Page 76

Here, my choice was simple: be direct, or spin an elaborate lie. I chose direct. “I seek an audience with William Anderson.”

A rumble started in his chest. It took me a second to recognize it as laughter. “Oh, you want an audience, do you? And what is it you want to talk about?”

“I’ve traveled many miles.” Not strictly a lie. I was just omitting the part about the motorbike and the companion. “At great personal risk to myself.” When the man simply looked bored at my proclamation, I scrapped the big sell and cut straight to it. “The Lord speaks to me. He has told me that there is only one man worthy of my services in the land.”

A spark of interest flickered in his brown eyes. “The Lord speaks to you, does he?”

“He does.” I nodded for emphasis. “He has shown me the way, and the path leads here, to this castle.” I gave a small bow. “So, I offer my services to the Beloved Father.”

The honorific stuck in my throat, but I made sure it didn’t show. William Anderson wanted people bowing, praising, telling him he was right. I could be that person for as long as it took to earn his trust. It would stick in my craw like nothing else ever had, but I’d do it.

“And what do you think you can do for the Beloved Father?”

“I will be his conduit. A messenger between him and the Lord. The Lord is pleased with what he has done so far, but believes he can do more.”

“Like what?”

This guy asked too many questions. I’d expected William Anderson to grill me, not his doorman. “The Lord wonders why Beloved Father does not spread his word far and wide, why he has stayed in this one castle. He believes there should be many castles. That it is selfish to focus on just the one.”

The man tilted his head. “Selfish, huh? I can’t wait to hear you tell him that. Can I watch?”

“They are not my words,” I said evenly. “They are the Lord’s. I am merely his messenger. I have no opinion except for what He tells me.” Right. That would be the day.

We locked eyes. I held steady, no blinking, no fidgeting, steadfast in my bullshit. Finally, he sighed. “Stay here. If he wants to see you, I’ll let you in. If he doesn’t, you’ll be sent on your way.”

I nodded and took a polite step back from the door. “Take your time. I’m in no rush. I shall enjoy the sea breeze, the view, and the birds while I wait.”

For the first ten minutes that passed, I did exactly that. The next ten were harder. Without my watch, my time-keeping might have gone to pot, but I didn’t think so. Anderson was testing me. A true devotee would wait as long as required. So I waited.

After half an hour, I sat. After an hour, I leaned against the cold stone wall of the castle, wondering what Keaton was doing. Given his silence on our first visit, I’d told him to make nice with the community we’d found. He needed food, and they had it. Whether he’d listen, I had no idea. Keaton was a survivor, though. You couldn’t be in the army and not be one, so I had faith he’d still be there when this was done. Besides, he had to eat and stay alive to exact vengeance, so he’d do what needed to be done.

After two hours, my eyes started to close. In a world populated with biters, it wasn’t wise to fall asleep in an exposed place for fear of waking to find your face being chewed off. The steps might deter them, but then again they might not. There were those who were more determined than others.

I paced, disguising it as a casual stroll. If I were Anderson, I’d be watching. I’d sit and watch the threat until I believed it posed no danger. With that in mind, I pasted a suitably urbane expression on my face.

Would they leave me out here all night? After dark, it’d get far more dangerous up here, with no way of seeing approaching biters until they were virtually on top of me. And even if I could see them, defending myself without so much as a knife tucked in my boot would be a challenge.

Purple and red streaked the sky as the sun sank lower, announcing my wait as having reached the twelve-hour mark. The steps back down the cliff would be too dangerous to navigate soon, and I’d have no choice but to stay. I reckoned I had another hour, ninety minutes at most, before I had to make that decision.

Not long after that, the door creaked open to reveal the same behemoth of a man standing in the gap. He had a grin on his face. “Still here, huh?”

August would’ve told him where to shove that smile. I wasn’t August, though. And wouldn’t be for some time.

“The Lord told me to wait,” I said calmly. “And I do as the Lord commands. If he wanted me to stay here all night, I would. If he wanted me to give my life to the dark servants, I would.”

He looked me over. “I bet you’re thirsty. Hungry too?”

“I am,” I admitted in the same even tone. “But the wants of the body are nothing but a test. Lust. Anger. Greed. They are the weaknesses of the dark servants. We are better… stronger. Do you not agree?”

“Save your speech for Beloved Father.” He jerked his head over his shoulder. “Follow me. He wants to see you right away.”

Right away, and keeping me waiting for an entire day did not go together, but I remained silent. Something told me I’d be biting my tongue a lot here. Enough that I might wish Oz had cut it out.

The man led me across a grassy courtyard, some of it farmed, through another door and into the castle proper. Compared to the outside, it was pleasantly cool within.

“May I know your name, friend?” I asked.

“Bruce.”