Whispers (Book 3 of Wielder series)

Chapter 7 - Truth and Lies

"Now?"

Willy's question took Darrel by surprise. He stared down at the blond incredulously. "Yes, now. Did you not hear me? Commander Sole has Alie. He's had her for the better part of a week. Who knows what he's done to her in that time? What he is doing to her, right now?"

"I understand. It's just..." Willy gripped the Ultimate in his lap so tightly, his knuckles started to turn white. "I can't."

Darrel blinked at him. "You can't?"

"Not yet. Not now."

"Why the hell not?"

Willy had the audacity to look guilty. "There's things here I have to attend to."

"What things?"

The sigh that left Willy's chest caused him to sag in his chair. "I'm investigating some artifacts in the treasury that have been stripped of their magic. I know it doesn't sound all that important, but it's suspicious, and I'm afraid of a bigger threat."

Anger burned up Darrel's throat. "Is it more important than saving the girl who broke you out of your crystal prison, brought you back into sanity, and helped you right your wrongs so the realm would turn you human, again?"

Wincing, Willy looked shamefully away. "It's not the only thing."

"What? And don't say something stupid."

To his surprise, Willy flushed red. "I met someone."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Met someone."

"Yeah." Still refusing to look at him, Willy awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. "One of the kitchen girls. We haven't spent much time together yet, but she's trustworthy, and kind, and so damn beautiful it takes my breath away." He let out a bemused chuckle, shaking his head. "I fell for her the moment I laid eyes on her. Didn't think that could ever happen, again."

Darrel felt numb. "You want to stay... because of a crush?"

"It's not a crush." Willy lifted his gaze, locking eyes with Darrel. "It's a relationship. One I haven't had in almost a thousand years." He swallowed hard, his pupils shrinking as if he'd thought of something frightening. "She and her sister aren't treated well here, but they're working off a debt and can't leave until it's paid. She's got enemies here she can't protect herself from. I don't... I can't leave her behind to fend for herself."

Slowly, Darrel clenched his hands into fists. "You want to stay because of a girl?"

"Not a girl," Willy corrected, turning red all over again. "The girl. Justine is–"

"A palace maid. One of a million. Someone who probably knows how to survive the craziness of the palace just fine, if she's been working in it long enough." He crossed his arms over his chest as his ears began to burn with fury. "Alie is with Commander effing Sole. If he hasn't run her through yet, then she's suffering in ways we can't even begin to dream of. She's been with him a week, and that's a week too long."

Willy's guilt multiplied. "I know how you feel, Darrel. I really do, but–"

"There is no 'but.' There is only go." He stormed to the door, grabbing his cloak and Willy's. Though it pained his healing ribs to do so, he threw the cloak at the Wielder with a grunt. "Get off your ass and move."

Willy sighed. "Do you even know where Commander Sole has taken her?"

"No. But we won't find out sitting in here, will we?" He threw the cloak around his shoulders, setting the fabric spinning.