JC Coldwell's Arc

Chapter 2 of 9

Hal stared at the cards. JC kept one brick of his mental wall down. The memory still pressed at him: coins, a card table, and Daniel taking something away. JC wanted to shut the wall and spare them both. Instead, he said, “We find Daniel. Together.” Hal’s ears dipped. “I was going to win it back first.” “You were going alone.” “I didn’t want to dump my mess on you.” Hal picked up Maria, who had returned to the table. “You already carry everybody else.” JC touched Hal’s wrist. The contact steadied him. “Let me choose what I carry.” Daniel waited beside the apothecary door in a burgundy jacket. A frog sat on his shoulder, watching them. JC knew Daniel from Hal’s memory before Daniel spoke. The man held a small black case under one arm. “Your debtor arrived,” Daniel said. “With counsel, apparently.” Hal went pale. “That’s mine.” Daniel set the case on the counter. Pale light ran over its seams. “It is secured. You wagered it. You lost.” “What is it?” JC asked. Hal looked at the floor. “My family’s travel charm. It opens the old paths. I need it to get home if things go bad.” JC felt Hal’s quiet thought turn sharp with fear: Don’t leave me stranded. He swallowed. “What will return it?” Daniel’s eyes moved to Hal. “One honest statement. No tricks. No more gambling for it. He tells me why he risked it.” Hal gave a small laugh. “That’s your price? Mean little wizard.” “It is a low price.” Webster croaked. Hal’s hands shook around Maria. “I thought I could fix it before JC knew. If he knew I’d lost it, he’d see I’m reckless. Then he’d decide I’m too much work.” JC heard no lie in him. He also heard the crowd beyond the walls, loud and hungry. He wanted to close every door inside himself. Instead, he stepped close enough for Hal to see his yellow eyes. “I get scared too,” JC said. “I still came.” Hal looked up. “Yeah. You did.” Daniel broke the ward with two fingers. The light vanished. He pushed the case toward Hal. “Do better.” Hal opened it. A silver charm lay inside. He grabbed it, then caught JC’s hand with his free one. Daniel turned away, frog croaking against his collar. Hal did not let go of JC as they left the counter. The charm was back. The gambling debt was over. Hal’s fear of being left was now sitting between them, spoken aloud.