Chapter 27

Wil found himself back on the Drake, standing dumbfoundedly in Annabelle Quentin’s cabin. Alone, he looked around for how this was possible. He had just been standing in the Dragon Turtle’s ‘Inner Realm’, he had touched the ‘Mana Figure’ floating in front of him and then…

With a feeling of dread pooling in the pit of his stomach, Wil walked forward, running his hand along Quentin’s desk. It felt real, just the same as it had been when he left. Quentin’s cabin was still on the edge of disorganized, with books and ledgers strewn across the desk. The bookshelf was still broken, although it seemed an effort had been made to repair it while he was gone.

“Did I get teleported out? I didn’t think it was possible, without the Turtle’s permission…Maybe the infection took the opportunity to get rid of me?” Wil wondered.

Everything had come with him, the few possessions he still had. Digging into his bag of holding, he was relieved to feel the familiar metal body of the Owl. Lifting it from the bag, he took a quick look at it, resting peacefully. The lack of thick, ambient mana had caused it to deactivate.

Satisfied, he put the Clockwork Owl back in his bag of holding, just as the door to the cabin slammed open, a familiar figure dashing through it. Nearly knocking him off balance, Quentin threw her arms around him.

“Wil! You’re back! We’ve all have been worried sick!” She said, squeezing him tightly before letting go and stepping back in order to get a better look at him.

“What happened! You look terrible!” Quentin gasped, shocked at the sight of her friend. He was a shadow of his former self, emaciated and sickly, his hair thinning and filled with grey. His pristine armor was gone, replaced with a simple white, long sleeve collared shirt and black trousers. His sword, always on his back or hip, was all conspicuously missing.

“I’m alright, really…I just an unpleasant run in with something from Aachen. Do you remember the infection I told you about?” Wil assured her, gesturing for them to sit.

“Infection…that black blood you talked about?” She questioned, settling into the chair opposite of him.

Nodding Wil looked down at his arm, still securely wrapped in the sling. His hand was nearly black now, unlike his arm, it wasn’t getting better with time.

“The Azure Lord is infected. That’s where I’ve been, lending him my aid. It’s why Sophia brought me to him.”

“What possible aid could you give a Dragon Turtle? I didn’t think there was a cure for the infection.” Quentin questioned, a frown appearing on her face at the mention of the island priestess.

“There isn’t, not really. I’ve been… inside it…sort of. It’s kind of hard to explain, but I need to get back there, right away!” Wil said, about to stand on his feet before she stopped him.

“Absolutely not! Look at the state you’re in! You’re doing nothing but resting until we’re ready to leave. The ‘Azure Lord’ can take care of itself from now on, and I’m done with this island as well. We’re setting sail shortly.” Quentin said, her face twisted with distaste at the mention of the Dragon Turtle. Standing up, she headed to the door.

“I’ll go get Martin, you are to stay here!” She said sternly, before giving him a small smile as she left.

Wil didn’t have to wait long, the cabin door opened only a few minutes later, a frantic Martin being practically pushed into the room by Quentin. Smiling at the desperate look on the man’s face, he let the cleric take a look at him, undoing his bandages and gingerly poking and prodding his wasted hand.

“This is serious, Wil. Extensive negative energy damage has been done to your body. And your hand, it’s practically necrotic. You’ll need months of rest, and quite a few rounds of healing. I can’t repair something this bad with one spell, it needs to be done in stages.”

“Just do what you can, Martin. I need to get back to the Azure Lord as soon as possible.” Wil assured the man, waiting for the healing power to wash over him.

“I’m afraid you won’t be going anywhere, Wil. Not unless you want to lose this hand, and possible most of your arm. Leaving this untended for too long could kill you.” Martin explained, gathering his mana into his hands, before resting them gently on Wil’s arm.

Wil felt the divine energy sweep through his body, but where he expected to be instantly healed and refreshed, the spell lacked the punch it normally did. His minor cuts and bruised healed before his eyes, and the broken bone in his arm mended slightly, but his hand showed very little improvement. The blackness receded a tiny bit, and maybe the pain lessened a tad, but he could still not move it.

“That’s all you can do? Martin, I’ve seen you do much better than that! When Mara fell and shattered her ankle, you had her healed in one spell, she was walking in minutes!” Wil chided, shaking his head at the cleric.

“I’m sorry Wil, like I said, this will take time, and plenty of rest.” Martin said, standing and making his way out of the room. In a moment, Wil was alone, flexing his hand and shaking his head at the lack of progress.

About the leave the cabin, Wil was stopped again as the door opened and Quentin reappeared, a plate stacked high with food in one hand, and a pitcher of ale in the other.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Quentin asked, frowning as she saw he was nearly to the door.

“I need to speak to Sophia, she’ll have to arrange a ride back to the island where I met the Azure Lord.” Wil explained, attempting to brush past her, but was stopped as she planted herself firmly in front of the door.

“No, you’re going to sit down and eat, then you’re to rest. I won’t have you galivanting off and getting yourself killed, Wil.” She paused, handing him the plate.

“I nearly lost you already, I don’t want anything bad to happen to you again.” She whispered, before stepping forward and kissing him gently on the lips. Wil’s eyes opened in shock at her sudden advance.

Too stunned to move, Wil froze as her lips pressed against his for a moment before she stepped back and pushed him gently towards the desk.

“Now eat! I’m going to speak with Edvard about setting sail. I don’t want you to think about moving out of that chair until I get back!” Quentin ordered, before leaving the cabin once again, a wide smile blossoming on her face as her cheeks reddened at the intimacy they just shared.

Startled by the sudden turn of events, Wil sat and ate his meal, mechanically shoveling food into his mouth, the memory of soft lips against his replaying in him mind.

“Something isn’t right…Annabelle had never done anything like that before. I’ve flirted with her before, just to tease her, and she’s never shown the slightest interest…” Wil mumbled, finishing the plate, and draining the mug of ale.

“No…I can’t stay, not like this. I need to get back!” Wil whispered fiercely, before standing again and marching towards the cabin door. This time, regardless of what Annabelle said, he would be heading back to the Dragon Turtle.

His hand on the door handle, he again was stopped as the door flung open, a very upset Annabelle Quentin standing in the doorway.

“I thought I told you to not move!” She hissed, stomping forward, and poking him in his bony chest with a finger.

“Annabelle, listen, this is something I need to do!” Wil urged, placing his good hand on her arm to gently move her aside.

“No! What you need to do is go to bed! You won’t be good to anyone in this condition!” She said, trying to get him to see reason. Each word was punctuated with a sharp dig of her finger into his flesh.

“Please, I can’t stay!” Wil begged, walking backwards away from the fierce woman in front of him.

“You can’t stay? Not here, with me?” She whispered, tears forming in her eyes as her face crumbled. Wil’s heart dropped at the sight of his upsetting her. Stepping forward, he wrapped his arm around her, careful to avoid his broken arm.

“It’s not that…I have to get back. It needs my help, and it’s the only way to keep the Drake safe.” Wil whispered, his face pressed against her hair.

“I need your help as well. Don’t you want to stay here, with me?” Quentin whispered, stepping back, and looking him in the eye. He could see the tears in the corner of her eyes, and there was something else, a look he hadn’t seen in years. An emotion he hadn’t seen since his time with April.

“Please Wil… I need you.” She whispered, her hand slowly working the buttons on the front of her shirt.