of his own small room. He allowed his viewpoint to float upward to get a better view of the village and its surroundings.

  The vast forest containing the small walled village was nestled between two rivers, both of which flowed north and merged into one larger river, north of the village. The two tributaries, which Eva had referred to as the Ealdor and Halwende rivers, cut through the forest before meeting and joining beyond the trees. To the east, nearer to the calmer Halwende, were larger clearings in the forest, where grasses and harvestable grains grew. That was where Will had arrived in the time machine. It was south of their primary bathing spot, and the trees to the north prevented any line of sight between the two spots. There had never been a chance that Will would be seen upon his arrival. The image of the village, situated in a roughly circular forest bisected by rivers flowing northeast and northwest to a convergence point, looked much like the future Aliomenti symbol he’d come to loathe. Was it a coincidence, or did the Aliomenti of the future eventually achieve the ability to see the world from this viewpoint and use it as both map and logo? He snorted at his doubt. Of course they’d get the ability. It was merely a matter of when.

  He noticed an expanse of gray-colored terrain to the north, and wondered if that indicated the presence of a series of caves in the area. If he was able to locate one that was large and difficult to reach, he’d have the perfect spot for his own training and for Elizabeth’s as well. Will lowered his remote eyesight into the area, swooping down from the sky like a hawk descending on its prey, and found that the coloration did, in fact, mark a series of caves. The largest, at the top, was both spacious and nearly impossible for anyone to reach on foot, for the climb was fraught with sharp rocks and a nearly vertical incline. Satisfied, he cemented the picture of the area in his memory for later teleportation. He recalled his Energy, and found the experience of ending this session was much like waking from a deep sleep. He blinked several times to reorient himself, climbed off the cot, and exited his room. He walked to the front of the community and joined the growing crowd of people waiting for the departure for the morning bath in the cool waters of the Halwende River, accepting the compliments of those still enthralled at the tremendous profits he’d helped them earn on the Trading trip to Richland.

  Eva gave him an odd look as they walked toward the gate, but said nothing. He wondered if she’d detected the Energy he’d expended on his clairvoyant journey; this wasn’t the time to discuss such matters, however.

  Though he’d only participated twice, the morning bath provided Will with a sense of routine and normalcy. It was a time for socializing and laughter, much as those in his time socialized over morning coffee or tea in office buildings. Once they returned to the village, it would be time for all of them to begin their daily work. Will caught a glimpse of Arthur talking to Maynard, a huge, hulking beast of a man who worked as a smith forging weapons. At one point, Maynard looked in Will’s direction, glaring, but then his gaze was distracted by a gold coin. The man seemed pleased with the money, but the gaze was still anything but friendly.

  Will spent his bathing time trying to rationalize what he’d done the night before to secure time with Elizabeth. He’d chided all of them for “buying” Elizabeth’s time, had called it slavery, and had said he’d never do so. Yet he’d gone to Arthur and had bartered a higher price for her time this day. Was he any better, playing into the system? At this point, he reasoned, he had no choice; Elizabeth had made it clear that she didn’t want to change the system designed to enrich her father at her expense; she wanted to use the system to change him. He had also decided he would pay Elizabeth five gold coins as well, to help her start to develop savings she would need when she one day walked free. She could keep the coins in the cave; no one in the community needed to know she had any money, least of all her father. Will hoped to spring her free upon the world, away from the tyranny in this tiny would-be kingdom, and for her to survive on the outside, she’d need a large amount of money. This would be his method of getting as much of his money as necessary to her. He knew he could get more at any time; he could learn a craft and secretly build items
for trade in the cave, teleport to a far-off city the Traders would never try to reach, and sell them. As best he could tell, he didn’t need money for anything to survive here outside the daily copper for food and the rare handful of silver coins for clothing, boots, and blankets; if necessary, he was confident he could forage what he needed to survive even if he gave all his money to Elizabeth.

  Arthur whistled, an indication that it was time to head back to the village. Will joined the others in wading out of the frigid waters, shivering and feeling more alert in the cool morning air. Though it was summer, the northern location meant that the mornings were still relatively cool, and he once again lamented his lack of blankets for warmth. He could certainly warm himself with his Energy, but had decided since his arrival in the past to limit his actual usage within the village to what was absolutely necessary. He’d elected, before meeting anyone in the past, to prevent the discovery of his skills until the villagers were ready to learn of them. Now that he’d met several of them, he felt his decision was a wise one.

  Maynard trotted up to him. Though Will had lessened his height by several inches, he was still the tallest man in the community, but Maynard was a close second. Where Will was lean, however, Maynard burst with muscle. In Will’s day, he suspected that Maynard would be a man who’d spend hours every day in a gym working out.

  “Why the rush to work with her, Will?” Maynard asked. “It’s not like she’s going anywhere.” His voice gave Will chills; there was no warmth or humanity there, reminiscent of the way The Assassin spoke in the distant future.

  Will shrugged. “I have some theories I’d like to test out. I don’t care to wait to do so.”

  Maynard looked at him. “I heard you were pretty unreal on that Trade mission. That you just knew exactly what to say to everyone, without fail, every time. Also heard you apparently took out some criminals as well. You holding out on us, Will?” His fingers tapped the hilt of his sword. Maynard clearly lacked respect for a man who was unarmed, and had little concern about dropping veiled threats of violence.

  Will glanced at him. “Don’t trust rumors, Maynard.”

  Maynard snorted. “I’m just saying, Will… it doesn’t end well around here for people who withhold useful knowledge from the main man.”

  Will rolled his eyes. “Yes, I’m sure I have a great deal to fear from Arthur.”

  “And don’t you forget it, Will. You learn something, you talk… or else.”

  “You don’t scare me, Maynard. Save it.”

  “Who said you would be the one to suffer for your misdeeds, Will?” Maynard asked, arching an eyebrow. He chortled, and then walked away.

  Will didn’t care for the sound of that. He knew that Elizabeth could take of herself, and even more so after he had the chance to work with her. But if Arthur and Maynard set a mob on her as they had apparently done with her mother, she’d struggle mightily.

  When the villagers returned, most stood by the fires that were burning in the metal forges and the giant ovens used for baking and cooking, letting the heat dry out their clothing and hair. Will joined in, but eventually grew impatient and headed back to his room, where he used his Energy to heat his clothing and evaporate the moisture. He wondered if he could figure out a way to teach them to channel the heat from those flames and funnel it into each room; it couldn’t be pleasant here in the winter. It would be quite an evolutionary achievement from a technology perspective. That, of course, was a reputed hallmark of the Aliomenti, and he realized he’d almost have to be part of those achievements, especially early on. It was easy to be a few centuries ahead of everyone when your number included a man from a thousand years into the future.

  Before leaving his room, Will, on a hunch, collected a few coins from his coin purse and dropped them in his pocket, and paid an extra copper coin to get two loaves of bread he and Elizabeth could eat later on that day.

  The villagers had all begun their respective work chores as Will walked toward the entry of the village. He knocked on Arthur’s door, which opened at once. “Ah, Will!” Arthur said, speaking in an unnaturally loud voice. “So good to see you this morning! Have you your coin? I do have others eager to take your spot if you don’t.”

  Too predictable, Will thought. He’d suspected that Arthur would try to “forget” about the arrangement they’d made, at a minimum trying to get the usual daily fee out of him. He hadn’t suspected the threat of reverting back to Elizabeth’s scheduled appointment with Maynard, though it was a moot point. He pulled the silver coin from his pocket and dropped it into Arthur’s hand, starting the coin a foot above the man’s open palm. It was unmistakable that Will had paid the fee. Arthur tried, without success, to hide his disappointment, but recovered quickly. “A pleasure doing business with you, Will.”

  Arthur led the way to the room next door. “Elizabeth!” he shouted. “Your day awaits. Move quickly!”

  The girl opened the door and stepped out. Her eyes looked bloodshot, as if she hadn’t slept much, and she looked quite sleepy despite having only recently returned from the frigid morning bath. She glanced at Will, and a look of surprise covered her face. Arthur frowned. “Will and Maynard switched days, so you will spend your time in the Schola today with him. And to ensure you don’t try to flee, as you often have before, I have Will’s permission to lock the door and seal you both in.” A look of triumph covered Arthur’s face, and Will could sense Elizabeth’s disappointment in his agreement to such terms. Had she thought he might help her to escape that very day? Had she intended to try with Maynard on watch? She’d been adamant about not leaving until she’d completed her mission in this town. Or was it rather that she was disappointed that he’d not fought Arthur with more gusto on those terms?

  Little did she know that such terms were exactly what Will wanted. They’d prevent anyone from checking in on them, and finding that they’d left the village unnoticed.

  Arthur led the way to the Schola building and removed a large key from his pocket. Will remembered that Arthur was a locksmith, and it was only logical that he possessed a key to the Schola. Will wondered if Arthur’s key was the only one. Arthur undid the lock and opened the door, leading the way into the building. He lit the candles found on the tables inside the room. “I shall return at midday to let you out for your meal.”

  “There is no need,” Will replied. He removed the loaves of bread from his oversized pockets and set them on a table. “I’ve prepared so that we may work through until evening. Do not interrupt us until then.”

  Arthur raised an eyebrow at this statement, but nodded. “As you wish.” He stepped out and closed the door behind him. Will could hear the lock being fastened outside, and heard the sound of Arthur checking the lock to ensure it was securely fastened.

  He turned to look at Elizabeth. The girl had seated herself at one of the tables, a forlorn look on her face. Will sat down across from her. “Why are you sad?” he asked, his voice quiet.

  Her face snapped to him. “You know,” she snarled. “You know how to do all of this, yet only now do you show up? Why did you wait until now? Why didn’t you get here in time to save my mother?”

  Because our children sent me a thousand years into the past and this is when I arrived, he thought. “I wish the timing had been different, Elizabeth. I heard about your mother, and I truly wish I’d been here in time to make a difference. I cannot change what happened to her. I can only do my best to ensure that the same doesn’t happen to you.” He looked at the floor.

  She looked at him, and he could sense her Energy trying to test him, to sense his emotions and thoughts. He projected directly into her head. You can always talk to me in this fashion, and I will always listen.

  Her eyes went wide. I’ve never met anyone else able to do this. Mother was only beginning to gain the ability. Eva… I think Eva is close, but she doesn’t trust what she’s hearing to be someone else. Not yet.

  Will smiled. There are many things you’ll learn to do, as will Eva and others
. Would you like to see?

  Her emotions were conflicted, a mix of fear and curiosity. Curiosity won. She nodded.

  Would you like to leave these walls? Just for a short time? It’s entirely your choice.

  She considered this. She’d never been allowed to make her own choices before. How? We’re locked in this room.

  Will grinned. Just say the word. The locks don’t matter.

  Elizabeth tried to avoid showing her eagerness to see what he intended, but failed. OK. Show me.

  He held out a hand, and she took it. He teleported them into the cave.

  Elizabeth screamed, and tried to pull away. “Relax,” he said, his voice soothing. “We just need light.” He held up his hand, and his Energy danced from his palm, lighting up his face. Her face lit up as well, and he could see the wonder and awe as she watched the ball of Energy expand to cover the interior of the cave, flooding the dome with light.

  “How… how did we get here? How are you making that light?”

  “That warmth you feel inside? That’s called Energy,” Will explained. “You can learn to move it around, inside and outside your body. You can learn to increase the amount of Energy you can hold in your body and how much you can generate on your own. As you gain more, you’ll develop new abilities and be able to perform others more easily, more powerfully. I will help you learn to use your Energy to protect yourself as well.” He smiled. “You can probably make light on your own. I’m able to move myself instantly to another location; we’re several miles from the village right now. While we’re here, we won’t be disturbed, and can work without worry on building your skills.”

  Elizabeth’s look of awe was replaced with one of mischief. “I have learned to do several things on my own,” she said, eyes twinkling. “I have used the warmth to destroy the bad foods before they can hurt me. I have used it to make me look sick. I have used it to know which foods and grasses and roots actually make the warmth. And I have used it to take money from my father.” Her smile at this news lit up her entire face.