Chapter 16: ACT I, SCENE 7

ACT I, SCENE 7Day 29 Hours Since the Ash FellCathedral ProperToo much. Vespar can’t find any experience to draw from. He starts before he has a chance to feel his mouth open, hearing himself say, “We saw Leo just outside the Cathedral doors as we were fleeing. One of the—”Twenty pews on this side.Vespar steps between Lady Vance and Kendra. “One of the monsters was in pursuit of him, but I managed to redirect it with a longbow shot.”Stop. Why?Vespar realizes: Why am I telling her this? Do I owe her? Arrow, chest, child, Kendra, Cathedral.Vespar chose to save Kendra over the child, but he took the shot first. He had tried to do it all; he knew there was a consequence to choosing.Breathe. How many pews on the other side? Paths?He tries but fails. The guilt comes.Should I have done more to save the boy? Chosen him over Kendra? Was the arrow not enough of an effort?He stops. His scar. No one looked for him... I can do more, and I will.Vespar straightens himself, trying to manage his thoughts. He is the King’s Huntsman’s son.“Captain!” Vespar manages to shout across the Cathedral, somehow loud enough to fly over the symphony of pleading below and reach Captain Varis.“Come with me. I will do what I can for your boy.” Vespar leads Lady Cassandra back through the crowd to Captain Varis Lang.Vespar tries to lift himself up, to put his youthful appearance behind a wall of authority, but Captain Varis stands taller. “Captain, I am Vespar, son of Harold, the King’s own Huntsman. I need information if I am to try to save young Leo. Is there a place within the Cathedral where I can scout the courtyard beyond its doors?”