Chapter 2: Rendezvous

*William*

William shifted the pack he was carrying from one shoulder to the other, wishing it were heavier. It wasn’t enough. He knew they needed more, and his inability to provide vexed him deeply. Always, he had suspected that better bounty lay north of Bleddyn – perhaps out in the Eastern Peninsula – and for over a year now he had acted on that suspicion to great success. But when his gut urged him south, he followed that instinct, slipping past Bleddyn and into the Southlands.

It didn’t make logical sense, but he had felt something calling him in this direction. Something he couldn’t ignore. He had thought, perhaps, that it was an omen of good fortune in the Southlands. Now, trudging to the agreed upon cave with so little to offer, he second-guessed his judgment. Frustration settled between his brows and in the set of his shoulders.

The logical part of himself insisted that he never should have come. He never should have veered from his original course. He should abandon this insensible departure from his plan and return north. But some rogue part of himself simply would not.

There was a strangeness in the air, here. It was intoxicating. Dizzying. This southern world was alive with potential, he just couldn’t say what the culmination of that potential would be. He felt, though, that if it ever became clear to him, it would be important to his greater aspirations.

How could something so vague have such a firm grip on his heart?

When he arrived at the rendezvous point, he slipped behind the large pine tree shielding the cave’s entrance from view and found that Edwin was already inside. He had chosen this particular cave not only for its discreet entrance but because of its isolation. Disconnected from the greater system, there was no worry that they’d be caught off-guard from the back.

“Hello, Brother,” Edwin greeted him, and they clasped forearms.

“How goes it?” William asked.

“More of the same, unfortunately. Your last haul stretched far, but now stock runs low. Cedric, as always, only values strength and is content to let the weak grow weaker.”

“And what of our allies?” William paced the small cave, irritation seeping from his pores. He and Cedric had repeated this conversation countless times, and it never deviated much.

“You have a few declared supporters. Well, not publicly declared, but they have spoken it boldly to me, at least. Others allude to their support but don’t go so far as to state it outright. I do think there are more, though they don’t speak it.”

“You think, but you don’t know.” William stopped and swiveled in place, blazing eyes finding Edwin despite the cave’s darkness. This was all so tedious. He’d been gone so long, had done so much, and yet he felt he was hardly closer to his goals than he had started.

“Do you know why Cedric stays in power despite everything?” Edwin asked.

“Don’t patronize me, Edwin,” William warned. “I’m sure you can see that my mood is less than affable, and I can promise that it’s uglier than it looks.”

“Do you know why?” Edwin insisted. Though the question was irksome, and a tad condescending, William saw warmth in his friend’s face. His truest friend.

“I find this tedious, Edwin. I have many deep, dark thoughts about Cedric, the fearsome leader. If I give an answer not to your liking, you will revel in my wrongness. And if I give the right reason, you’ll be robbed of your smug little lesson. So go on with it.”

Amused, Edwin smirked and sighed. His eyes, though, remained earnest.

“Cedric remains in power not for love or honor or even for the sake of his bloodline. Cedric rules by the grace of one thing alone.”

“Fear,” William said.

“Yes.” Edwin was several years younger than William, but somehow many years wiser. “Fear is such a prison. In many ways, it’s stronger than iron or even silver. But there is a tool that works against fear like a key in a lock. Do you know what that is?”

“Please,” William bowed mockingly, “enlighten me, oh Wise One.”

Again, Edwin wasn’t fazed by the teasing.

“Hope,” he said simply. Then he crossed the small space and grasped William’s forearm again. “That is what you will offer them. This wait is long and frustrating, but you cannot act until the hope you represent is so strong it can be wielded against that fear so resolutely that it will strike the chains off the wrists of his followers.”

William met Edwin’s eyes, and the solemn belief he saw there moved him deeply. He nodded to his friend. Breaking the tension, William let go of Edwin’s arm and turned away, changing the subject.

“There are newcomers in the forest. A small group of men and women. There’s something strange about them that I can’t quite put my finger on, though. Is Cedric aware?”

Edwin looked surprised at this. “They’ve come up through the Gap? This close to winter?”

William nodded.

“Well, as far as I know, we haven’t caught wind of them yet, but I could change that. I could leak the information if you want it taken care of,” Edwin offered.

“No,” William responded. “I’ll take care of it, myself. I want to watch them a bit longer.”

“And then you’ll go back north?” Edwin asked, and William could detect the hope in his tone.

“I have my reasons for being here,” William said, fully aware that this was very near a lie. “I’ll go north again when the time is right. Here,” he grabbed the small pack and tossed it at his friend.

As Edwin peered inside, his demeanor changed slightly. Worry crossed his eyes.

“With winter nearing, Cedric’s rationing has gotten more severe. This won’t go far.”

William knew it was true. It was only three hares. The southern woods didn’t have much to offer. Still, his frustration grew again.

“I’m doing my best to prop them up in their current circumstance. All I can do is supplement the weaker ones with food and supplies. I’ve risked everything for them, and still, their support is questionable at best. But real change for the better won’t happen until their great leader,” he sneers, “has a revolutionary change of heart or is overthrown.”

“And let’s hope that day is sooner rather than later, Brother,” Edwin says. “I meant no offense. Only stating facts. They’re starving. I know the forest is overhunted. I know we need to migrate should we hope to find richer lands. We’ve lingered here far too long. I understand the situation.”

“I know you do,” William said, his sharp tone softening a touch. “I do think there is a doe or two left in the Southlands. I’m working on it.”

Edwin nodded and turned to go. At the cave entrance, he turned again and said, “I won’t report on the humans. But I’m not the only scout in the south. Keep your wits about you, Brother.”