Michael

  Michael tried not to smile. The fact that the idiot decided to leave on his own suited him perfectly, like hot milk on a cold night. The voluntary departure solved the reason for his visit. Without Denis around, he wouldn't have to worry about Esther or Agnes. Even so, many questions remained unanswered, but it was clear that Denis wouldn't talk.

  “Did Emma discharge you?” Michael asked.

  “She told me I’m almost fixed. I was planning to leave next week, but… You know.”

  A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Michael thought. “Where do you plan to go?” he asked.

  “Well, I… I haven’t really thought it through. I heard there’s another town west of here. Maybe I’ll go there and see what I do next.”

  “When will you leave?”

  “Maybe tomorrow, or the next day. Don’t worry about it. I know you want me out of here,” Denis said with a smirk.

  You have no idea… But why do I have this feeling he’s going to end up like before? Michael shook his head. Whatever might happen to Denis was none of his concern. He picked up his coat from the floor and put it back on. Then he moved away from the door while dragging a nearby chair towards the bed, close enough to Denis to smell the stench of old sweat and dirty clothes emanating from him.

  Denis watched as Michael's large frame fell on the tiny chair. He said nothing. He only scratched his trousers with his fingernails while trying to avoid Michael’s gaze. The mask of confidence he had earlier was already slipping.

  “Have you got everything ready? It’s a long walk from here to Calverton, especially at night,” Michael said.

  “Why’d you think I’ll leave at night?”

  “Don’t you want to avoid Luke and his men? The only reason they haven’t done anything to you yet is because you’re here at the clinic—next to the Eagle’s Nest. As long as you’re under Emma’s care, nothing will happen to you. But of course, that’s assuming Luke really intends to hurt you, which I don’t know, since you haven’t told me anything. I’m just guessing, seeing how nervous you look.”

  “I don’t think it's because of the priest that—”

  “She’s an Invoker.”

  Denis's mouth hung open. "An invoker? What the hell is an invoker doing in a little village?"

  Michael shrugged. “Only she knows. You’re lucky that she didn’t roast your arse despite all the trouble you have caused her.”

  “I guess I’m lucky she’s a nice person.”

  "She is... Hey, are you sure you want to go straight to Calverton? When Luke finds out you're gone, he'll start looking for you in the nearby towns."

  Denis looked down at his feet and remained silent.

  Besides being an idiot, he's useless. Michael sighed. I can't let him lose heart, or I'll never get rid of him. "Listen, Denis. I'm going to help you escape from Luke, and not because I care about you. I’m doing it for Esther. She'd never forgive me if she found out I didn't give you a hand. But I'll only help you on the condition that this stays between us. As far as the rest of the villagers are concerned, you vanished suddenly and without telling a word to anyone. Do you understand?"

  Denis nodded.

  “Well… Today is Basines. I think it would be best if we planned your departure for Nuvingues night. Emma and Richard have service at the shrine the next morning, so they won't notice you're gone until later. That will give us some time before word gets out."

  Denis nodded again.

  “Do you have clothes for the trip?” Michael looked at Denis’s baggy attire. “I can help you with any supplies you might need, but I don’t think I have anything that will fit you.”

  “Don’t worry. Celeste got me some spare clothes.”

  “What’s your destination? Do you plan to return to the city?”

  Denis looked at his hands, reflecting, then shook his head. “I had thought about it, but after what happened to me, I don’t feel safe going back there. I’m thinking of finding somewhere else where I can go unnoticed for a while and see what I do next.”

  "Why not go further north? Tell everyone you plan to return to Blackferr, but go in the opposite direction."

  "But how do I get there? I don’t know a thing about the area."

  “There's a road heading north through the forest not far from here. You won't find another one in a hundred miles. There's a town nearby where you can get a ride to the northern counties. I can take you there, if you want. What do you think?”

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  “I like the sound of it, but I don’t have—”

  “I’ll give you some money.”

  Denis broke into a big smile, and his eyes reddened. Michael thought he was going to cry. “Thank you so much. Truly, thank you.”

  “Don’t worry, I just want to help you,” Michael said, sounding indifferent. “But I need you to come to my house. Know the way?”

  “I think I can manage. Esther told me how to get there.”

  “Just take the road heading north from the village and keep going straight. You’ll get there eventually. To be sure you’re not lost, you should see a tower on your right after walking about ten miles. That's the outpost the army operates here. Got it?”

  “I think so,” Denis said, scratching his head. “Damn, is it really that far?”

  "And you still have a while to go before you get to my house."

  “Why do I have to go to your house? We can leave from here.”

  “Two reasons: first, I don't want the villagers to see me with you. And second, you need to avoid the roads and towns as much as you can, or else Luke will track you down quickly. That's why we'll go far north of everything, edging along the forest, away from prying eyes.”

  “Ah, I see. And how long will it take us to get there?”

  “That depends on the route and the weather. It is far, but not as far as the city.” Michael stood up. “I will go back and start preparing everything we’ll need for the trip. We’ll meet again on Nuvingues night. And by the way, be careful with Emma. Don't let her catch you leaving. And remember that no one must know about our plan.”

  “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

  “See you later, Denis,” Michael said, turning towards the door.

  “Michael, wait!”

  ?Michael stopped and looked over his shoulder.

  “Thank you for everything," Denis said, "for saving me, not once but twice. Someday I will repay you.”

  Michael turned around and looked at him with a frown. "You don't need to thank me. I'm only doing this because Esther cares about you." And also to make sure you are as far away from here as possible before you get into trouble again. I’m tired of dealing with you, he thought.

  “I know, but I feel like you’re doing more than you need to,” Denis said with a cheerful smile. “That’s why I want to reward you with something. I’ll give you one of those revolvers everyone’s talking about. I swear.”

  Michael's eyes widened. He couldn't hold back his smile. "I read that only the military is allowed to use them. I didn't know civilians could buy one."

  “That’s true, but I have my connections,” Denis said with a boastful air.

  “Do you work for the government?”

  He snorted. “Of course not. I wouldn’t be in this condition if that were the case.”

  Michael stared at him. The revolver was a new type of firearm that allowed the user to fire continuously without reloading after each shot. Only two groups in all of Asprain had access to these modern weapons: the government, and the Temple of Idnus, inventors and largest weapons manufacturers in the world. It was they who introduced this new type of firearm, which was sweeping battlefields across the continent like a storm.

  Could it be that he works for Idnus? Michael thought. He had the question on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't dare to ask it. Not out of fear, or disinterest in knowing the truth, but out of a burning curiosity to know something entirely different, something he urgently needed Denis to answer: "Have you heard of lever-action rifles?" he asked, licking his lips.

  “Of course. I’ve even shot one,” Denis said proudly.

  “Really? And, how is it?” Michael's face lit up like a child seeing his favourite sweet. “Is it true that a rifle can hold up to twelve bullets, and you can fire them all in less than a minute?”

  “Fifteen, plus one in the chamber,” Denis replied, “and it uses metal cartridges instead of the common paper ones. The gunpowder, the primer, and the bullet are all joined together in a little brass tube, about the size of my index finger.” Denis shook the index finger of his right hand. “Don’t you think it’s amazing how they managed to assemble all that with a machine? There were dozens of wooden crates full of these little tubes. I don’t know how they made so many.”

  “Where was that?”

  “At a small firearms exhibition I went to in Cadstone. There were other weapons, but the rifles stole the show. There was a long line to try them out.”

  The capital… I see Luke isn’t as crazy as you said, Michael thought. “I’ve read about them in newspapers and magazines, and ever since then I’ve dreamed of having one.” He decided not to get the lie out of him. Denis wouldn’t say anything.

  "They're incredible pieces of engineering, no doubt about it," Denis said, "but I don't know if I can get you one. I think they're heavily regulated, much more so than revolvers."

  Michael shrugged. He was happy with just getting a revolver. “No problem. I’ve got a couple of new rifles keeping me busy.”

  “Ha! And what are they?”

  “Two breech-loading Ironfields,” Michael said proudly.

  “Hey, hey, but look at the lad.” Denis burst out laughing. “And where did you get them?”

  “A good friend got them for me. But let me tell you something: they're not like the Ironfields the army uses. These are longer, and the components seem to be of better quality. One of a kind.”

  “I believe you, but they aren’t lever-action rifles.”

  Michael nodded sadly. “They are not lever-action rifles.”

  Denis looked toward the window. His eyes seemed distant, lost in the whiteness of the curtains. “A day will come when wars will be fought at a distance. We will kill each other through a telescope,” he said in a melancholy voice. "I hope I'll be dead by the time that happens. I would at least like to see the face of the man who has taken my life.“ He turned and looked at Michael with a sorrowful smile. “I’m sorry, sometimes I say silly things when I’m nervous. I still have a lot to do and live for. And debts to pay.”

  “Where did you hear that?”

  “On my travels.”

  “Denis, are you married?”

  "What?! Why the hell are you asking me that?!"

  Michael shrugged. “It just came to mind. Even though you're an idiot who thinks every hole he sees is a trench to dive into, you're very good with children. Emma loves it when you sing and play guitar for them.”

  Denis blushed and looked away. “I have… Yes, I think I have some talent for music.”

  Michael noticed Deni's sorrowful gaze and decided it would be best to leave him alone with his thoughts. “I’d better go. Remember not to tell anyone about our plan, not even my family,” Michael said as he walked toward the door.

  “I'll be a grave,” Denis said with a smile that later faded into a face of fear. “Hey... Can I, can I ask you one last favor?”