Salvus

“Outside of these walls is a world. One that I am going to explore.” I stood on the West wall, talking to myself quietly, watching as the sun crept down through a curtain of rain. The colors of the cloud filled sky mixed together, illuminated by day’s last rays of the sun as it neared the horizon. I was fifteen and worried about being a sophomore at my new school. Especially since I knew I was entering into an upper-level class, with kids who had showed Will, when I still had not. So, I had run to my favorite place, the West Wall, to think. The rainy days did not bother me like it did many other people. I welcomed the storms. I thought back to the summer before my freshman year. I had already learned the guard pattern, so it was easy to get on the wall and have a good thirty minutes of gazing out to the world beyond. As it got closer to the start of the school year I would stay later and later knowing he would be coming but needing the extra time to look and fantasize about adventuring beyond; fearing the unknown out there less than what I knew I would be walking into at school. He would start catching me as I played chicken with time. I would run off as he yelled that I knew better than to be on the walls, but I was not deterred. I snapped back to reality as the sun disappeared completely along with the rain. I realized curfew would be in effect soon. A sigh escaped from my mouth; I did not understand why there was a curfew for minors since nothing ever happened in Salvus. I knew that I was going to have to run home if I had any hope of making it. Not that I minded running, I was particular to the task. And yet… “Mom is going to be pissed at me…again.” I muttered just before I heard the footsteps. I could tell there were two people, so I slinked behind the nearest pillar as the two Guardians rounded the corner. The one man complaining loudly, his gripes growing louder as the pair neared my hiding spot.

“So, she surprises me with her! And I was surprised…but even more surprised and dismayed after a few weeks when we realized she isn’t bonding with me. So, we go to Master Ateles and Felian and they both say that it is no use. No use?” the man exclaimed, meaning while the other one, him, says nothing. The younger one continued like he didn’t notice or need the encouragement that most people would need to continue on and on as this man was. “They are supposed to be master’s and they could do nothing for me. And you know how it is with Daemons but especially Wolf Hounds. That is a tough breed and expensive. It is rare to get one and she got it for such a good price. We are going to end up with a loss anyway if we can’t find someone to bond with her soon. They are suck a risk but just imagine if she did bond with me.” The young man continued yammering on as the older one, not by much in age, stopped beside my pillar though he did not turn towards me. The other, not realizing his companion had stopped, kept on walking continuing the story he had been telling. “We are going to visit Geneo and see what he can do. You know him, he always knows someone, and he can get a good price for any breed. He specializes in Wolf Hounds I hear but that’s just a rumor I suppose.” He went a few feet before he realized his companion was no longer beside him. He too stopped, both his walking and the story he had been telling; he turned back towards where we stood and waited patiently, observing curiously.

I stood as still as the stone pillar that I hid behind barely breathing as the rain from the sky splashed onto my face. I hadn’t made a peep and the older Guardian hadn’t turned his head towards me or made any other indication that he had seen me standing there, but he knew I was there, he always did. “Hurry home Jezzy-girl, your father is returning tonight.” He said nothing more and moved on as my lungs began to scream at me to take a normal breath, but I didn’t dare. I heard his quiet murmur of reassurance to his young trainee and then the story continued as they walked out of sight and then out of hearing. Finally, I gulped air into my hateful lungs. The new one never sensed a thing; his Will was weak still or he was so absorbed in his storytelling that he was not able to pay attention at the same time. The Guardian’s words let me know there would be no conversation tonight. The rain picked up.

His name is Esperian, Espy for short, it means sight or observe; I looked it up at the library. His parents had high hopes for him considering their own gifts of sight. He has caught me up on the wall plenty of nights. I recalled that he would always come around right before the sun set and I would run off in order to avoid being caught by him. On this one day he was earlier than usual and caught me off guard. He told me not to run; that he wanted to show me something. “Come here youngling, let me show you something.” I came out from behind my pillar and walked to where he stood. His back towards me as he faced out towards the vast unknown beyond the wall, I could have easily run away. Instead, I looked at him, standing there, staring out as I had done countless nights before this and would countless more after. I stood to his right. I knew he was a lefty from watching him spar and I figured I had a better chance of getting away if he tried to make a grab for me. But he just stood there and looked out. He said nothing, made no motions to point anything out, just stood there. I couldn’t figure out at first what he was looking at, but I soon realized he was watching the very thing I came to look at. The sun set. I never got a chance to actually see it fully, because I had always run off, so I didn’t get caught and it is not the same as you are running away from the wall. The walls were no place for a child, or so they kept telling me. They just did not want the youth pining for the beyond. The sunset was so beautiful and much different than watching it from the street or from my bedroom window. Finally, the man spoke. “I am Esperian. You are the Lorcan girl.” Not a question so I didn’t answer. I saw him smirk out of the corner of my eye and we both watched the sun finish setting beyond the horizon. “There is no real good place to watch it rise in the morning” he spoke my exact thoughts.

“Yes, but you get to see it nightly without issue.” He did not respond to my gripe, nor did I expect him to.

“You will have to run home, girl. Lest the Guardians catch you out past curfew.” He said with humor in his voice. He began to walk away from me stopping as I called out my own name to him. He turned and I repeated, “It’s Jesze. Not girl.” Another smirk as he turned away once more resuming his rounds.

I returned the next night and the next. Each time arriving earlier and so did he. We became friends of a sort. When I went to see the sun set, he was doing rounds, and we would talk as the sunset. Sometimes he would show me some of his sparring moves and how to do them. I was learning to be an efficient fighter, at least that was the goal. I was becoming faster and stronger working with Espy and on my own practicing what he showed me. I was also getting in loads of trouble with my mother because I was out after dark. I was getting closer though; closer to being able to run all the way home from the west wall and still make curfew. Dusk was okay, dark was not. I knew I’d get there and every night I stayed out late was a night to train. I found out later that Espy arrived early to start his rounds so that he could train me. I did not understand why but I appreciated it because I did not need Will to fight and that was something I certainly lacked.

I began making my way back down the steps to ground level purposely stomping the puddles that collected on each step, a wall of water catapulting up before landing once more. I chuckled as I recalled that first night I didn’t get away before he got there being much like tonight. I thought about it as I took each step down. I stayed too long, “there is no way I’m getting away this time” I murmured to myself as I heard his approaching footsteps. He had another Guardian with him, so I don’t understand why I didn’t hear them approaching sooner. I certainly heard the other now and he was not quiet by any means. The stone of the pillar was cold against my back and offered refreshment from the summer heat. He simply stopped, looking ahead still. I peeked out and saw the slight uplift of his mouth before he continued walking on without saying a word. That night I had been really late because I was too nervous to come out from the pillar. I kept thinking he was just going to be waiting there with the other Guardian, with their disapproving stares. Eventually I calmed myself and got myself home. I told my parents I lost track of time on my walk and no Guardian saw me out anyway. They were not impressed. Which brought me back to my current dilemma. New school new classes, same old Jesze. I had been training with Espy for over a year now, since I was a freshman, well the summer before my freshman year began. I worried about taking the upper-level classes as a sophomore, and what people would think since I lacked any apparent abilities. I could tell my parents were nervous as well. If I did not have Will, then my options were limited as far as what I wanted to do. I could always go work with my father, I thought with despair. I wracked my brain trying to figure out whose bright idea it was to place me in upper-level classes. My grades could not be enough for that. However, I knew that grades were enough. I also knew that someone with my smarts, but no talent did very well in the political world. I did not want that world.

I kicked loose stones from the stairs as I pondered my looming fate. The stones made their way down the height of the steps much quicker than I with the help of gravity and my sheer lack of motivation to return home and to reality. Water splashed with each contact the rock made. I could remain on the stairs forever, never have to go back to school and to face my peers. My freshman year had come and gone and now I was moving up to the sophomore classes. I had no idea how much worse it was going to be than what it was as a freshman, but my imagination was pretty crafty, and it did not hold back. Espy, his training, and our talks were the only thing keeping me in those classes otherwise I swear I would have escaped beyond the wall and hoped for the best out there. Of course, Jack kept me grounded in school, but even that was going to be derailed. He would not be joining me in some of the higher-level classes though he certainly had the smarts for the ones he was going into. His direction was also different than mine, he had no intention of leaving Salvus to adventure beyond the walls.

Espy was able to show me real life applications to what I was learning in class, mostly classes that were part of the House of Hands. I thought this knowledge would help in classes when I was able to describe specific examples for the topic at hand, or the mechanics of a fighting move. Unfortunately, It only made it worse. Soon it became all I had in those classes; the knowledge and my peers hated it. I was moved into other higher up classes halfway through the year, quickly outgrowing the normal classes but never with Will. The freshman classes were more about theory and that was something I understood. I continued to visit Espy nightly and learned everything he would teach me. I never told him my worries, fears, or troubles in my classes though. The only nights that I had to hide were nights like tonight when he was training a new guardian. He always came around later when he was training so I always knew and I could still see the sun at least begin to set, plus I ran nightly anyway. Despite that I still hated these nights. First off, I didn’t get to talk to Espy, and I really felt that I needed to. Secondly, I didn’t get to train or learn any new moves and sophomore through Senior years were almost all about application. Lastly and most important, I worried that they were there to replace Espy. I knew this one wasn’t. Espy would have said something, asked me to meet him the next night or something so that he could say goodbye; I was sure of it. So, I listened and did as I was told. As soon as my feet hit ground level I ran. I hadn’t known father was returning tonight, how come mom didn’t say anything to me? Perhaps they meant to surprise me. Well, I wouldn’t out Espy and I would certainly be the surprised loving and not-worried-at-all daughter.

The construction on the roads had been postponed due to the rain. So, potholes remained, and puddles formed to dodge everywhere along the streets. Thankfully the gutters were not clogged or filled so the water was not so deep you couldn’t tell which was which. Every dodged pothole was a cascade of water up my body, but I kept running. At times I glanced up and noticed between the clouds the moon was out. I loved when both the sun and moon could be seen together. After a while I aimed for the refreshing splash. With each step the water hit my face, mixing with the sweat on my face. The next splash hit my eyes; I closed them shaking my head wildly to dislodge the water. I couldn’t wipe my eyes; my hands and arms were soaked; my clothes were soaked. I tried blinking rapidly as I ran through the streets. I dodged around people who appeared as little more than blurred shapes, their angry and surprised outcries following behind me as the sky grew ever darker. The sun was being swallowed taking all of its light with it. Couples crowded the streets, walking home from a night out together, parents ushering their children in for curfew, fathers returning from business visits and the ever-present Guardians. They all passed by in a blur. Finally, the muck was out of my eyes, and I could see clearly again. The clouds blocked out most of the moon tonight as the storm raged harder, but the slivers of moonlight cast shadows into the city of Salvus. There was nothing to fear in the shadows, I would rather of hid there than to enter my home past curfew, it was the fourth time this week.

I stopped outside our dark oakwood door and smiled despite myself. I almost made it, I thought looking up into the dark sky, rain pounding into my face. Just one or two more minutes shaved off my time and I would have it. I could hear my mother setting the dinner table as I opened the door to the house poking my head in. One, two, three plates. Father was returning tonight. It was now or never, her back turned as I heard her fetching silverware from the drawer. I slipped silently into the entry hall, removing my shoes and sleeveless hoodie, both dripping muddy water onto the indoor-outdoor carpet. I swear they put my room at the opposite end of the house on purpose; I had to pass by the kitchen on the right in order to get to my room. The dining room was attached at the front of the house with the family area directly across on the left if one were facing the house as I was now. As I tiptoed passed the kitchen entry, mom turned and saw me. Uh oh.

“Jesze Senka Lorcan!” she exclaimed. I stopped and turned sullenly toward her “Don’t you give me that look. Where in Salvus have you been?” Not allowing a word in. Not that it would matter. “On the walls again, haven’t you. Look at you, you’re soaking wet!” With each word she drew closer to me, and her eyes softened. Maybe she was remembering her own youthful days, or maybe it was my father’s return home. Whatever it was I thanked it. Mom never yelled too loud or for too long. She would always say “it is out of worry and that worry lasts only so long once I see my loves safe and sound”. Mom smiled softly and touched my face. I could tell she was resisting the urge to hug me then. “Go on now. Get cleaned up and change, he’ll be here soon.” She smiled as my face lit with joy. I ran the rest of the way to my room. Grabbing clean clothes and my towel I practically skipped into the bathroom. I took a quick but thorough shower watching as the dirt mixed with the water entering the drain. After drying off I put my clothes on which felt extra comfortable after being so thoroughly soaked through. I ran, as quietly as possible, to my room to deposit my dirty and soaking wet clothes into my hamper. Mom disliked when I ran through the house but usually when father was coming home, she just let it be. Before leaving my room, I looked out my window to the house next door. Specifically, I looked at the window that was directly across from mine. The room was dark. Prince Jack must already be at dinner. Which is where I should be. I turned and made my way to the kitchen hearing soft voices.

I rounded left to the entry and looked in the kitchen. I did not see either of my parents. I turned and there stood my father. He stood impossibly tall, taller than I remembered. He had been away for 3 months, and time can do that. He scooped me up into his arms twirling as he squeezed me close. I could hear my mother’s laughter as she yelled, he was going to hurt himself. My father set me back down. His hands on my shoulders he pushed me arm’s length from him looking me over. Finally, he nodded, “You’ve gotten taller”. He smiled again as he took me in for one more hug, this time my feet on the ground. Mom announced that dinner was almost done and instructed my father to go freshen up while I was to help her bring the food to the table.

“Mom?”

“Yes honey?”

“Sorry about being late. I should have been here to help you set the table.”

She smiled approvingly and nodded, “Your father is here tonight. We can talk about your nightly mischief another time.” She paused a moment thinking to herself. “Thank you for your apology, it means a lot that you notice.” We both smiled at each other and settled into our seats as my father returned to the dining room. I noticed that he looked tired. He hid it well, but I could tell. It was in his eyes. Just something that was different, older, tired. Perhaps the shadows in his eyes were dancing slower than they used to. Mom was smiling at dad, a twinkle in her eye. The shadows in her eyes were radiating. I had seen this before when people were using their Will. I was as if someone was in her eyes shining a light outward. Her light was an amber color where my fathers was green. The shadows danced wildly when mom was happy. She had missed him greatly and I could sometimes hear her crying at night. Some nights I would slip into her room and lie in bed with her until we both fell asleep. There would be no tears tonight. No bad dreams.

“Will you be back longer this time?” The smile he had been sporting faltered ever so slightly and his shadows slowed further. The East side of Salvus was on the other side of the capital and several hours away. He told me once that it usually took 9 hours to get there and that was just to the middle of town. I took about 6 hours to get to the capital, so I guess that time made sense. It was a lot of traveling and he often offered to do the travel, not just to the East, but the North and South as well. I asked him why he offered so much and did not give the others a turn. I think I was a toddler and learning about taking turns then. He just said to me, “Well I am the mayor, and you catch more flies with honey, don’t you?“. I was like 5, I was confused but how do you disagree with that? Plus, he scooped me up and tickled me until I couldn’t breathe from laughing so hard. Years later he told me it was because the negotiations went easier; them feeling like they owed him gratitude for letting them stay home.

“I don’t know Jesze. There is certainly more to discuss. The East corridor is proposing that we…”

“No!” A solid veto as my mother interjected. “Hon, no more business talk until after dinner.” She was still smiling, and her eyes continued to twinkle but she was serious about this. My parents were soulmates. Everyone said it and they had been together since they were younglings in school. You could see it in how they interacted. People also said they were lucky to have found each other so early. Although they said it sadly and I never knew why.

“Yes dear.” He smiled mischievously at me. Mom hated political talk, especially at the dinner table. I was not a fan myself, but I enjoyed hearing my father speak and the stories he would tell. I got to see him in action one time when the mayor from South C. came to discuss issues with my father. I mused over the memory as we all ate our food. Mother and Father discussing the various happenings of East Salvus while he was away.

My father’s commanding presence brought attention onto him. His demeanor said, “listen and don’t interrupt”. That is likely why he remained mayor for so long. Plus Henry liked him a lot. The other mayors from the other Corridors came to him for advice and this was one of those times. The South C. mayor, I think his name was Frank entered the office in a whirlwind of panic. The folder he carried was practically launched from his hands. Some of the pictures slid out when the folder landed, and I could see a crypt. Inside the crypt actually and on one of the tombs was candles, used. Frank had quickly snatched them up shoving them at my father. I don’t think he even realized I had seen; he was just so manic. He proceeded to tell my father someone had been breaking into some of the mausoleums down there. He did not know how to stop it. “Listen Frank, I am sure it is just some kids exploring. Trust me, I know what that is like” My father’s voice filled with amusement as he spared a glance my way. I giggled but stayed silent otherwise. Frank continued, too upset to allow himself a moment of joy. “Johnathon. I am telling you; this is not just kids. I do not know how to explain it, but I know it is not just kids. There are things…weird things…” finally he spared a concerned glance my way and moved on. “it is not what one would expect mischievous kids to do.” My father listened and seemed affected by Frank’s words. He put his hand on the man’s shoulder squeezing slightly and looked him in the eyes. “We will figure this out. Let me come out there and take a look Frank. I know you guys don’t want anyone else poking around South Salvus, but you came here asking for help.” The other man looked up at my father, almost sheepishly, and nodded his approval. “Perfect!” exclaimed my father patting Frank on the back before moving away. “It is settled, let’s plan for next week.” He said looking in his calendar. “Unless you think that it too long?” He questioned Frank. Frank shook his head and said next week would be fine. He appeared relieved. He was a very different Frank from the one who entered my father’s office.

My father rising for seconds brought me back to the present. I had eaten my food but while in my own world I wasn’t able to enjoy it. I hated when I ate on autopilot. I got full without the tasty satisfaction. I too stood for seconds offering to get more for my mother if she was ready. She shook her head stating she was almost full already. For the first few minutes I just savored the food. Mother was truly a great cook. I finished most of my seconds before dad asked how I had been doing over the last few months while he was away. I told him things have been good, but he was missed. “What have you been up to? Staying out of trouble?” I saw my mother smirk out of the corner of my eye and tried to hold back my own as I made eye contact with my father.

“Of course. School, running around with Jack…mostly.” I looked down at my plate for refuge but found it to be empty. The smirk came out as I resumed eye contact with dad. He laughed automatically then entered dad mode.

“Jesze the rules are in place for a reason.”

“I know, I just don’t understand the reason. And no one seems to have an actual answer.” This as the stalemate we always came to because my father was one of the people that did not have an answer. Usually they went with, “it’s just so high up. What if something happened?” This time he smiled shaking his head slightly and the topic was dropped for tonight. He stretched out his six-foot four frame and mom stood to clear the dishes. I hopped up grabbing them from her hands. I wasn’t here to help cook or set. I was definitely going to clean up. Hopefully it saved me anymore conversation about my being late. Mom smiled at me, and my father grabbed her hand leading her to the living room. Their voices carrying softly into the kitchen until they were drowned out by the kitchen sink as I began washing dishes. Dads 3-month trip got me thinking to when I first met Jack. I was about 4 years old making the traditional trip before school began.

The trees blurred by as we flew down the road. My imaginary friend traveled the various posts and fences that lined the roadway. Hopping to-and-fro keeping up and never wavering. The capitol building was a huge castle in the middle of Salvus. A small town surrounded it where many of the capitol workers lived. Henry lived in the castle and very rarely ventured out. I was asleep by the time we got there. I woke as I was picked up by my father and carried into the castle. As we ventured further into the castle a quick shadow crossed my vision. It seemed to jump across the corridor from door to door. Finally, a boy peeked out of one of the doors. Another boy peered from a different door, he was a little older, perhaps 7 years old. The two giggled and disappeared once more into the doorways. My father finally entered a room and was greeted by Henry himself. He was the senator ruling over the land of Salvus, his grandfather having built the wall to protect us. Salvus is called a city, but it is really more of a state with each corridor a different city. My father set me down as he began talking to Henry. I looked around for something to do and my eye caught on the two boys peering into the office. We all looked when Henry’s deep voice bellowed out “Samuel take your brother and young Jesze to play”.

“Yes father.” He moved forward grabbing my hand, “come on Jesze!” I followed looking back at my father. His comforting smile encouraged me and off I went.

Naming them corridors was a silly justification to calling Salvus a city when it was a state. The senate, Henry and “his people” believed it would make people feel more united if they all belonged to the same city. The senate certainly was not creative enough for actual names and just used whichever wall was at their base. Or perhaps that was part of that united feeling, we are all Salvus. The boarders run diagonally meeting at the town surrounding the castle, making four triangles meeting at a circle with another circle set inside it. If you got an aerial view it would look like the Salvus flag and was the Skler Family crest. Perhaps that is why they built it the way they did. The position of senator is basically royalty, so I started calling Jack, Prince Jack. He hates it, always has. I did not know why because his father preferred to be called King. After returning home I learned that he lived next door to me. Well, his godparents have always lived next to us, and Henry sent Samuel and Jack to live there. It was supposed to increase relations with the West since there was some unrest due to failing crops. I finished the last of the dishes and laid them out to dry on the nearby towel. My mother thanked me as I sat down in the family room.

“Jesze, good I waited until you were done.” I perked up because it was story time. My mother smiled by rolled her eyes. Politics. “So, as you know I went to the East Corridor.” He almost never said East C. or West C., it was always Corridor. Professional. “The mayor, you remember Philip, right honey?” He asked turning toward mom. She nodded still smiling at him. “So, Philip tells me there are animals going missing. He can’t make head or tails of it. At first there was nothing else happening and I am about to pack up to return and that night, boom. It happens.”

“What?”

“I don’t know. But in the morning, we got another complaint of animals going missing. No remnants whatsoever. So, it’s not a wild animal, because you know…”

“They leave remnants.”

“Right. Anyway, Philip tells me he is going to be short on the horses this year because of what’s happening. I gently remind him he has already been paid for this year’s stock,” he added quickly before my mother could protest. “I know dear. He acknowledged and thus begins the haggle. He’s offering other animals in exchange, waiting a bit longer, having me sleuth out the culprit and put a stop to it for a bonus horse or two once they get the numbers back up. He is just coming up with everything he can. Now I know what you are thinking. Why not just set up shop and stake out the place? Well, I thought of that and said it to Phil. Phil says that would be great except it is happening over all of East Salvus. They tried it anyway but so far, the Guardians have not been able to catch anyone. Still haven’t to my knowledge. Finally, we strike a deal. We get whatever horses he can provide now, double next season, and they take whatever crop we can spare as payment for next year’s stock since the loss of horses is going to affect us greatly.”

“I’ll say,” my mother murmured.

“Phil is okay with taking the hit on the crops next year but hopes that the following year if there is a surplus, we add a little to the pot, so to speak. I know, you know Phil, always trying to get more if he can.” My mother simmered before she even began boiling. She did not like people taking advantage of the West. The North and South did not have good soil for planting. The east has the ports, and they focus their attention on breeding animals and trading.

In the West Corridor we have mostly farmland. It grew less and less as you got closer to the capital. I remember that from my trips there. It was striking because at first it was just a gradual decline of farms and then suddenly it is nothing until you hit the town surrounding the Capitol. We call it a small town because it is smaller than the Corridors, but it is by no means a tiny little town. In West Salvus everyone grows their own crop of choice, usually two or three cash crops per household, and then we all trade within the corridor. We also use the crop to barter and trade with the other corridors. My mother grows tomatoes, they are sold at high value, since for some reason no one else can seem to get them to stay alive long enough to harvest any produce. My mother’s though, hers grow big and healthy, and of course full of flavor. We don’t actually have to grow anything, the mayors of the Corridors, and their families, are well taken care of by the ruler of Salvus. For whom the mayors ultimately work for, even when they say it is the people they work for. My parents did not agree with this, and my mother decided she would try her hand at tomatoes since I loved to eat them like apples. My father actually does work for the people. I have heard him complaining to mother about Henry and some of the policies he wants to enact. The Mayors often leave their homes for long stretches, either to other Corridors for business or to the Capital, so the King felt it wise to compensate by providing for the families. I knew my father had a lot to do with the compensation, but he would never say so. Our people love my mother and father more for their contribution to our hometown. The tax owed to the Capital is a portion of the crop since there is no farmland near the Capital. My parents usually produce enough for us to survive the colder months and then some, so we put in. This usually means the other families do not have to put in as much to meet the tax quota.

Our whole yard is tomato plants, always has been and so I spent most of my childhood in Jack’s backyard. The houses are located close together on the properties. His yard stretches far beyond mine, leaving room for both his families crops and room to run around in. His godparent’s grew corn and needed the large space. We often ran through the stalks playing hide and seek. Jack and his godparents obviously do not have to grow anything, but they followed my parents lead and both Jack and Samuel had to help tend to the crops as they grew older. I too helped my mother, but it was more of something we did together and not so much a chore for me. I still help her at the start of the season and as much as I can during the school year. We are far enough south that we can grow year-round but the product quality does decline. My mother usually opts to give the ground a rest, as she puts it. Our house and Jacks are the closest ones to the commercial district and everyone else is spread out as you move further from it. There are some smaller stores so those living far do not always have to make the trip out. The furthest farm is two and a half hours out and the last half hour is nothing but trees, open and untouched land, and sky.

The North deals a lot with precious metals and jewelry, I don’t know much beyond that, except that is where my father bought my mother her wedding ring. There are many mountains outside of the North Wall and as I have learned over time numerous unexplored mountains.

The East are breeders and traders. They breed animals for their living and then trade them to the other corridors. Horses and Dogs are their most profitable animals in all the corridors, but the farm animals are extremely important to us in the West. We get them just before the season begins. We trade food for the animals that everyone needs to work the next season. The food is sent over first to pay for the next seasons animals close to the end of the season. Horses are traded all year round, as they are used for numerous things, including the transport of the trade goods, not everyone has a vehicle. Dogs are a commodity as their offspring have a hard time surviving without constant care. Cats generally breed themselves and only rare breeds are worth anything. Mother traded for a male and a female once in order to keep the mice away for generations. The cats began breeding with neighborhood cats. Usually, two or three cats would stick around well into their old age. Often times my mother would give most of the kittens away when her female cats returned pregnant. She would only keep a couple so that as the older cats died, she would always have a cat for the mice. Most of the time they stayed. I asked her once why she didn’t trade them off and she said that she was no breeder and it felt too much like stealing away someone else’s living. Of course, they aren’t worth much anyway. We did a lot of buying on credit with the East, I can’t decide whether it’s because we are all so trustworthy and trusting or because we all know the Guardians are watching. It’s probably because of the Guardians, but I have hope that it’s because we’re trustworthy and loyal people. The East also has the biggest dock and the most ships. They deal a lot with other cities I suppose beyond the waters. Most importantly, to me, this is where people usually get their Daemons from. Daemons are creatures of Will, just like the Willnatum, the non-human people. They are like soulmates only an animal. They are bound to a Willnatum’s Will as that Willnatum is bound to theirs. This was my favorite topic as school. Very fascinating.

Finally, the South. They deal with burials and other ceremonies. They often trade burial plots, coffins, tombs, tombstones and the like. Most people did not have the land for familial plots or tombs. Most people in the West did and I suppose some people in the North just used the mountains to carve out their tombs. In that case the South offered to do the work in exchange for whatever goods they were needing. I don’t know much else about the South, but surely, they deal with more than just death. I realized my father had asked me a question. I snapped my head away from the window and the now completely darkened farmlands beyond. The storm had stopped, and the sky had cleared a bit. “Huh?”

“I asked what you were so deep in thought about.” I thought to answer but heard a scratching noise on the guest bathroom, which was just beyond the family room. I realized it was intruding in and out of my daydream about our fair city, but I paid it no mind just assuming one of my parents was doing it while they talked.

“What is that?”

“I don’t know.” My father exchanged a look with my mom.

Never having been one to back down from the unknown and hoping for a surprise from dad, I moved toward the door. It easily could have been one of the cats getting stuck in there and wanting out. We usually kept the door open unless someone was in it. It was mostly used for guests since it didn’t have a shower in it and my parents’ room had a bathroom attached. The master suite was up the stairs which were behind where we sat in the family room. The bathroom up there was bigger and likely the only reason I was downstairs and not up. I stopped outside the door to listen. More scratching and lots of sniffing. That was no cat. I didn’t glance back as I turned the knob with excitement. The door swung out with the force of the small body that was launching toward me. The door suddenly opening put me in defense mode and I resisted the urge to kick out at the small puppy. I might have dodged if I thought I had time, instead I let the momentum carry us both backwards as I thought more training was in my future. We landed fine and I launched upright screaming happily, “A puppy! You got me a puppy!” Both my parents were smiling and nodding.

“It’s a boy” my father said imitating a doctor while doing jazz hands. My mother laughed. I did too both from him and the puppy attempting to lick my face as he hopped up on my chest. The dog jumped from my lap and began circling around sniffing before he hopped back up. His gorgeous fur was jet black and soft. Matching my own soft black hair. The pup began running about the room near the window and outside the reach of the dimmed lamp we were using for light. A shimmer of the moons light was illuminating that part of the room and landed on his back causing it to shine. I realized with a gasp that he was a wolfhound. I turned toward my parents the shock painted on my face.

“He’s a Wolfhound?” I exclaimed.

“How did you know already?” he asked glancing at my mother.

“Don’t look at me, I didn’t tell her.”

“I’ve been studying Daemons. He is a very rare and special breed.” As excited as I was a cold fear washed over me. Another chance to show I have no Will, I thought to myself.

“Jesze what’s wrong?” asked my mother who noticed my change in demeanor.

I shook it off. This was no time to allow my illogical fears reign. “He must have cost a fortune.” A Wolfhound was at least 2 seasons worth of tomatoes for mother. The puppy was attempting to lick my face again and I could no longer hold the anxiety I was feeling. I looked into the pup’s eyes. My parents took this moment to avoid answering to my statement about cost. He stopped his licking attempts and cocked his head at me, waiting. His eyes, just as dark as his fur, bore into my own. They seemed like they were only this dark because of the dim lighting and in daylight they would be a different color. There were shadows dancing beyond his eyes. I smiled and pressed his body into mine. He let me until I started to pet him and then he wiggled out of my hold and lay down in my lap.

“He was sleeping this whole time. I cannot believe he needs a nap again already.” My father said to my mother as they moved to get up.

“Well, I’m sure he is just getting used to Jesze.” She leaned over to kiss my forehead. “Good night honey, don’t stay up too late.” My father did the same and seconded what my mother said, but he also winked when he said it.

After they left and as the pup started to softly snore my anxiety returned. A Wolfhound was a Daemon. Some breeds of dogs are just that, dogs, but sometimes those dogs can be Daemons. A Wolfhound would never be a pet. They were either someone’s companion for life or they were free Will in the wild. They were said to be born from the In-Between. This seemed like a place of fairytales, and no one could or would offer much information about it. I remembered reading about the Wolfhounds in a book when I was a child long ago. Now I wished I remembered what it was called and where it was put so I could brush up. This was a children’s book, and the library might offer something more substantiative on the topic of the In-Between. I would have to check after school one day. Wolfhounds lived as long as their partners did. Some people call the Willnatum the master of the Daemon. I did not think this was right. Perhaps it was because if the Willnatum died then the Daemon would slowly die afterward. This was only if the Wolfhound chose to be bonded with you. If they did not, then it remained untamed Will and likely remained that way in the wild for the rest of its life. Which could be decades upon decades. They did not die easily and aged slowly as do all Will creatures. No one was sure what a Wolfhound actually was, but they were thought to be at least part wolf and perhaps part something else only found in the In-Between.

I was idly petting the puppy as I thought on his breed. It is said that only the breeders new for sure whether they were a mix of something at all. The breeders guard their secrets well, often going underground after a trade of this caliber is made. I think it is superstition. Like they have to take time before they can trade again. While it was not against Henry’s rules to breed them, it is cautioned against due to the dangers. Some say that breeders actually travel to the In-Between to get their Wolfhounds. Again, this place may not exist and for all I knew they came from one of the North Salvus mountains. Wherever they came from, it was hard to get one, but they made good Guardian Hounds.

The bond between a wolfhound and his companion is so important and it starts with the first meeting. The hound chooses the human they say. I would say my hound definitely chose me but only time would truly tell. It did not feel real that a Wolfhound would bond with someone like me. But here he was sitting on my lap, snoozing away, making little yips every now and then. It would have been a huge financial blow if he did not choose me. I recalled the conversation the Guardian had with Espy about his own Wolfhound experience.

The puppy woke up and was looking up at me. “Now to pick a name for you.” Something that fit perfectly. Shadow seemed too expected. The puppy sat up still in my lap and I began playing with his feet. Senka meant Shadow but I didn’t want to name him after myself. I looked at his paws as I was playing with the pads of his feet, they were huge. “Perhaps I’ll call you Tiny. How about that?” He cocked his head at me again, but he did not look amused. I began thinking of what this bond would mean to me. He would be my greatest friend, my greatest ally and the only one I could truly depend on at all times. Lakota meant friends or allies and was the name of a native group of people that resided on these lands long before The War. So, Lakota, that is perfect. I looked at him and he looked back waiting patiently. “Lakota?” It was a question; I couldn’t just give him a name; he had to approve of it. He cocked his head to the side, then stood up on his back paws, placing his front ones as far up as he could. He looked at me and attempted a baby howled. “Lakota it is.” I smiled. He pushed off me, excitedly hopping around me. I heard my parents laugh after the baby howl and then the subsequent zoomies.

I stayed up later than usual that night, well I didn’t go in my bedroom as early as usual. I never actually went to bed early. Lakota and I played around for an hour after my parents went to bed. I heard them speaking softly and could make out some of what they spoke on. He told my mother that the business aspect of his trip only took a month. The rest of the time was spent tracking down the breeder and recovering Lakota. He had assumed the breeder would be in the East. My father had been informed of his trip more than 6 months before he had to go and so he used that time to find a breeder who could get him Lakota. Luckily for him, he knew a breeder called Geneo.

“If you could imagine a mad scientist mixed with a soldier then that would be what Geneo looked like.” my father said to me.

“That could be anything dad.” imagining at least 3 different variations of what this man could look like. Not too long after my father came back producing a picture that he had snapped of the man. Geneo was a tall and muscular man, bald, with weird, thick, and round glasses. I recalled a movie called the Nightmare Before Christmas. There was a mad scientist in that movie and the glasses were similar. The picture showed Geneo wearing combat clothes, but they did not look like the ones our Guardians wore. “He looks badass dad. Not really like a mad scientist.”

“Hey, watch the language.” he laughed and agreed he was less mad scientist and more soldier.

“He’s not what I would expect a breeder to look like.”

“What would you expect them to look like?”

“A lady, kind of plump, with a sweet face. Or a mad scientist.” We both laughed at the images of these imaginary people.

I crept closer to the stairs listening closely. There was a vent in their room that connected to the hallway upstairs making it easier to hear if you were close or on the stairs and listening. “Geneo promised a fresh pup would be ready, but he was not in East Corridor. I spent about a month with Phil trying to find out where he went. That was also part of the trade deal. He helped me find Geneo or a contact that could help.”

“Well, what happened?” mom asked.

“We found a contact. This fulfilled Phil’s obligation and he returned to work. Which was best, I did not tell him what breed I was interested in. So, the contact tells me he is at his shop it West Salvus, he has a big deal there. So, I’m standing there looking dumbfounded realizing I am the big deal and should have had better communication with Geneo. I was so busy being secretive to Jesze did not find out that I forgot how to iron out details for a moment. So anyway, I thank the contact and go pack my things for the trip back. The rest of the time was tracking Geneo’s shop here down.”

“Where is it?”

“Well, I could not say. Now, could I?” I could hear the teasing in his voice. He would tell her if she pressed but she didn’t.

“Well then tell me how much it cost us? We have to account for it come tax time.”

“It is going to cost us 3 seasons.” I felt horrified as my father told her the cost. Here I was staying out past curfew all the time and giving my mother mini-heart attacks not being home. Admittedly, I struggled to maintain the horror as I thought about my nightly antics. It was for a good cause. Lakota jumped on me just then and I stifled a laugh hoping they did not hear it. I was quiet for so long they probably thought I went to bed. There was no way to feel anything but pure joy with him in my arms. I moved away from the stairs just in case they heard me. I began playfighting with him, but quietly. I did not hear anymore talking but I did want to know but because I heard my father say that just before Lakota’s pounce. Soon I heard movement and my mother descended. She smiled at us playing.

“Alright you, time for bed, you do have school in the morning.”

“I have school every morning” I commented as a stood up. “Every day. You know in my history book it says that they used to have two days off at the end of the week, for recuperation!” I stifled a yawn as my mother ushered me down the hall to my room. Lakota bouncing along at my side.

“Oh yeah, is that right.”

“Mhm.”

“Well, you get your recuperation through sleeping. I read that history book remember, they also had school at six or seven in the morning, you don’t have to be there until 10:00 am and you are out by 3:00 pm, so you should be happy. You get to sleep in, and still get out of classes with time to run around with Jack before curfew. You get the same number of hours in school, and you get three months at the end of each school term instead of the two they used to get.” She did have a good point there and my tiredness was keeping me from thinking of any good retort. “It is much more productive than the old way. Plus, you’ll get to start a new class now.” That woke me up.

We both looked to Lakota as I realized what she meant. Lakota cocked his head to the side and looked up at me and then my mother. I could see the intelligence in his eyes and hoped that this initial connection between us meant I did have Will and that the bond could be made stronger in the ways of Will.

“It’s mid semester…”

“You’ve already been enrolled; it’s all been handled. As of tomorrow, you will be taking Animal Connections 101. You’re taking it earlier than most others, so you’re going to be with the seniors.” She paused as if wondering if she should say anything more. “There won’t be many of your friends in that class.” She was babbling though, which meant she was nervous about how I would react.

“What class did they replace, please say metaphysics, that class is so boring! Mom, you know that metaphysics is basically traditional metaphysics, only it adds the study of Will and how people think it came to be to it. My theory is who cares how it came to be! Let’s just get really good at controlling it.” I always wondered what it would be like to be a Zaharrak, the old ones and most intelligent among us. “The only portion of that class that is important is the one where it tells us that not everyone has the gift of Will. And those that do Will have varying levels of power in it.” Like Espy and the new guardian, I thought to myself in an effort to not remind her about my curfew violations and visits to the wall. Espy’s Will is strong. The new guardian that was with him, his Will is weak. “Part of the classes you take deal with strengthening one’s Will. I do not have any so there is really no need to be in that class.” We have had this conversation before so she did not argue about me not having Will. She did not believe it to be true and I knew that. “I literally know everything I need to about that class. If a child’s Will is discovered early enough, they can be put in these strengthening classes immediately and then after graduating high school they right into the University of the Guardians.” Sometimes a person goes unnoticed. They slip through the cracks and if they don’t work on their Will themselves then they go into the university with a very weak Will, dwindled and uncared for. Maybe that’s how my Will is. I did find out that these are the types of Willborn usually assigned to Espy’s training detail. He has a way of bringing one’s Will to the fore and forcing it to grow. I asked him how once, but he dodged around my question, which only made me more curious and persistent. That night I was extremely late past curfew, I thought my mom was going to kill me. I thought it best not to share that memory with her though. She looked at me a moment longer to make sure I was done with my rant.

“It’s not metaphysics. That class is important Jesze, and you’re lucky they let you in this year, that’s a senior class.”

“Lucky is not the word I would have chosen.”

“And what word would you choose.”

“Sadistic works.” I continued before she could retort, “It’s not a senior class. We’re supposed to take it freshman year.” Supposed to but I didn’t take it freshman year. It was replaced with some junior math class, which focused on trajectories and other basic math equations. Most of the stuff was beyond my ability. I couldn’t practice any of the stuff that involved Will…because I didn’t have any.

“Yes, but this is the senior one you’re in, everyone takes it twice Jesze, it’s important for you, okay?” Almost everyone takes it twice you mean. I fought to not roll my eyes and kept my mouth shut.

“Alright, so, which class…?” I started to have a worried feeling in my stomach. I knew what she was going to say.

“Your free period.” She sounded sorry at least.

“But…but...that’s like the only class I have with Jack this year! And I do all my homework during that period, so that after school we can hang out! Now what am I going to do. How am I supposed to do my homework and find time to hang with Jack, and of course I have to have time with Lakota, that can’t be done in only four hours! I don’t know why curfew is so early anyway, during Harvest season it doesn’t get dark until eight thirty or nine anyway!”

“Jesze, calm down.”

“It’s not fair. Don’t I get any say in what I want to take”

“Honey, sometimes you have to make sacrifices. You are a bright girl; you’ll figure it out. As for curfew, once you’re in Animal Connection’s you’re allowed to stay out past curfew. In order to train with Lakota. It’s a requirement of the class.” I felt the unease in my stomach fall away, replaced with sheer delight. Not only was I going to get to stay out past curfew, without worry of getting in trouble, but I was required to. “Now Jesze, I can see the excitement in your eyes...” I immediately made my face go blank, or as blank as I could muster with the excitement I felt. I let a calmness come over me and I relaxed my mind, my muscles, and of course my facial expression. I gave her my best serious face; except I could still feel the excitement lurking there. “…But you need to pay attention in this class. It is not an easy one. Masters Felian and Ateles are hard teachers, and they will really want to see that you are paying attention. That you are learning what you need to.”

“They’re Guardians?” only teachers that were Guardians were called Masters.

“Yes, they are.” Eek.

“Great just what I need, more teachers that are Guardians.” The non-Guardian teachers weren’t as astute in picking out the kids that didn’t have Will. I could fly under the radar with them and had been. Almost all my teachers were now Guardians, and it was only a matter of time before one of them called me out as imposter. Since ninth grade I’ve slowly been getting more and more Guardian taught classes and my impending doom seemed to grow nearer each time. “There’s no reason why I am in these classes. I look like an idiot in those classes.” I slumped onto my bed and Lakota attempted to jump up. He did not quite make it and my mother picked him up placing him on the bed. He walked behind me and dropped down next to me. He pressed his little warm body against my side and curled his face around the front of me to rest on my leg the best he could. His eyes, no longer the black from earlier in the brighter lighting of my room, rolled up to look at me. There seemed to be a purplish tint to them.

“What do you mean?” Mom sat down next to me and took up my hands in hers. I looked into her eyes and saw worry there. I felt it. I hadn’t meant to worry her. I truly liked my classes; what I was learning in them. But it was difficult sometimes and I was just feeling the shock of yet another change to my schedule. I was the only one in class who has shown no way in Will. All the looks I got when I got called on by one of the teachers or answered a question correctly. I knew every answer. When it came down to demonstrations, well I had nothing to show, and all the kids knew it. They looked at me like I was an imposter. Like “who is she to answer?” But how did I explain this to my mother. My Willborn mother who has demonstrated her Will since she was a young child. My mother the green thumb, plant whisperer. Only someone attached to the elements could make tomatoes grow in soil where others have failed. Her element was ground. She was the anchor of this family as well as the community. As was my father who also shared some ability with the ground element.

“Everyone thinks I’m there because I’m the Mayor’s daughter and best friends with one of King Henry’s sons.” She hated it when I called Mr. Skler, King Henry. I pressed on before she could protest. Especially since he didn’t seem to mind being called it. Though the sarcastic way I said “King” may have something to do with it. ”I have no Will, yet almost all of my classes are with kids who have it and are being taught by Guardians.”

“You know I don’t think that’s true. I am positive that you are Willborn, sweet girl.”

“Mom I am the only one without it in those classes. It’s horrible. And now I don’t have free period. It was the one period that I didn’t have to worry about anyone looking at me weird.” Did not mean to let that last thought slip out.

“Oh baby, I’m so sorry I didn’t know, I…I’ll talk to your father.”

“No, I love what I am learning in my classes, mom. I love my teachers. I am really learning a lot and it’s interesting. I think everyone should get these classes, Will or no Will, not just me. People should know how it works, and then maybe they would understand the Guardians and themselves better. Then the Guardians wouldn’t just be like statues out on the streets. People might actually pay attention to them and have a conversation. Instead, they skirt away anytime one gets too close.” I heard my father coming down the hall, probably to say goodnight and fetch my mother since she had been gone a long time. I lowered my voice. “It’s just…what if I don’t have Will, what will dad think?” She did not have time to answer since the man in question entered with a soft knock that made me think he heard quite a bit of the conversation. I got my eavesdropping from him.

“What’s this talk of Guardians I hear? Thinking of going to the University after next year?” My father had the idea that I would graduate school with no need for my senior year, and at the rate I was going he was not wrong. My mother’s face still looked pained at my last words. She couldn’t say anything back, not in front of my father. She would talk to him later, I knew, but she knew if she said something now, he would want to talk about it with me. I was not ready for that, and she knew it. I didn’t even mean to say that much to her. It was true that I worried what he would say and how he would feel if I ended up without the Gift. He had to be using favors left and right to get me into these classes without me having any Will. He wanted me to be a Guardian of Salvus.

I truly believed that the classes should be taken by everyone and not just those who showed “promise.” I wanted my father to be proud of me. He was a great explorer back in his day. Before my parents settled down and had me. He brought back tons of stuff from the old world and rescued priceless relics in his adventuring days. I wanted so much to go out in the world and discover something new, to do something important. To be like him and my mother. HI would still be a Guardian. Just not within the walls of Salvus.

I laughed. “No, no way, most Guardians are boring.” he chuckled, likely remembering his own adventuring days as a Guardian. This was before he graduated to being mayor. He did not have to pull any strings to gain that feat. Though I am sure it helped that he came up with Henry. My father was a storyteller and a historian at heart. Being mayor and dealing with politics was just a living. He really cared about his people, but his true passion was history and telling it. I grew up listening to all his crazy stories. Some of them are true and the others obviously contained a spin on the truth in order to entertain a youngling who liked to get into trouble at night. He was the reason for my passion. He was why I looked beyond the wall wanting so badly to be out there. I still get into trouble at night, but now the stories are just that, stories. The disappointment I feel in myself for not displaying Will, not succeeding, is very real though. My father got this far-away look in his eyes, like he was remembering something. When he looked back to me, he looked sad but hopeful. It was a lie of course, I wanted to be a Guardian. Lakota’s presence only strengthened that. But if I ended up without Will…well the blow would be easier to deal with if everyone thought I hadn’t wanted it to begin with.

“Someday, you might change your mind about that.” He said with a small smile and tapped me on the nose with his finger. He used to do that to me when I was a young kid. It made me feel now what it did then, safe and loved. Before I could ask him why or say ‘yea right’ my mother interjected.

“Goodnight Jesze, tomorrow is a big day for you and Lakota.” I looked down to where Lakota lay pressed against my back. I knew he wasn’t asleep, yet his eyes were closed. He was listening and waiting for me to move. I couldn’t help but think that this was just another thing I was going to get looks for. I was able to stay pretty below the radar, but now everyone would know I was just a fraud trying to not be a fraud. I couldn’t hide Lakota. He was a puppy now, but he would grow. Wolfhounds were known for their size, and by the looks of Lakota’s paws, he was going to be a big boy. I lay back in my bed as my parents left the room. Lakota moved to accommodate me and resettled. He curled up next to my side, with his face as much on my stomach as he could, looking out towards the door and the hallway beyond. I let out a sigh which turned into a yawn, and I felt the tiredness pulling at my eyelids. I looked out my window to the starry night allowing my tiredness to drag me toward sleep. I heard my parents’ door shut in the distance and I imagined the hushed and worried whispers starting as my eyes closed behind heavy eyelids.