He made to persist a moment longer, saw the droves of townsfolk pouring into the square, then sighed. “You have no idea.”
She winked, mischief written in the hitch of her brow, then a group of women running with their skirts held high passed. She melded into their ranks and was gone. James was left behind, lame upon the ridge, Chuck still hooting and pecking away upon his elbow. He looked at the bird, sighed once more, and then took after the crowd. “Careful, Chuck. She’s clearly after you.”
*
“Our good friends have made us a great offer!” Malverston boomed to his flock. He had taken centre position in the town square, standing atop the rickety frame the women used to scale the well for water. “Come closer, my friends, closer!”
James slipped into the crowd’s ranks, drawing his slicker’s hood close over his head. He needn’t have bothered, for nobody even glanced his way. All eyes were trained fast on the platform.
Alex was making an admirable effort to keep his dignity, swaddled under Malverston’s beefy shoulder. Though dwarfed by the sheer volume of meat hanging from the jovial mayor’s frame, somehow he seemed the more significant of the pair—and it was obvious Malverston sensed it.
Malverston was red faced, and his voice took on a stentorian note, turning the crowd’s attention him through force of volume. “Our good friends and I have come to an agreement regarding an endeavour I deem most profitable. Through my efforts—and their assistance—all the townspeople stand to benefit, in time.”
James suppressed a smirk. He was too good to be true, Malverston, almost a caricature. It was difficult to believe anyone could genuinely be that conceited.
“Newquay’s Moon will henceforth pledge its allegiance to Mr Cain’s most excellent cause. In exchange for a fair share of certain commodities, we shall aid in their selfless efforts to save the treasures of the Old World. Between us, we will preserve knowledge that stands to be lost.”
James tensed, but avoided meeting Alex’s eye. What had he agreed to this time? Malverston would surely have tried to wrangle something extra, and most likely there would be hidden repercussions down the line. One thing was certain: there was no charity in this deal from either party. Newquay’s Moon was a means to an end for Malverston, and another piece in their mission’s puzzle for them.
But that was the way of things. They paid a price for progress, sometimes an absurd price, but every inch of territory counted. This is what it took to sow the seeds of a new beginning.
In many ways, it was hair-raising to see Alex on the front line. If anything happened to him, everything would fall apart. But there was no other choice, because nobody else could be trusted to do the job. Someday James would stand in his shoes. That was his destiny.
“We owe these wonderful people our thanks. They will haul this town and its allies to greatness, and riches of which we couldn’t have dreamed are now within our reach.”
The crowd stirred. James sensed hot and cold from the crowd, the buzz of muttering, a medley of starry-eyed hopeful imaginings from those totally under Malverston’s spell, and smouldering dissent from those who lived under his rule out of necessity. Riches would indeed come to Newquay’s Moon, but none of them would see it.
“I think we owe our new allies a round of applause. To the future!” Malverston thumped his hands together, and the crowd followed suit after some encouragement. His booming cries racked the square until the resentful patter turned to a full-blown ovation.
James clapped along with the rest of them. From the sweaty mass of bodies around him, he received a sharp poke in the ribs. He looked around to see Beth standing beside him, half hidden by a flurry of clapping hands. She offered the shadow of a coy smile, then she was clapping along with the rest of them. “Looks like we’re going to be good friends,” she said, using the cover of the racket.
“All thanks to your gracious mayor,” he called.
“I didn’t think you people would strike a deal with that slime.”
“He has things we need.”
“Things like the deeds to a few ten thousand acres?”
“Things like that.”
“I thought you were all about freedom, and electing leaders.”
He sighed. “If we can get a foothold here, we can change things from the inside. We can help you get rid of him in time.”
“But for now, you’re going to take his dirty money and hightail it