Page 55 of Apple Boy

Adam found a booth where the table and benches had blessedly avoided the fate of many of the others, which were smashed and used as weapons. I slid onto one bench seat and Adam onto the opposite bench. We both sat back against the wall, our legs up and we surveyed the scene like a living painting spread out before us. Adam’s laughter ceased, and now he tried to steady his breath and just stared with disbelief.

“What have we done?” He said again, and then after a beat of silence blurted, “How far do you think this spell goes?”

His question alarmed me, for I had not considered that the effects of our sorcery could reach further than the scene we now observed. I had believed that it was just the men fighting in The Half–Mast who had been ensorcelled. I stood abruptly and on light feet picked my way through the immobile mêlée to the tavern door. I turned and gave Adam a wary glance,

“G’wan” he cajoled. I pulled the door ajar just enough to peek. I did not want to attract the attention of any of the brutes who were drinking outside the tavern and make them curious about why the tavern had fallen silent. But, I let out a sharp gasp and then pulled the door wide. My heart hammered, the sound ringing in my ears like a blacksmith striking iron. The dormant scene continued outside the tavern and down the street. I looked up and in the moonlight saw two seagulls caught in the spell, just hanging like bird puppets. Sweat drenched my brow and anxiety overcame me. Had we stilled the whole damn city? Adam’s hands on my shoulders drew me away from the door, and he closed it behind me. He silently led me back to the booth, passing Evan Sewell who amusingly, had dodged Rogan McBain’s fist and was readying for a counterpunch.

So many questions swirled in my head, and I wished we were back in those moments of joining and peace that we’d shared with the Star-fall. I had been the quick thinker then, but now that mantle needed to be handed to Adam because I was struggling to comprehend what to do next.

“Look at me, Winter,” Adam instructed, I did so dazedly and sat back down on the bench. “I’m sure we can fix this.” He gentled. My thoughts did not match his confidence.

“I betcha if we join with the stone again we can set things back in motion. It’ll be easy, I’m sure of it.”

It was starkly clear to me now that we were gifted, and our gifts complemented one another and worked on binding with the Star-fall gemstone. And each time we joined we changed, becoming more entwined with one another. And although I had known Adam for such a short time, I could not envisage a time when I would be without him. It sounds ridiculous, but as I gazed into his radiant eyes, I knew to my very bones, Adam Sewell was mine.

The adventure I’d sought on touring the Empire was not what I had found. I’d found Adam, and he had swiftly become the ruler of my heart and soul. I observed him as he self-consciously pushed his curls back from his brow. I envisaged him bent over the last table standing in the tavern while I took him. The wave of lust that flowed through me seemed to leap to Adam because he looked at me and blushed.

“We can’t, not here among this mayhem!”

“Did you just read my mind?”

“You wanted me bent over the table.” A hand flew to cover my mouth. I was intrigued and embarrassed. I was going to have to keep my thoughts on the purer side. I let out a laugh to cover my embarrassment, but Adam held my gaze, and I understood that he would have been game if we had not made such a spectacle.

“Later?”

“Aye… later!”

Now, what to do about the mess we’d made? Separately, neither of us could voice how to control our power, and yet, when we joined we possessed knowledge beyond our knowing. We knew the right actions as naturally as breathing, and so Adam had a point, maybe we could set the city in motion again. My main worry now was what would happen when all was set back to move. We would be in the midst of a brawl.

With a shiver, I wondered if these people were conscious, looking out through their eyes at the world, yet imprisoned in time. The thought of it made the food in my belly roil. Would the city-folk remember this event? No, I could not consider this sorcery to be city wide. That would be madness. Surely our tiny Star-fall did not have the power to stop a city! No, I decided, I must believe that the spell affected just this tavern and the street outside.

An idea sprang into my mind that tickled me, and unable to deny it, a grin leapt to curve my mouth.

“What?” Adam asked curiously.

“If we start all in motion now, like this, men will be killed. Over there, that brute with the knife—one more second and it would have pierced that boy’s eye, and there—” I said pointing at another scene, “That man will be brained if the chair lands atop him.” I stood and placed my hands on my hips surveying the room.

“Before we even attempt to release time, I’d like to make a few adjustments,” I suggested, wagging my brows. “Will you help me?”

Adam’s eyes grew wide and shone with inner luminescence. He knew exactly what I was thinking. “Oh, Winter, that is pure brilliant, so it is! Let’s have a wee bit of fun!”

For the next twenty minutes, we adjusted the scenes to suit ourselves. Weapons were removed from hands and replaced with dish rags, wooden spoons, and other harmless items that Adam discovered in Evan’s kitchen. Men were maneuvered so blows would never land. There was an overweight brutish looking sailor who appeared to be pummeling a young effeminate deckhand. I was outraged, and with some effort, Adam and I saw to it that the younger man’s motionless form was carried to the safe space behind the bar, and the body of the brutal sailor was a dragged for a meter and placed facing a man who matched his size and was also delivering a blow.

“What shall we do about your Evan?” I asked. A wicked inner voice suggested that we move him into direct contact with McBain’s fist because I was thoroughly disgusted that he had imprisoned his own brother.

“What did he tell you about why he hadn’t been in touch? I still don’t understand why he locked you in the barrel store.” We worked on, changing the scenes in the tavern as he made his telling, “He said he’s a Cardinal—y’know, City Watch.” Adam delivered matter-of-factly as if it explained everything. I was aghast.

“WHAT? Your brother is one of Marcus Mortdel’s men?” I exclaimed.

“Aye, he said he was training first and was gonna write home, then it turned out he’s pretty good at being a Watchman. He said he wanted to tell Ma he’d got a good job, but he was given a promotion and well—he’s been undercover for near nine months trying to infiltrate a gang working out of Cheapside.”

I was amazed by Adam’s explanation.

“Evan said that’s why he couldn’t contact us. He’s not Evan Sewell here, and if any found out his real name, the family would be in danger. He told me he was dealing with some right gurriers who’d slit yer throat as soon as they look at ye, and it don’t take many questions to find out about Sewell’s in the Pasturelands—You know my pa and our name is on cider barrels!”

Oh yes, I could imagine Col Sewell’s reputation and cider was known far and wide. “So why did Evan lock you in?”

“He had a meeting with a Corvayan by the name of Rogan McBain. He’s got a protection racket going on in Cheapside. He comes into the city once a month. All taverns in the district pay him to stop him burning them down. Evan said there was gonna be trouble and locked me in for my own protection.” Adam explained.